Madam, – As an Irish citizen living in London with my Russian partner, who has UK residence and is in a civil partnership with me, I would like to express my dismay at the lack of information available to us regarding my partner’s visa requirements for Ireland.
We both love travelling and, in the past year, we’ve been to Hungary, Spain and France. He didn’t need a visa for any of these countries, because he has UK residence and is the family member of an EU citizen (me). It would seem as though my home country is the only country in Europe he needs a visa for.
But then again, does he? There’s no information on the Government’s website about EU family members who are UK-resident. You can only find out by ringing a premium number. Surely, as an Irish citizen, I should have the right to know my partner’s visa requirements without having to pay for it? I emailed the Department for Foreign Affairs about this back in April, but received no reply.
Certainly the garda who took us off the Belfast to Dublin bus and escorted us to Dundalk Garda station didn’t seem to know the specfics covering our situation. In fairness, he’s promised to look into it. We were bound for a christening in Dublin and were planning to stay a mere two days before returning to Northern Ireland for my sister’s graduation.
I’ve travelled the world teaching English and lived in countries such as Uzbekistan, Russia and Thailand. As an Irishman, I’ve always been made feel welcome and I’ve always been proud to talk about my home and the lovely welcome we extend to those people who are willing to fork out the extra money to come and visit us.
I feel ashamed to see my Russian partner being asked to leave the bus in this way and I wonder what’s happened the Republic that we no longer extend the hundred thousand welcomes we’re so famous for? – Yours, etc,