EIG Dispatch – March 20, 2015

Highlights

  • Ireland’s Critical Skills Permit Renewals Now Require Additional Documentation
  • Denial Rates Increases for L-1B Petitions

Ireland’s Critical Skills Permit Renewals Now Require Additional Documentation

Beginning April 1, 2015, foreign nationals renewing their Critical Skills Employment Permit or Green Card Employment Permit must now submit a support letter from the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation with additional documentation.  Prior to the permit expiration date, foreign nationals must appear in person at the Garda National Immigration Bureau with the requisite documents. In addition to the support letter, the foreign national must also submit the following:

  • Completed employer support letter request form;
  • Employer support letter stating the reason for renewal;
  • Copies of 3 recent paystubs;
  • Copies of P60s for each year of employment covering the duration of the Critical Skills Employment Permit; and
  • Documentary evidence of health insurance, if applicable.

Prior to April 1, 2015, an application for renewal only required the permit-holder to submit their current permit, a passport, a Registration Certificate, and their most recent paystub.

Denial Rates Increase for L-1B Petitions

The denial rate for L-1B petitions to transfer high-skilled employees to the United States increased to 35% in FY 2014. USCIS recently released data of its denial rates showing the exponential increase in denials since FY 2006, when the L-1B denial rate was as low as 6%.  The rate of Requests for Evidence (RFE) for L-1B petitions remains high, at 45% in FY 2014.  This is compared to the extremely low RFE rate of FY 2004 when only 2% of cases received an RFE.  The numbers were provided in a report produced by the National Foundation for American Policy.

Both the high denial rate and the increased rate of RFEs for L-1B petitions has negatively affected the ability of companies to develop products and services in the United States as well as their ability to operate on a global scale.