I arrived in Ireland with a dream of making a new life for myself. I have always been fascinated by this country, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make that dream come true. As fate would have it, however, things did not go as smoothly as I expected them too. Immigration is not easy! Many people before me had tried to immigrate here only to be denied entry or deported back home again because their applications were rejected due to minor mistakes on their part or problems within their family history records.
I was a young man when I first came to Ireland, hoping to make a new life for myself.
You’re probably wondering how I came to be here, in Ireland. You may have heard about my story and the way it changed the lives of so many immigrants like me. I was a young man when I first came to Ireland, hoping to make a new life for myself.
Many people have come before me with the same hopes only to find them dashed on the rocks of European bureaucracy. They were sent back home without any option but to try again another day and hope that they would not be met with such unfortunate circumstances as before.
I was not alone, many had come before me with the same hopes only to find them dashed on the rocks of European bureaucracy.
I quickly learned that immigration was not so easy and many had come before me with the same hopes only to find them dashed on the rocks of European bureaucracy.
I was a young man when I first came to Ireland, hoping to make a new life for myself. I quickly learned that immigration was not so easy and many had come before me with the same hopes only to find them dashed on the rocks of European bureaucracy.
I had grown up in a small village in southern India, but after my father died we were forced to move into Mumbai city where he lived as an accountant for one of his employer’s companies. My mother struggled to raise us alone and even though she was successful at getting us through school she soon found herself unable to afford it any longer once we graduated university level education. She sent me off first; I had been working since leaving high school and could afford passage across the ocean without her help (although my mother protested loudly). Once here in Ireland however things did not go as smoothly as they should have: It seemed that nobody knew anything – nobody would listen at least until finally someone took pity on me and helped me out by giving me his contact details who turned out later on proved invaluable during my time here as an immigrant seeking asylum status..
Initially I did not pursue my immigration case as vigorously as I might have because I realized how difficult it can be and did not want to become enmeshed in the system.
The truth is, I didn’t pursue my immigration case as vigorously as I might have because I realized how difficult it can be and did not want to become enmeshed in the system.
This was a mistake on my part. Had I been more proactive, who knows what could have happened? At least then, though, I would have had something to show for myself rather than nothing but broken dreams and dashed hopes.
I tried to go through legal immigration channels but they kept rejecting my application.
I tried to go through legal immigration channels but they kept rejecting my application. I was a student, so it seemed like the only way to stay in Ireland was to find an employer who would sponsor me for a work permit or a visa.
One day, while riding on public transit, I met Peter Sinnott, a Dublin immigration solicitor who said he could help me get Irish citizenship.
One day, while riding on public transit, I met a Dublin immigration solicitor who said he could help me get Irish citizenship. He also told me about the opportunities for work and travel that would come with having dual Irish-American citizenship. I was skeptical of his promises at first—after all, how could anyone make such bold statements without any proof to back them up? But after a few weeks of conversation with Peter, it became clear that he really did know what he was talking about. So when he offered to help me with my immigration case, I took him up on his offer immediately!
When I progressed through the immigration courts with Peter Sinnott’s help some of the roadblocks to my immigration were removed but there were still things that needed to be done.
When I progressed through the immigration courts with Peter Sinnott’s help some of the roadblocks to my immigration were removed but there were still things that needed to be done. However, after I received Irish citizenship and permanent residence for my wife we could finally get married in Ireland. We had to go before an official at Dublin City Hall and then apply for an Irish marriage certificate which is different from a “common law marriage certificate.”
One of them was getting married and securing permanent residence for my wife, a process that was made much easier by Peter’s expertise and guidance.
One of them was getting married and securing permanent residence for my wife, a process that was made much easier by Peter’s expertise and guidance. We had planned to get married in the traditional way but were told that we would need to marry in Ireland first before we could apply for her to get a visa. The ceremony was spread over several days with three different venues: the civil service at Dublin Castle, followed by our reception at Powerscourt House and Gardens; then finally onto another venue where we held our party with all of our friends before heading back home.
The whole experience was amazing because it allowed us both time together as husband and wife after many years apart – even though she couldn’t travel outside Ireland until her residency came through (which didn’t take too long).
Since my wife’s family lives in south India we went there for the wedding, which meant travelling more than half way around the world.
While Dublin is a lovely city and we have enjoyed our time here, it’s still a bit of culture shock after being based in India for so long. It was nice to have some friends come over from Australia and Canada for the wedding, but even with them here it still felt like we were missing out on some of the fun because most of our friends were in India. Not only that, but since my wife’s family lives in south India we went there for the wedding, which meant travelling more than half way around the world (and back again). If there was ever any doubt as to whether or not travel can be stressful enough without having to deal with immigration laws then just imagine having done all that travelling only to find yourself trying desperately not get deported!
We took part in several ceremonies because we both felt it was important for our families to see us getting married in the traditional way, which consisted of ceremonies spread over several days rather than one single act at a church or government office.
We took part in several ceremonies because we both felt it was important for our families to see us getting married in the traditional way, which consisted of ceremonies spread over several days rather than one single act at a church or government office.
It was very important to me that my family could be there for the wedding, but it was also important to my wife’s family as well. We both wanted them to know that they would always be welcome in our lives and in our home.
Conclusion
This was a huge step for both of us, but we did it for our families and friends who could not make the trip. We wanted them to see us get married in their own culture as well as ours. It was important for me because I had never been to India before and my wife wanted me to see where she grew up so it made sense that we fly back there after our wedding ceremony here in Ireland so everyone could meet each other face-to-face before returning home.”
