Tag: Visas

Irish Bank Accounts – The Final Step (!)

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel, Visas, Working Holiday4 Comments

Do you see that in the distance? That’s the finish line! You’re so close to being done with all these boring processes. Run Forrest, Run!

So once your form 12A comes back, you’ll be home free and ready to make that bank appointment. In order to open an account you’ll need identification (passport is best) and proof of address. Your proof of address must be one of the following options: a utility (gas or electricity) bill in your name, your 12A or a health/motor/house insurance document. The easiest and most attainable for working holiday participants is the 12A.

Firstly, you’ll have to choose your bank, for me Permanent TSB was the best option as they have an account called an Explore Account which seemed easy to set up/most appropriate for my situation. They give you 10 cents back each time you use the card (up to 5 euro, but that’s two cans of Bulmers from Spar) which was a nice little plus. However, there are multiple other banks in Ireland that you could look into opening an account with (Bank of Ireland, AIB, Ulster Bank).

Since I work weekdays and by the time I get home the bank is closed (damn you business hours!!), I called in and made an appointment to set up an account on a Saturday. Permanent TSB has extended hours until 8pm on Thursday and limited Saturday hours at their Grafton Street branch, so make sure you call in to book one of those times if you’re unavailable during the day. If you’re free during the day, however, you can book an appointment online during regular business hours and plan it at your leisure.

When I got there I was taken to the upstairs offices where a very nice woman named Bernie took me through the steps of registering my account. She made copies of my passport and 12A and asked basic questions like where I was living, my job title/salary, how many credit cards/bank accounts I had, etc. Once all that was done and the necessary documents were signed, I made a password for my online account.

Unfortunately, your account isn’t formally open at the end of your appointment, so I wasn’t able to deposit the checks I’d had saved up that day. *Side note, in Ireland it takes five business days for checks to clear which is eternally frustrating, but it is what it is.* By the next business day (the Monday after my Saturday appointment) my account was registered and I deposited what I had into the kiosks they have in their branches.

They said that it would take about three business days for me to receive the pin for my card and then it would be up to three business days after that for me to receive my actual debit card. Which to me makes no sense because why not send them together? Or send the card first? But I have long since stopped questioning the random, long and rambling processes. My pin ended up coming on the Thursday of that next week and I was dreading having to wait all the way until Tuesday for my card, but to my surprise it came the next day (which in retrospect was bad because then  I was so excited to have access to my funds I went a little bit overboard on pub charges that night…)!

Once you have your bank account set up, you’ll be ripe and ready to take on the world as a fully functional, official Working Holiday participant. You can also set up direct deposit if your job has access to that, which will eliminate the five days of waiting for checks to clear (hallelujah).

And that, my friends, is all she wrote on the multi-tiered process of getting set up. Congrats if you’ve gotten to that point, if not, hang in there! Any questions, don’t hesitate to drop me a comment (or if you just want to vent about how frustrated you are, I will be 100% willing to join you in commiseration).

 

 

 

 

 

 

GNIB Registration — AKA Hell on Earth

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Visas5 Comments

Hello all! As I’ve just gotten onto the right sleep schedule, I’m ripe and ready to crank out the blog posts on all I’ve learned in the past few days. One topic being the dreaded GNIB or Garda National Immigration Bureau. When you receive your Working Holiday Authorization, it informs you that you have to register with the GNIB within 90 days of entrance by going to their office in Dublin, which is over by the Liffey. Once you do this, you’ll be given a GNIB card, which is necessary to have as a form of proof of ability to work. What they don’t tell you is that this process is by no means as easy as it sounds.

First of all, the GNIB is only open Mondays and Tuesdays from 8am-9pm. While this time period seems long, you have to get there VERY EARLY in order to be seen. Each day, they give out a certain amount of appointment numbers and if you arrive too late, you may not be able to get a slot.

While the office opens at 8am, it is extremely important you get there early to procure a spot in line. I would suggest arriving at 6am or earlier if you want to get in and out before they close. I know this sounds absurd, but people sleep overnight to get spots, and many arrive between 5am-6am.

I personally arrived at about 5:45am, and ended up with the appointment number 95, which was lucky as I saw others who got numbers in the 200s.

When the GNIB opens, they’ll slowly start letting people inside. You’ll queue up in order to get your appointment number, and once you have this, you sit and wait until the screen flashes your number. This can take a very long time. I was in the door at 8:10am and was in the second group of people they let in, and I wasn’t seen until around 12:30pm.

Once your number is called, you will walk up and speak to a representative. Make sure you have…

  • Your passport
  • Your Working Holiday Authorization
  • An Irish address and phone number for them to have on file
  • A credit card/debit card to pay the €300 fee

From there they’ll have you pay the fee and take your picture for your GNIB card (which looks just like any sort of identification card). They’ll hold on to your passport while you go back to the waiting room.

At this point in the process you’ll have to wait until they call your name over the loudspeaker. It is good to sit in the far corner of the room during this process (over by the entrance to the bathroom) because the speaker is the best there and it’s easier to hear your name called. It took about 2 hours for this to happen in my case, with them presenting me with the card (and returning my passport) at about 2:30pm.

All in all, I spent 9 hours at the GNIB in order to fully complete the process. You are allowed to leave while everything is processing, however if you miss your appointment that would be on your head. I was personally too nervous to leave during my time, but a very kind friend brought me coffee, which was a relief. Definitely bring a book, your iPod or a laptop to use, because the waiting is basically like the DMV on crack.

So, in conclusion, the GNIB is like the 9th circle of hell, but once you do it you’ll be home free (JUST DON’T LOOSE YOUR CARD!!). So when it comes to the Immigration office, may the odds be ever in your favor…

**Side note – Avoid the bathroom at all costs as it is terrifying. The whole thing is lit up blue with a strobing light overhead in order to apparently keep people from shooting up (?????!!!!). Excuse me while I continue to have stress nightmares about peeing there.

***Second side note – I went on the 4th of July and never have I enjoyed the concept of freedom better than when I walked out of the GNIB doors, I literally almost kissed the dirty pee-stained sidewalk (I didn’t though, for the sake of dental hygiene).

 

Working Holiday Visa Requirements – Update

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel, VisasLeave a comment

Hello all!

Less than two weeks until my arrival in Ireland and I’m just now letting the packing-themed panic set in.

To avoid thinking about outlet converters, sleep schedules and how many pairs of underwear I can fit into one suitcase, I’ve decided to do a post on the newly updated requirements for the Irish Working Holiday Authorization for USA natives.

So, a little while ago I posted about the various requirements for a United States college student/graduate to be able to work abroad in Ireland. While most of the requirements hold true to my previous write up, there have been a few changes made, which are reflected in their new website format.

To clarify these, I’ll list out all the requirements below…

  1. The first step is completing the application page provided by the Irish Consulate which can be found at this link. It’s pretty basic information and can be filled out fairly easily.
  2. A photocopy of the applicant’s US passport, which must be valid for the entirety of the stay in Ireland.
  3. Two identical passport photos with the applicants name on the back. These can be done at most CVS or Walgreens stores.
  4. A current resumé with at least TWO references (before it said “references” and now it stipulates the number).
  5. Evidence that the applicant is in secondary-education or has graduated in the past twelve months. I ordered a copy of my official transcript from my university as proof.
  6. An original bank statement proving that you have at least $4,000 (this is also different, before it was you needed proof of either $4,000 or a return plane ticket and proof of $2,000).
  7. A money order or cashier’s check (no personal checks) for the allotted amount based on which embassy you are sending your application to.

Finally, if your application is accepted which should take anywhere between 6-12 weeks, you have to send them further materials including…

  1. Return airline ticket (which doesn’t have to be back to your original country, just out of Ireland).
  2. Certificate of health insurance coverage for the duration of your stay in Ireland (check with your insurance company on their policy for travel abroad and see if they can email you an official proof of coverage document).
  3. The applicant’s Passport.

So there you have it! I didn’t want anyone to read my previous post and think they were sending the wrong documents. Make sure to send your info early, as mine took eight weeks to process! Any questions don’t hesitate to comment.

~Irish Consulate Website Link~

 

 

Finding an Au Pair Position

On By EmilyinEarnestIn au pair, Ireland, Travel, VisasLeave a comment

Hello all! So I’ve been getting all of my materials together to send in my visa application (hopefully it’ll be ready to send out this week), but in the meantime I thought I’d talk a bit about how I got my Au Pair position.

I used a website called aupairworld.com, which I would recommend to anyone who serious about pursuing this option or who just wants to see what’s out there. I first came across the website after googling “au pair,” with no prior knowledge on the subject or how I would go about finding a position.

Firstly, I would say to make a profile, even if you don’t want to fill out the various “about me” sections or any of your information yet, a basic profile will allow you to narrow down your search and see real and available families. They have you enter your age, gender and a few countries you would want to work in, and with this information you can see the many different options.

When you become serious, make sure you take the time to personalize your profile! Don’t just write one word answers to the questions. Talk about your interests and your passions and make sure you actually have a reason for why you want to be an au pair. Also, be honest, don’t say you’re a champion horseback rider if you’re not! It’ll be much easier to find a family that matches up with your passions and plans if you are straightforward.

Another big thing is put up a picture! It’s hard to trust some anonymous person on the internet to be who they say they are. If you want to attract real families and be an appealing hire, make sure you use a picture of yourself. Bonus points if you’re doing something you mentioned you’re interested in in your bio. Plus, it’ll assure them that you are, in fact, a normal human being.

Once you’ve made your profile suitable, reach out to people! Don’t be afraid to contact the families, even if you just send the pre-written “I’m interested” message they provide for you. The more people you talk to, the more opportunities you’ll have at your doorstep. I sent out multiple messages, just to feel things out. If you receive messages yourself, make sure to answer. The website shows the percentage of applications you respond to and a low percentage may make you look unavailable.

Finally, be conscious of where you’re looking to go/which positions you’re accepting. Look up visas and things of that nature (here’s my guide to Visas for Americans, and specific info on Ireland Working Holiday Visas). Many times I found that au pair positions that were open in Italy or Spain are mostly for the summer (3 months or less), which you wouldn’t need a visa for. However, if you’re looking to go for longer, you’ll need a visa for that specific country.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment! Happy searching, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

 

Working Holiday Visa – Ireland

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel, Visas3 Comments

IMG_1078My last post was about ways to live internationally in general. This one however, will have a focus on the visa that I will (hopefully) be getting and using in order to be an au pair in Ireland.

The Working Holiday Visa is an option that seems tailor made for college students or recent graduates. Essentially, due to the US and Ireland having good international relations, it is possible to travel there and work for up to 12 months if you are currently enrolled in college or have graduated in the last 12 months. You don’t need to have a job beforehand or a sponsor.

First of all, you need to figure out which of Ireland’s consulates in the United States is yours. There are six of them throughout the US including in Washington DC, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco. Each of these has certain surrounding states that they also service, so make sure you’re sending your application to the right one. I personally will be sending my info to New York.

There is an application form that everyone who intends to do the working holiday must fill out. It’s not extremely complicated, just basic info. Besides that the rest of the requirements are as follows…

  • Valid US passport (make sure it will be valid throughout the entirety of your planned stay.)
  • 2 identical passport photos with your name written on the back (these can be taken at any CVS)
  • A resumé with references (not sure how many references would be standard, but I’m going to include at least two)
  • A bank statement saying you have $2,000 and proof of a return ticket OR just $4000***
  • Originals of school qualifications or a letter from your university (I’m probably just going to put a copy of my official transcript)
  • $337 visa fee along with $13 fee if you would like the consulate to mail your documents back to you (which is far more convenient)

*** So, here’s my side note. It says that you must prove that you have either $2000 and a return airline ticket or $4000. However, it is much better to just produce your return ticket when you’re applying because later on it says they cannot officially issue your visa until you prove you have the airline ticket.

Additionally, I have contacted the consulate in order to ask whether the “return ticket” must be from Ireland back to the US, or if it would be possible to simply buy a plane ticket out of the country (to some other European nation). I was planning on doing some traveling once my 6 month position had ended and it would be far more complicated if I were required to book my flight back to the US directly from Ireland and this far in advance.

More to come on the application process and the answer to this question! In the meantime, here’s the link to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, where all the info I just stated is laid out.

 

 

Visas for Americans

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Travel, Visas3 Comments

As a sophomore in college, I studied abroad in London, UK and absolutely loved it. I was completely enamored by the bustle of the city, the history and the lifestyle that was lead by europeans in general. It was in that four month time period of museum visits and weekend trips to foreign lands that I decided once and for all that I would move to the UK as soon as I graduated.

Pop.

Did you hear that? That was my bubble of hope popping. As it turns out, being an American, while extremely entertaining when chanting U.S.A at frat parties, is troublesome when you want to go anywhere else. Since the United States is not a member of the European Union, we do not have the inherent right to work or study abroad without going through a heinous amount of paperwork.

Even then, in most cases you would need to be hired by a company which would sponsor your visa before you would be allowed in. So, what are we Americans to do? Find the best options.

1. Working Holiday Visas

A working holiday visa is essentially a pass for you to get a job in a country for (usually) up to a year. The countries that U.S. citizens can acquire Working Holiday Visas for are…

  • Australia
  • Ireland
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • North Korea

This is a very limited list, however some of these can be great options if you’re interested in the particular cultures of said countries. Each different nation has its own requirements (from monetary restrictions to age and education) along with a different length of stay. If you’re curious I recommend checking out GoOverseas which has an awesome article about each of the options.

2. Student Visas

While it is difficult to obtain a visa just to work, student visas are slightly easier to obtain. If you want to enhance your education while abroad, this is the option for you. In order to obtain a tier 4 student visa for the UK, you must be enrolled or have been offered a position at an institute of learning that is licensed. You also must have enough money to support yourself while you’re over there.

These visas can be for extended periods of time depending on how long you’re taking classes. The longer the classes or the more classes you take sequentially, the higher the probability it’ll be possible to extend your visa.

The kicker, many times you can legally work when you have this visa! The amount or hours of work you can do is dependent upon the type of classes you’re taking and the school you have sponsoring you. This is a great option for many people who want to live abroad in a country that doesn’t provide working holiday visas.

3. Shortened Stay

If, by chance, you want to live in a country for less than 3 months doing au pair work or another option that pays cash, you could opt not to get a visa at all. Many countries allow U.S. citizens to enter without a visa on the condition that they are tourists leaving within the allotted time limit.

Students with summers free would find this option especially appealing, as it eliminates the complicated visa process. Au Pair jobs are especially abundant in the summer in places like Spain and Italy. For more info on this I would suggest Au Pair World, which has a ton of resources for anyone considering this option.

 

Looking into international living can be stressful and disheartening, especially when you’re from our corner of the world. It’s all about sifting through the plethora of information and finding the plan that works best for you!