NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish Pubs Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Irish raise immigrant visa issue with Secretary of State Clinton

Irish raise immigrant visa issue with Secretary of State Clinton

JAMES O'BRIEN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, March 19, 2011, 8:48 AM

Updated Saturday, March 19, 2011, 8:48 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

4 Comments

Washington--3/18/11--Ireland's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore meets with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department.

Irish Foreign minister Eamon Gilmore has raised the issue of a bilateral visa program for Ireland in discussions with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

Ireland is seeking access to the E3 visa, which allows 10,000 non-emigrant working visas a year. The visas can be renewed on a two year basis.

Australia has already gained access to the program.

Gilmore met with Secretary Clinton on Friday morning in Washington soon after she returned from a visit to Tunisia.

In a statement, Gilmore said Ireland and the U.S. have many areas of common interest and thanked her for her help on the peace process.

“Your own constant encouragement and unwavering support in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland is deeply appreciated by all your friends in Ireland, as is your ongoing support for the International Fund for Ireland, " said Gilmore.

"I also took the opportunity to thank Secretary Clinton for her strong support of the Irish community here over many years, and we discussed the prospects for progress on immigration reform as well as bilateral visa arrangements."

In response to questions, Clinton said she hoped to accompany President Obama to Ireland during his May visit.

Nster.com

E-mail

4 Comments

See all comments

mamaginnty | Mar 20, 2011, 02:58 PM EDT

Yes it will benefit everyone Collette2, but as I said it will suit our government both ways.

Report abuse

Collette2 | Mar 19, 2011, 07:06 PM EDT

I don't know much about Gilmore or his 'buddy' Kenny, but the Irish will always do what they have to do. What ever decisions they make, they never forget their roots and their loyalty is well reknowned. Ireland will never lose them and the two year visa's will in the long run benefit everyone don't you think?

Report abuse

mamaginnty | Mar 19, 2011, 11:42 AM EDT

Gilmore is so sleazy, he and his buddy Kenny know the irish are leaving because there will be no work for them. He is trying to get rid of them " legally ". Judiron were you actually born in " your country " or was it your parents or grandparents etc.

Report abuse

judiron | Mar 19, 2011, 10:57 AM EDT

I think Clinton and Obama should stay home and work on our problems, if the irish people believe they can home to the u.s. and work lots of luck. we'd all be better off if every one would stay in their own country and try to improve them.

Report abuse