Though the Irish government has been working with the Irish lobby for passage of an E-3 work visa, the U.S. elections have placed plans on hold until Congress returns at the end of November.
Speaking to media at the Irish Consulate in New York last week, Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore said that while “quite a lot” of work has been done to secure eventual passage of an E-3 program that would allow the Irish to live and work in the U.S. on a temporary basis, there are no new developments to report.
Gilmore, who was in New York to lead the Irish delegation at the United Nations, also met with representatives of the Irish immigration centers throughout the country. He announced that the Irish government would once again provide funding for their work with an allocation of $2,103,000 which will be disbursed to 29 organizations.
“We had a useful discussion about the issues – social services, problems with J-1 visas, older immigrants,” Gilmore said of the meeting.
“And we also talked about what needs to be done on a political level to land an E-3 visa. There’s been quite an amount of work done on a cross party basis with Senator (Charles) Schumer and Senator (Scott) Brown.”
Gilmore, without elaborating, said an agreed text for a possible E-3 program has been put in place. “Now what needs to be done is to look at how that is brought through the House of Representatives and brought into legislation,” he added.
While in New York, Gilmore also met with Bloomberg News to speak about the Irish economy, and labor movement officials.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.WoundedKnee | Oct 08, 2012, 03:47 PM EDT
hooligan: You're dead right. Why should Americans seeking to work in Ireland have fewer rights than Afghans, Arabs, Poles etc. who seek to live in Ireland? Why should Americans in Ireland have fewer rights than Irish in the USA? The Irish want preferential treatment from us, but they give us no preferential treatment in return. A Latvian, Lithuanian etc, (countries with errr... long historical and cultural links with Ireland....) walks right thru Immigration at Dublin Airport, while the American visitor has to explain his business. often prove that he has sufficient funds, and has Stay Limited to 28 Days stamped on his passport. Let's face it, the Irish don't do anything to deserve favors from us.
paulpaulpaul | Oct 08, 2012, 01:19 AM EDT
Another Holiday season approaches, and there`s not a word about the 50,000 Undocumented Irish people. Canada sent a Government Minister to Dublin to expedidite yet another job expo. It`s shameful that this U.S Administration has perpetuated four more years of anguish for the undocumented, with no sign of alleviation in sight. This hope and change Presidency must rank as one of the most divisive, vitriolic in memory, and another 4 years of same is a truly appaling vista. A Romney victory, would, I pray, repair division and maybe re-energize cross-aisle co-operation. Such a return to the Reagan/O Neill double act would restore America`s values, propel long overdue legislation and maybe just about reverse the Global slump.
cillowen | Oct 07, 2012, 08:05 PM EDT
its that begging thing again - gerry adams approach is something worthy of a trial.
hooligan6a | Oct 07, 2012, 01:24 PM EDT
We don't need the tax revenues as much as we need to stop runaway government spending.
butlerreport | Oct 07, 2012, 12:29 PM EDT
I would be more worried about the US pulling the ability to avoid taxes by US companies in Ireland. The US needs those tax revenues.
irishcoffeekid | Oct 07, 2012, 12:09 PM EDT
i dont get it why the media is going out of its way NOT to mention that even if the E3 visa goes ahead, irish people CANNOT move to the USA without a job offer!!! You are no more eligible to come here unless you have an employer who is willing to sponsor you and the changes of that are slim given there are hundreds of highly qualified IT graduates already here trying to find a job - its not as simple as they're trying to lead believe to believe and its not an open door to coming to the USA. Without the sponsor you're about as lucky to get here as getting your green card in the visa lottery! Read the small print on E3, dont rely on the media or the politicians who are misleading people about the difficulty of getting a sponsor!
hooligan6a | Oct 07, 2012, 11:14 AM EDT
Why doesn't Ireland give US citizens a work Visa in return?