Asylum Application & Immigration Support

Where can I get information and advice?

Where can I get assistance to complete Immigration forms which I am required to fill in?

What services does the Legal Aid Board provide?

• It can give you advice before you submit your questionnaire to the International Protection Office or before you attend your interview in the International Protection Office.
• It can make written submissions to the International Protection Office in support of your application for asylum.
• It can represent you before the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.
• If your application for refugee status is refused, it can seek a review of a negative permission to remain decision by the Minister for Justice.
• It can also help if the International Protection Office decides to remove you from Ireland and send you to another EEA country under the Dublin III Regulation.

How much do I pay towards my legal costs?

• If you are applying for legal aid to help you with a claim for asylum or subsidiary protection in Ireland, and your only income is the Daily Expenses Allowance and you have less than €4000 in savings and assets you will be asked to pay a contribution of €10. This covers both legal aid and legal advice. If you can’t pay this, you can request that the fee is waived on hardship grounds.
• If you have more income or assets you will be means tested.

How do I get a solicitor?

Who covers the solicitor fees?

• If you receive Legal Aid, you must pay €10, if you are in receipt of a direct provision allowance (and no income).

What assistance should my solicitor give me?

• Solicitors should provide legal advice and advocacy in Court for legal issues.
• Solicitors should answer any legal queries you may have.

Will I meet my solicitor face-to-face?

• Yes, but this is subject to waiting time (which can be quite long).          

If I am unhappy with my solicitor what options are open to me?

• Firstly, notify the Managing Solicitor of the Law centre or if assigned to a private solicitor you must notify the Legal Services Section, Quay Street, Caherciveen, Co Kerry. Phone : 066 – 947 1000 or 1890 – 615 200.
• If the matter fails to be resolved you should write to the managing solicitor of the Law Centre outlining the reasons why you are unhappy.
• If you are still unhappy you must apply to the Legal Aid Board. The process of assigning and informing a new solicitor of your case will take time, however.
• Legal Aid Board, Cork North Law Centre, Pope’s Quay, Cork, T23 HV26. Phone : 021 – 455 1686 or 021 – 455 4634 or Free Phone (from land line only) 1800 – 20 24 20 or visit www.legalaidboard.ie.
• NASC, 34 Paul Street, Cork, T12 W14H. Phone : 021 – 427 3594. However, NASC recommends to stay with your original solicitor, where possible.

Are there other advocacy options open to me?

What happens if my application for international protection is refused?

• If the international protection offer makes a recommendation that you should be given a subsidiary protection declaration, but not a refugee, or that you should not be given a refugee or subsidiary protection declaration, you will receive a letter confirming the decision and outlining the reasons for the recommendation.
• Your solicitor should also receive a copy. It is very important that you contact your solicitor as soon as you receive this letter to discuss an appeal. You may appeal the decision to the International Protection Office within 15 working days of the letter.

What happens if I get a deportation order?

• There is very little that can be done at the point that a deportation order has been issued. However, you can register with the Refugee Legal Service and the service can attempt to review aspects of the case that may have been overlooked in Court (Cork North Law Centre, North Quay House, Pope’s Quay, Cork, T23 HV26, Phone : 021 – 455 4634)
• Legal Aid Board can also be contacted. However, nothing much can be done. (Cork North Law Centre, Pope’s Quay, Cork, T23 HV26, Phone : 021 – 455 1686 or 021 – 455 4634 or Free Phone : 1800 – 20 24 20, Email: lawcentrecorknorth@legalaidboard.ie, www.legalaidboard.ie)