International Students Urge Irish Govt to Extend Thousands of Visas That Will Expire at End of May
Categories: US Education News
English language students in Ireland have urged the government to extend Stamp Two visas for thousands of students who work in the country.If these visas are not extended, the country risks facing a staffing crisis in the hospitality sector over the summer, as about 3,000 student workers are considering leaving Ireland by the end of this month, the local Irish media has reported.The English Language Students Union (ELSU) said that these students prefer to return only in September when the academic year starts. The Stamp Two visa permissions, which will expire from May 31 to September 30, would allow students to work for 20 hours a week during the semester while 40 hours per week during holidays, Erudera College News reports.Under laws in the country, English students can apply for a new visa after two years of studying in the country and showing a good performance during their studies.According to activists, the money that is spent for students to return to their home countries during summer could be used for their education in Ireland. Adrian Cummins of the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) told The Journal that if the extension doesn’t happen, it will have a devastating impact on the Irish hospitality sector during the year.Cummins added that the country needs more people who can work in order to avoid the labor shortage.Activists have also expressed concerns that international students will be losing their jobs and all the investments they have made during their studies at universities in the country if visas are not extended.Earlier this year, the National Tourism Development Authority of the Republic of Ireland Fáilte Ireland said that a total of 40,000 vacancies in the hospitality and tourism industry in the Ireland must be filled.