I am an individual who craves novelty. In fact, I desire it to the point of seeming unrealistic in my wishes— for example, it sometimes fleets through my mind that I would visit every single country in the world before I “expire”. I know that isn’t humanly possible, or at least the probability is low, realistically speaking, so, somewhere around my mid-twenties, I learned to make my goals smaller and less grandiose.
However, I am aware that, while more realistic, this process is not always easy for anyone. This difficult journey started when I was referred to work in a program in Ireland via a group of clients I worked with. The people I encountered along the way were very accommodating and appeared to understand, as did I, that the visa process would be necessary. I have been interested in visiting Ireland my entire life— I do in fact have some extent of Irish heritage.
This procedure of applying for a work permit involved a meeting with the Irish consulate in New York City (which is where I currently reside) and, were I to obtain an art program facilitator position in Ireland, I would also have to apply for a visa that extended the limit of the 90-day tourist visa. The job I was waitlisted for and later accepted to was to be a full-time, salaried position. Knowing that a visa of some type would be required, I first visited the Irish Consulate on 345 Park Avenue in early July.
With that said, I soon realized that I had acquired a short stay visa which turned out to be inadequate. Upon arrival at Dublin airport, I was turned away at immigration control. My boundaries were challenged as I had my phone seized, as I was interrogated by an officer, an elder male who seemed to smirk at me and delight in bullying me, to coerce me into believing I was a liar and a criminal, which I am not by any means!
The officer’s assistant, a much younger gentleman clearly fresh out of university, could see that I was experiencing a form of harassment, and that his boss was making me uncomfortable, so I was led on to speak with another officer, a nice youngish woman, approximately in her late thirties or early forties. While Tara (this was her name) did essentially share the point of view of her boss, she was much more kindly about the whole procedure and helped me come to accept my mistake. She could see that I had made a genuine mistake and thus did not consider it a serious breach. In addition to that, she helped me recognize that my error would not ban me from the country forever— that I could still return to Ireland anytime as a tourist or to visit friends— and, with all the appropriate documentations, I would be able to pass through immigration and would be permitted to work there for a larger period of time.
In hindsight, I can see that I was poorly prepared and that it’s a much more intense process to obtain a visa for what I was traveling to Ireland to do. As of now, I am seeking an avenue to obtaining the valid visa and work permit to be allowed entry for working in Ireland, either in January or next autumn.
With that I conclude that I’ve been open to any advice on obtaining the proper visa or permit, and if you have any questions, I’ll be right here.
Be well,
Sofia
Sofia Ciniglio (b. 1989 in NYC) is a freelance writer and art specialist for children and adults with visual impairment as well as other disabilities. She is an avid traveler and has made trips to Europe since the age of thirteen months. Currently, Sofia is working on applying for a visa in order to work as an art program facilitator for special needs/differently abled children in County Waterford, Ireland. Sofia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and Music Theory from St. Frances College. She is currently considering applying for a Master’s degree in art therapy.
