Domestic Violence Coalition marks 16 Days of Action – Melina’s Story
The following case study is based on real accounts as told to a member organisation of the Domestic Violence Coalition. Specific details and circumstances have been changed in the interests of protecting identity and to preserve the confidential nature of the assistance provided. We are sharing ione case study every day to mark the 16 Days of Action campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence situations.
The Domestic Violence Coalition is made up of the following organisations: Womens Aid, Adapt Domestic Abuse Services, Doras Luimní, Nasc – the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service Sligo, Akidwa, Longford Women’s Link, Sonas Housing, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Ascend Domestic Abuse Service.
Case Study 16
Melina is an Argentinian citizen who has been residing in Ireland since the early 2000’s. She initially entered Ireland as a student, eventually became a work permit holder and has been in full employment for the majority of her time in Ireland. Melina entered into a relationship with an Irish national and they married in 2011. Following her marriage, she made an application to the immigration authorities to change her status to reflect this. This application was successful and she was granted permission to reside in Ireland on ‘Stamp 4’ conditions for 1 year initially. Melina’s husband had issues with substance abuse, and one night subjected her to a severe assault that required her to be hospitalised. Her husband was arrested and she moved out of the home to secure her own accommodation.
In 2012 Melina approached a member organisation of the Domestic Violence Coalition for assistance with her immigration status. She had presented to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) the day before to have her immigration status renewed but was informed that this was not possible as she was no longer living with her husband and that she would have to write to the immigration authorities to explain the situation and request a renewal of her status. Melina could not understand why this had not been made clear to her earlier; she has searched the websites of the immigration authorities and could find no information about her rights as the spouse of an Irish citizen, or her rights to remain in Ireland if her relationship ended. With the support of the organisation, Melina wrote to the immigration authorities to seek an independent status. While she awaited a response from the immigration authorities, she was without an immigration status and gave up her employment as she did not want to work without a valid up to date GNIB card. For three months, while her application was being processed, she survived on her savings and did not seek any assistance from the State as she was aware that, without an immigration status, she would most likely be refused support. Melina was granted permission to remain in Ireland and has since become self-employed.
