Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
LiveLine with Ciarán Cuddihy on RTÉ Radio 1.
0818715815 if you want to give me a call or 51551 for your text. And Dr. Saad Kassim is on the line. Saad, you're welcome to the show. Tell me a little about your wife and the situation you're facing.
Thank you so much, Ciarán, for giving me the opportunity to come on. So as I was mentioning to members of your team, I married my wife back in November 2024. It will be two years now. I applied for her joint family visa in March of last year, which was one year and three months ago.
The effect both psychologically and socially that's had on both of us as a newlywed couple is just one to imagine. It's been very hard because I work in a level 3 territory care trauma level hospital. Sligo General Hospital, as I was mentioning. And the kind of things we have to see, actually, for any human being, it would be one thing to imagine.
So naturally, when one comes home, you want that comfort and you just want to zone out of it all. And one of the best ways to do that is to have a family of your own, have someone to return to. And I assume most people who are listening can relate.
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Chapter 2: What visa issues is Dr. Saad Kassim facing with his wife?
that work in similar jobs, be it healthcare, be it paramedics or anywhere really. When you come home, you just want to unwind and you just want to relax. But sadly, because my wife, they aren't approving her visa and it's been almost a year and three months now. It'll be a year and three months this June. I haven't left any stones unturned. I've knocked on so many doors.
It's become quite stressful now because when you hear from your better half that this country isn't giving me a visa or giving me permission to come legally, you know, it's very devastating. And that's, you know, it's just something that's interfering, you know.
So where were you or what were you doing when you met her? And, you know, how is it that she came to be somewhere else and you're here?
So the background is I basically grew up myself with my family. I grew up in Dublin, Pliny. And so I had to go to Pakistan for my basic medical degree. And I also worked there for two years and then I moved back home. And I was in Letterkenny initially and then Sligo now, Letterkenny a year and a half between 2023 and 2025.
It was during that time whilst I was in Pakistan that we met because our families are very close.
uh my family knows her family and then you know um you know it's it's a very social link up so i've known her for quite a while and then you know you could say it's like an arranged marriage but you know we've known each other previously so then we got married um quite happily in november 2024 um but sadly she's she's she's listening in at the minute and she's back home there and you know it's
It's difficult for her, you know.
Did you know that there was going to be issues when you moved back home to Ireland with her coming with you?
With regards to delays, I was aware, but then I've known a lot of people that have got it done within even a month. They've heard back from the department in a month's time. And then the reason why it upsets me is because I'm an Irish-born citizen. I hold citizenship from birth. And, you know, I've grown up here. I'm now working here, serving here. And it's just the difference in scenarios.
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Chapter 3: How has the visa delay affected Dr. Kassim's personal life?
Rather, I was based in Letterkenny for my training at that time. But I got the news that they refused the visa to my wife. I said, OK, there must be some confusion. So I told her that, hold on, I will go back and I will ask the Department of Justice the reason and then hopefully you will get the visa. Don't worry. I went back and I contacted the Department of Justice.
very ridiculous and very nonsense answer I got that she can make another application. And I said, but if you tell me the reason why it was refused in the first place, we can remove the reason and then make a new application. No, no, no, she can make another application. So the second application was made, was refused again. Then I contacted them. I said, why is it refused now?
Oh, she can make another application. I said, tell me the reason. I mean, and at that time, this is what happened to me. And three, rather six or eight months later, when I was completely frustrated and I was thinking of leaving Ireland and going to UK or maybe some other country, because it was a horrible experience for me, what is happening to my son.
So all of out of blue, one of my friends, he was Senator of Labour Party. New elections had occurred there at that time. So he went to the... According to him, he went to the Minister of Justice and he rang me one fine morning. Khalid, your wife has got a visa approved and she can get a stamp from the local consulate.
Great news, but that's not how the system is meant to work. And not telling people why the application... It's like saying, you failed the test, you've got to sit it again. But I'm not going to tell you how you failed it or what you did wrong. It's... It is a bit bizarre.
Saad, before I let you go, I know professionally you're kind of getting on with things, as you said, you're in Sligo now, but personally, your personal life probably feels like it's a bit on hold, does it?
absolutely like i mean you know you need to make big life decisions when you have your other half with yourself planning a family making big decisions you know when to buy a house or when to you know plan a family all these big things and everything is pretty much on hold like from a academic or career perspective yeah that that focus is obviously there but like from a family perspective when to start and all that everything is just like we're losing
peak time in our marriage we're nearly two years and most of that has been spent far apart um only like i mean i'm not complaining i love my job i enjoy it immensely um but like three weeks within six months is like nothing really you know it's an it's it's it's a needle in a haystack situation you just go there three weeks and then done so
Yeah, well, we did get on to the department and it won't surprise if they say, listen, we don't comment on individual cases. The department's business target for family visa applications is 12 months. That's a target. They don't say it'll be done in 12 months. They say that's a target and some applications can take longer than others. So I tend to agree with you, I suspect.
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Chapter 4: What background led to Dr. Kassim's marriage and current situation?
But listen, we appreciate you coming on and we'll keep in touch with you and with the department as well. Back in a moment.