It's taking as long as 4 months for international students to secure permits to work in Cork.
The Progressive College Network says students from South America and Asia on 8 month visas to improve their English are quickly running out of money once they arrive.
The students are facing long delays in getting immigration appointments in Cork to obtain an Irish Residency Permit which would allow them to work and open a bank account.
Gardaí say they have seen an increase in the amount of people applying for immigration appointments and the caseload is being monitored.
Speaking to RedFM News, David Russell from The Progressive College Network says the students are in a financial limbo:
"The bottom line is the students are coming here for an 8 month duration. They're waiting for four months to get their application. So that means for four months they are literally in limbo, they can't do anything. "
