Healthcare workers from India say they are being forced to stay in the country illegally due to delays.
The Cork Indian Nurses group staged a two-hour protest outside the immigration office in the today to highlight what they say are unacceptable wait times for an appointment to renew their visas.
They are calling for more immigration offices in Cork and say an online renewal system will help to ease delays.
Janet Baby Joseph told RedFM News that some people are waiting months for appointments
"Once their visa expires, they will have to be waiting or staying here illegally, without a valid visa. Secondly, the employers would be asking for a valid visa for them to work. We have live cases of people who have got a letter saying that they will be terminated from their jobs, from HSE as well, if they do not have a valid visa"
