No Service, No Communication

Try calling the embassy to try and get feedback on a visa, I dare you. They do not answer call, it goes to a "full" voicemail. Try to email them about a visa application for escalation as it is passed the processing times (95+ days), not worth the effort. No answers, just automatic responses that refer you to either another email address (that you also get no answer from) or emails that advise you to log a query on the their "new" portal (read blackhole where everything gets sucked in and nothing ever comes out). You get no feedback to any emails send to any of the email address, trust me I tried all of the below.

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If you log anything on the query portal you get absolutely no feedback either, just reference numbers that never get responded to. Due to the above I will be missing my sisters wedding and from the lack of response, I have to assume no one cares. I have been to Ireland several times before (when no visa process was in place for South African citizens) and had no issues, but now because of an arbitrary decisionand insufficient staff with no compassion, I am stuck in this no mans land. Just a warning to all people wanting to go an visit Ireland, DON'T. It is not worth the frustration and unhelpful visa offices. Go ANYWHERE else. Don't waste your time. If I did not have family there, I would NEVER go back there again. To be honest, I am considering telling them they can come to South Africa from now on as I am not going to go through this again if I don't have to.