Overcrowding at Immigration Office as thousands rush to collect passports
August 22, 2024 7:30 am | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Ezra Toara.
The Immigration Office has recently been overwhelmed by large crowds, raising concerns among the public.
Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat, clarified the situation, attributing the sudden influx to the launch of a new passport machine and the clearing of a significant backlog of applications.
Last week, Minister Napuat introduced the new passport system, explaining that approximately 7,000 applications had accumulated over time due to the limited capacity of the old passport machine.
“The old machine could not meet the growing demand, leading to delays that stretched over months, even years,” he said.
“We understood the frustration of those who lodged their applications but had to wait a very long time.”
To address this issue, immigration staff worked tirelessly, printing passports day and night to clear the backlog before transitioning to the new system. The effort resulted in the clearance of all pending applications just in time for the public notice to collect their passports.
Minister Napuat acknowledged the large turnout at the immigration office, saying, “We didn’t anticipate that so many people would come on the same day to collect their passports. The staff had expected a more gradual collection process.”
To manage the situation, he said that he has spoke with the Director of Immigration and staff to separate lanes for those collecting passports and for new applicants, aiming to streamline the flow of people.
Minister Napuat expressed confidence that the crowds would diminish by Friday, as those coming in future weeks will be applying for the new upgraded electronic passports.
He highlighted that these passports feature enhanced security measures and meet international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), facilitating faster and easier travel.
Addressing concerns about the increased cost of the new passports, Minister Napuat explained that the price reflects the additional security features and the expenses involved in producing and importing the booklets.
“The cost of one booklet is 15,000 Vatu, including freight and duty charges. Despite these costs, I believe our passports are still reasonably priced compared to other countries with similar electronic passports,” he stated.
For those holding old passports, Minister Napuat assured that they could apply for the new upgraded electronic passports at any time by visiting the immigration office.
