ABU DHABU – The Pakistani expat community has demanded a reform of the system to help get the outpass or Emergency Travel Document in case one is unable to renew their visa in time.
Suwaid Baloch – who is residing in the United Arab Emirates for quite a long time now – has demanded the authorities to streamline the process for getting the out pass, highlighting the cold response of the embassy in Abu Dhabi.
“The immigration department in the United Arab Emirates facilitates the expats by permitting them to have out pass for which online application can also be submitted; however, the applicants face much difficulties in case they visit the embassy in Abu Dhabi despite fulfilling all legal formalities,” claims Baloch.
Generally three documents are needed for getting the out pass which are ticket, passport and No Objection Certificate (NOC); however, if one loses the passport, or is unable to get that back from the travel agent, the process becomes complex and time taking.
The Pakistani expats claim that the directives issued by the embassy are clear; however, if one is absconding then the report from police for missing passport has to be submitted as well which is generally rejected by the embassy, adding to the woes of the applicants.
“If passport is lost in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, then the report regarding it is filed in the same region and is endorsed by different departments of the interior ministry including police, CID, Immigration and court, however, the same is not accepted by the Pakistani embassy in Abu Dhabi, leaving the applicants high and dry who have to run from pillar to post,” claim the expats.
Suwaid Baloch along with other expats have urged the authorities including the ministry of foreign affairs to streamline the process for getting the out pass so that those who are not fortunate to get their visa renewed can save their time and money and avoid the fines imposed by the immigration department.
The Pakistani expat community demands that being the second largest community in the emirate, facilitation should be provided to the workers who toil hard to feed themselves and are unable to get their visas renewed in the quest for livelihood.
