Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 23, 2008 News
Since the introduction of the machine readable passports back in July last year, the Central Immigration Office has to date issued a total of 38,000 passports, according to Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, George Vyphius.
In an interview with this newspaper, Vyphius said that to date there has been no major hiccups in getting the new passport into circulation.
He, however, pointed out that there are some 1,000 passports that have not been uplifted by persons who applied. As such he is calling on members of the public who were given dates to uplift their passports to visit the office for their passports.
He said that notably, there has not been any suspected ‘fraud’ in this new process for the new passport as there has been in the past with the old passports.
According to Vyphius, there however continues to be people who feel that the process of getting their passports can be expedited. This, he said, can not happen since it is Canadian Bank Note Company that is responsible for manufacturing the passports.
Vyphius said there are people who come into the office reporting that their passport were either damaged or lost and when told of the period of time they would have to wait for a replacement they would attempt have the process quickened.
In the past people were made to wait nine months to have their lost passport replaced. This was, however, changed to three months as of recent with a fee of $15,000. For damaged passports persons are made to wait six months as opposed to having to wait only two months now.
On the other hand a person who is applying for a new passport is now told to return in two weeks to uplift.
The Immigration head is asking members of the public to be respectful of the services they are being afforded now.
He further noted that the current construction works which are ongoing at the Camp Street office is in no way affecting the passport service. But, he added that this is to better accommodate people in the future.
The introduction of a new machine readable passport issuing and border control system was official done on July 13, last year.
Canadian Bank Note was contracted by the Government to produce 500,000 passports, 100,000 of which will be readily available in the first year.
The document which consists of 32 pages and is valid for a five-year period will be prepared and distributed by the Central Immigration and Passport Office. Each person is required to apply in person for his or her document.
With the new passport children will no longer be allowed to travel on their parent’s document.
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