New biometric rule for Saudi visa-seekers

[Al Bhatti]

May 26, 2014

New biometric rule in UAE for Saudi visa-seekers
Applicants must have their fingerprints and photo taken at one of three VFS Tasheel visa service centres

Applicants for visas to Saudi Arabia, including Haj and Umrah pilgrims, who apply from the UAE must now also have their fingerprints and picture taken in addition to regular requirements.

The new rules went into effect on Sunday.

The new biometric enrolment part of the visa application costs Dh17 and is said to speed up entry formalities to the kingdom.

However, those exempt from the biometrics rule include applicants aged below 12 or above 70, diplomatic visa applicants, and those who cannot complete the process for a medical reason.

The UAE is the sixth country where the biometric rule has been introduced and more countries will join the list in a phased roll-out.

Both the fingerprint and picture capture will take a total of three to five minutes.

Applicants must visit one of three VFS Tasheel visa service centres in the UAE — in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Sharjah — which handle Saudi visa applications.

VFS Tasheel is authorised by the Saudi foreign affairs ministry to manage the Saudi visa application process in more than 30 countries.

Company officials said the biometrics rule has been made mandatory by the Saudi ministry, adding the company does not store or use the biometrics data in any way.

Their comments came during a Dubai press conference announcing the development.

Asif Delvi, assistant vice-president of VFS Tasheel, said the biometrics will “definitely make a difference in the time” taken by applications to go through.

However, it will not affect the decision process itself, which is solely taken by the Saudi embassies or consulates, he added.

Delvi said implementing the biometrics within the application process itself means “there will only be a verification process at the [Saudi] airport or border”.

He added that the new rule “makes sure the same person who applied for the visa is the one who is actually travelling to Saudi Arabia. Plus it’s for some background checks the [Saudi foreign ministry] does.”

Also, pilgrims seeking Haj or Umrah visas must visit a visa service centre to have their fingerprints and picture taken. However, their other usual formalities will continue to be handled as routine by an authorised Haj or Umrah agent.

Once the agent completes the pilgrim’s Enjaz process, the agent will need to schedule an appointment with the closest visa centre on the applicant’s behalf.

All visa applicants must book an appointment for the biometrics on the VFS Tasheel website, vfstasheel.com.

New biometric rule in UAE for Saudi visa-seekers | GulfNews.com

---------------------

VFS Tasheel has been mandated to handle biometric enrollment services in 33 countries. The company has already started the service in Bahrain, Japan, South Korea, Netherland and Switzerland and UAE is the 6th country.

During the Haj and Umrah, VFS Tasheel processes 55,000 applications a month from the UAE. On a daily basis, the The company processes 1,000 “full purpose” visa, which are other than Haj and Umrah applications.

As per VFS Tasheel the UAE stands fifth on the list of visa applications for Saudi Arabia with nearly 600,000 applications per year. Egypt takes the first place followed by Pakistan, Indonesia and Philippine.

I was expecting eye-scanning implementation by KSA since couple of years this is the first step to implement what UAE had implemented earlier. UAE has eye scan records of 97 to 98% of the expats in UAE, and fingerprints of 99% of the population including locals and expats.

This is a good security enforcement factor.

 

[Al Bhatti]

27 May 2014

The biometrics of an applicant for pilgrimage visa is being recorded at a VFS TasHeel centre in Dubai.

Biometric enrolment must for Saudi visa application

VFS TasHeel mandated to handle the process

Applicants for Umrah or Haj now have to give their biometrics data in person at any of VFS TasHeel Visa Services Centres before travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

According to the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Dubai, the resolution that went into effect yesterday, seeks to reduce the waiting time at border points, better streamline visa application procedures, and curb fraud and integrity risks.

“The biometric enrolment, referring to a measurable characteristic that is unique to an individual such as fingerprints, facial structure, iris or voice patterns, will be done in a maximum of two minutes,” the consulate said in a statement.

Biometric enrolment for visa applicants to Saudi Arabia from the UAE has been made mandatory following directives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KSA. “The rule includes all UAE residents in the 12 to 70 age group,” it stated.

The new biometric enrolment service that is part of the visa application costs Dh17 and is available at any of VFS Tasheel visa service centres in the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or Dubai), but fees are subject to change as per exchange rate agreed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Priyanka Padiyar, Assistant Manager – Corporate Communications, VFS TasHeel International, on Monday told Khaleej Times that biometrics data is collected from residents only. “The rule does not include Emirati nationals, and is applicable to all residents who need to submit their original passports at eight booths in Abu Dhabi, seven in Sharjah and nine in Dubai,” she said.

Madhan Gopalakrishnan, CEO, VFS TasHeel, said the Saudi government has instituted biometric requirements to ease the travel process for individuals visiting the KSA.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has mandated that VFS TasHeel will handle biometric enrolment services in the UAE, including those of Hajj and Umrah applicants, he added, noting that all applicants have to visit the centre in person to complete this procedure.

“Although the company does not process Hajj and Umrah visa applications, it will be responsible for providing the biometric enrolment services for all Saudi visa applicants.”

“Other TasHeel centres shall soon be opened for Umrah and Haj applicants in the emirates of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah, and more details about the centres can be obtained on www.vfstasheel.com.”

The new procedure is faster, more accurate and convenient than the old rules when four mandatory documents, including ID copy, vaccination card, no objection certificate, and two recent photographs, had to be submitted, Padiyar said.

“The travel document must be valid for not less than six months, and the same applies for residence visa,” said Mujeeb M, an agent with an Umrah and Haj tour operator.

As the first step to proceed the biometrics enrolment procedures, an applicant should first approach an Umrah and Haj tour operator accredited by the Saudi Consulate to initially get approval from the consulate and then take an appointment, he added.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-arti...ationgeneral_May209.xml&section=nationgeneral