Wednesday, November 15, 2017

A South African accredited Umrah agent has told Radio Islam that while Saudi authorities will be implementing the biometric visa system, it will create a huge logistical inconvenience, as there are only two biometric centers in the entire country. 

Ridwaan Gangat says accredited Umrah agents were invited by visa services company VFS Tasheel via email to attend a meeting in Pretoria on Tuesday to discuss the new biometric visa system.  

Gangat says the agents were informed that the biometric process would be implemented from the 4 of December 2017. 

He says people across South Africa,  including countries from afar as Mauritius and Reunion will have to travel either to Cape Town or Sandton where the only two biometric centres are currently located with Durban being possibly added to the list. 

Gangat says this is going to have huge impact, as an appointment is required for the application of biometrics. 

“It’s not practical now that we are going into the final examinations and most of the people that are travelling are with families, than having to leave their jobs, examinations, their universities, or schools or whatever to go and ensure that they do the biometric. The impact is going to be very big.”

Gangat says that children under 12 and adults over 70 including those with finger amputations and skin diseases will be exempted from biometrics. 

He says it has also not been confirmed whether the Umrah agents or individuals would be making the appointment for the biometrics. 

“We said maybe it’s not practical for us to do it because it requires a full time staff just to sit the whole day an make an appointment.” 

The cost of the biometrics is approximately $4.50 (R65). 

Source: http://www.radioislam.org.za/a/index.php/latest-news/22493-listen-umrah-biometric-visas-could-cause-logistical-inconvenience.html