Saudi students and working women are thronging to the Civil Affairs Department here after universities and governmental facilities made it compulsory for them have a national identity card. The department, however, has only 29 employees who found it impossible to serve at least 600 applicants who turned up on Wednesday. Bigger crowds are expected on Saturday when the work week resumes. Hind Khaled who thought there would not be a rush for the ID card during the ongoing summer vacation for universities and schools, said she managed to get her card only after a week of submitting her application, though delivery was supposed to be made on the same day or the next at the latest. Amnah Aseeri, another applicant, said she has been waiting for two weeks to change her identification from a family card to a personal ID card. However, delay is not the only problem. One applicant, who identified herself only as Reem, said her father had refused to accompany her since he was against her submitting her photo for the card. Hence she had to bring along a friend to attest to her identity. Reem said she submitted her application along with her photo. She hoped that the media would do more to educate parents about the need and requirements for women to have their own ID cards. A Civil Affairs official said universities should have coordinated with the Department before making it compulsory for female students to have an ID card in order to sit for an examination or to get a test result. Princess Dr. Al-Jawhara Bint Fahd Al-Saud, director of the Girls University, said they have not put a time limit on getting the card. The documents required for an ID are: A copy of the Family ID card, 2 passport-size printed photos (no glasses, no makeup and with hair and neck covered), testimony of identification from father, mother or sister and documentation proving relationship, or from an unrelated person who must submit his or her passport copy. – Okaz __
