Khaled Al-Firayan Al-Riyadh Pictures and videos of the huge crowds at passport offices (the Jawazat) in Riyadh were widely circulated on YouTube and other social networking websites. People were seen queuing for hours before the Jawazat offices just to gain entry and many were seen scaling walls just to gain access. According to local media, this overcrowding has opened a new black market for passport services. It is alleged that the price for a sheet of paperwork has reached as much as SR5,000, and for those wishing to get fingerprinted, a wait of three to four days is common. Last year, before the crackdown on illegal aliens commenced, local media reported similar circumstances at passport offices in Jeddah where many people were injured. The same thing happened in the Eastern Province. Electronic services which could be used to process a considerable amount of paper work have failed to reduce this recurring crowding problem. It seems that these electronic services are not working properly or that people do not know how to use them. Paradoxically, a few years ago, the Passport Department ranked on top of all government departments for its excellent and quick computerized services. Things have changed since then and it has lost its ranking to other departments. A complete revamp is needed for the equipment, staff and locations of the passport offices. The main passport office in Riyadh is in the heart of the city and so it is impeding traffic. People suffer a lot just to reach these offices. I think the Jawazat should be made a civilian organization. There is no need for the passport officers to wear police uniforms. In most airports of the world, we will meet passport and immigration personnel in civilian clothes.
