Saudi Gazette report HOFUF — The Passport Department has rejected complaints from employers about mistakes in iqamas (residence permits) issued to their workers, Al-Hayat daily reported. The employers claimed that the process for iqama renewals is unusually long these days and these mistakes mean additional time wasted to correct them. Muneer Saud, a muaqeb (government liaison employee), said the place of issuance on the iqamas is printed as the Ministry Gate and instead of the business, the owner's name is mentioned as the employer. Mansour Abdulrahman, another muaqeb, said such mistakes are a waste of time and money, especially as the passport offices are witnessing a huge rush. Spokesman for the Eastern Province Passport Department Mu'alla Al-Otaibi rejected claims that there were mistakes in iqamas issued to workers. He pointed out that Ministry Gate was printed as the place of issuance because these iqamas were issued electronically through the ministry's electronic gate. He added that the business's name is also printed besides the sponsor's name because the sponsor may have more than one business. Last June, the Ministry of Interior launched the "Absher" system that allows companies to perform a number of services electronically without the need to visit the passports offices. Such services include issuing travel permits, iqama renewals and exit/re-entry visas.
