Syrians living in Kuwait complain about non-renewal of visas

Some paid fines up to KD 600 but employees refuse to entertain

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 26: A month after the Minister of Interior issued a decision to allow the Syrians living in Kuwait to renew the visit visas of families and children several guardians complained some directorates of the residence affairs department in various governorates refused the renewal the visas of those who have already spent 6 months in Kuwait, reports Al-Qabas daily.

They said some of them have already paid fines up to KD 600 in some cases and submitted a letter from the Residence Investigation Directorate to lift the ban slapped on some guardians but the employees refuse to entertain them, especially in the Farwaniya governorate.

According to these employees visas only the visas of those whose stay in the country has not exceeded six months will be taken into consideration.

The guardians added they were asked to return after two weeks – the time given to them to look at the applications.

When they approached the department on that date, they were told the decision to approve is in the hands of the heads of departments, later they were told the system does not approve the renewal of family visit visas if the stay in the country has exceeded six months.

They pointed out this has led to accumulation of more fines. This is in addition to delay in the issuance of birth certificates for children.

Those affected have called on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah to follow up the enforcement of the decision and the mechanism needed for renewing their family visit visas.