Fake papers to obtain UAE visa can’t fool us, GDRFA says
APPLICANT’S HISTORY, NOT JUST DOCUMENTS, IS CHECKED
Individuals submitting fake documents to obtain a UAE visa fail to realise Dubai’s extensive and foolproof visa application system, a senior official told WAM.
“We have a well-trained team [that handles] documentation and [is able to] detect fake documents,” said Captain Mohammad Al Merri, head of performance audit department at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai).
He said the system does not depend on submitted documents alone, such as IDs or tenancy contracts, to issue a residence or visit visa.
“We have an internal system to check the history of applicants, which gives officers the right tools to approve or reject an application,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East in Dubai, which concluded yesterday.
Maj Gen Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, director-general of GDRFA-Dubai, delivered a keynote address at the conference Middle East.
Minimising staff fraud
Capt Al Merri said the automated system also does not allow employees to manually sign off on an application, thus preventing the risk of staff fraud. This leaves “no room for any wrongdoing”, he explained.
He further stated that none of GDRFA’s 5,000-plus employees handle cash as part of their job, which is prone to potential fraud and bribery.
Moreover, the automated system enables the organisation to audit, track and detect any wrongdoings even after many years have passed.
“You can keep track of applications or documents even after 10 or 15 years. There is transparency and the best accountability in the entire system,” Capt Al Merri said.
Unintentional fraud
At the same time, he pointed out that some instance of fraud may not always be intentional. “Some people do not know that they are in a grey area,” he said.
For example, a passport control officer might forget to issue an entry stamp on a passenger’s passport. However, if this “mistake” is repeated, it will be treated as suspicious and action will be taken accordingly, Capt Al Merri explained.
The official further stressed that the organisation also targets “enablers of fraud” and is trying to put the best safeguards to avert such activities.