Hotline for new visa system queries
ID CARD CENTRE’S TOLL-FREE NUMBER SUPPORTS ARABIC, ENGLISH, HINDI AND MALAYALAM
UAE Vision system has been officially adopted by a number of typing centres in Dubai |
BY RAZMIG BEDIRIAN Staff Reporter
UAE Vision, a new visa system which allows residents to apply for and renew visas through typing centres without the need to visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), has been officially adopted by a number of typing centres in Dubai.
One such centre even launched a toll-free number yesterday to help with the new system.
ID Card Centre, located in Deira, launched its 800 IDCARD (800 432273) hotline yesterday. The hotline is available in Arabic, English, Hindi and Malayalam to help customers inquiring about the new ‘UAE Vision’ system. The hotline allows customers to schedule the pick-up and delivery of their visa-related documents through the Zajel courier at a convenient location.
With the unveiling of the UAE Vision system earlier this month, residents are no longer required to visit the GDRFA headquarters or any of its branches in order to renew or apply for visas.
Instead, all transactions will be carried out through the approved typing centres.
The transactions include applying for visa, renewing residency, applying for new residency, and visa cancellation, in addition to any other related services.
According to a GDRFA official, there have been no changes to the required documents or charges related to the visa transactions.
“When customers visit typing centres, they need to look out for the Amer logo,” a GDRFA official said. “The logo will be clearly visible on the counters and on the staff uniform. The logo is a badge of approval from the GDRFA, indicating that the typing centre is qualified to carry out visa-related transactions through the UAE Vision system.”
Speaking on the delivery of new services to customers, Esmail Ebrahim, managing director of ID Card Centre, said, “In keeping with the government’s efforts of digitisation and technological development, we decided to offer our customers services that will make the visa application processes more convenient and less frustrating.”
The other related services the centre offers range from documentation for medical tests and attestation to legal translation and wage protection system.
Jailab Abdullah, marketing manager of the centre, said the centre is equipped with facilities as per GDRFA standards. “To be accredited by the GDRFA, the typing centres need to have a space of at least 1,500 square metres, a token system, security and camera systems and a waiting area,” he said, adding that the centre aims to make visa application procedures as efficient as possible for customers.
Zajel courier service
Elaborating on the new system, Col Hussain Ebrahim, assistant of the director-general for administrative support at the GDRFA, earlier said: “The UAE Vision system is a new system where the public will be able to visit any of the typing service offices and submit their transactions without having to visit the GDRFA building or any of the centres to complete their transactions as everything will be done at the typing centre.”
Those who apply for visit visa-related transactions will have it sent to their email address and those applying for residency visa service will have it sent to them via Zajel courier service, Col Ebrahim explained. Zajel counters will be available at all approved typing centres.
To be accredited by GDRFA, typing centres need to have a space of at least 1,500 square metres, a token system, security and camera systems and a waiting area.” Jailab Abdullah | Marketing manager, ID Card Centre