The Passport and Immigration Department has announced that a substantial shipment of lamination paper is expected tonight (Wednesday), aiming to expedite the processing of regular passports. It is noteworthy that citizens applying for passports have been facing severe difficulties and challenges for the past several months. In an official statement released on Wednesday, the Director-General of Passport and Immigration Office emphasized the department’s commitment to streamline the passport issuance process.
The announcement outlined that all applications in the Fast Track category, accumulated during the last three business days, will be processed within three business days. Similarly, urgent passport category applications, gathered over the last five business days, will be processed within five business days. On the other hand, regular passport applications are purportedly being printed and delivered within a month. However, the ground reality appears to differ significantly.
Citizens applying for regular passports have been experiencing considerable delays, with the actual issuance taking approximately two and a half months. Urgent passport applicants, on the other hand, have been receiving their passports within twelve to fifteen days. The Passport Office contends that the availability of a large quantity of lamination paper will facilitate the processing of regular passports within 21 business days.
Contrary to rumors suggesting that the delays in passport printing are related to a shortage of lamination paper, the Passport Office dismisses such claims as baseless. Officials assert that the massive delivery of lamination paper is part of their proactive strategy to enhance efficiency and ensure timely passport issuance.
The Passport Office’s claim of swift processing post the lamination paper delivery aims to address the concerns and frustrations faced by citizens awaiting their passports. While the department acknowledges the challenges, it reassures the public that the situation will significantly improve with the injection of additional resources. The Director-General emphasized that the Passport Office is dedicated to resolving the issues faced by citizens and creating a more efficient and responsive passport issuance system.
As the Passport and Immigration Department works towards optimizing its processes, citizens remain hopeful that the announced measures will bring relief and ensure a more seamless experience for passport applicants. The effectiveness of these initiatives will be closely monitored by the public, eager to see tangible improvements in the passport issuance timeline.
