As of November 1st, visa processing in small printing agencies have been stopped. Visa applications will now be available at 50 new smart centers, Amer.
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) earlier announced that 50 Amer centers, a one-stop shop that allows residents to complete all visa and residency transactions under one roof, will replace 600 typing centers from November 1.
On Wednesday, many typing centers across the emirate reported that the system used for typing residence visa applications was accordingly disabled. Typing centers will no longer be able to process visa applications.
Notices regarding the matter have been sent a year ago, while notifications were sent every three months that visa processing will come to an end starting from November 1.
Typing centers have reported the blockage of their visa processing system. A customer service representative confirmed that family visa applications will no longer be processed through typing centers. The decisions led to the loss of many customers of these typing centers.
However, Asif Khan, manager of The One Documents Services in Dubai, said their system is still working.
Khan said small printing centers will be most affected by this as GDRFA has put specific space and facility requirements to continue such services. A minimum of 4,000 square scale fit is to be provided as a condition to enable typing services to continue processing visa applications. “Big printing centers designed according to GDRFA requirements will not be affected by this decision,” Khan clarified.
So, where should one go to for their visa application?
Amer Centers was launched to simplify transactions and increase efficiency
It will provide services including issuing entry permits, issuing or renewing residency visa, visa cancellation among other related services provided by other government institutions and departments. Amer centers are expected to reduce processing time and efforts by the applicants as they are no longer required to visit GDRFA offices to apply or cancel their residency visas.
There are currently two Amer centers through which residents can finish visa and residency transactions; the first one has opened in Al Muhaisnah 4 area in May, while the second was inaugurated earlier in October at Al Kifaf Municipality center.
More such centers will be opened in different locations across Dubai to provide many services for centers in one place with no increase in transaction fees or documents required for residency and visa transactions.
Major Salem Mohammad Ali, director of Client Happiness Centre at the GDRFA, reported that an Amer center should be able to handle at least 5,000-6,000 transactions daily.
“With this expected volume, each center requires big space. If all necessary documents are providing, a transaction can be finished at the earliest in less than half day or a maximum of 48 hours if a courier is required.” Ali had said.
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