Dubai: Indians living in the UAE would not have to go to the Indian missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for passport and visa services as these services will now be handled by 12 Empost dedicated centers across the UAE.
The first such office was opened in Deira yesterday at the Al Owais building, office 101 located close to the Nissan Service center. It will start receiving applications from the public from Friday.
The rest of the centers proposed under the agreement between Empost and the Indian diplomatic missions in the UAE, will open their doors for the public from February 22.
Applicants will receive back their documents via courier at their office or residence. Whenever required the centers are also in the position to schedule appointments with the Indian missions.
The centers will remain open from 7 AM to 10 PM.
A website (www.ipavsc.com) is set up to provide information on the various services offered.
A dedicated Call Centre ( 600 522229) to answer telephone queries and inform applicants of the status of their applications. All these Centres will be open from 7 AM to 10 PM on all days of the week.
A nominal service fee will be levied by Empost at a cost of Dh 12 for each passport service and Dh 50 for each visa service, over an above the normal passport visa application fees (detailed on Embassy and Consulate official websites)
List of dedicated centers
101,Al Owais building, Behind Arabian Automobiles.
Deira, Dubai
3, Karama Star Building,
Karama, Dubai
Central Post Office
Karama, Dubai
2nd Floor, EMPOST Building, Madina Zayed,
Abu Dhabi
EMPOST Al Wahda Street
Sharjah
EMPOST
Umm Al Quwain
EMPOST
Ras Al Khaimah
4th Floor, Opp Sabka Bus Station
Naif Dubai
Indian Association Ajman, Opp Lulu
Hypermarket, Al Ittihad Street,
Al Sawan, Ajman
Indian Association RAK Al Mamoyra,
Muntazar Road, Near Old Mamoura Police Station
Ras Al Khaimah
Indian Social Club Fujairah (ISCF)
Al Fazil Road, Opp Hilton Hotel
Fazeel, Fujairah
Indian Social Club Khorfakan (ISCK)
Behind Indian School Kabba
Khorfakan
Indian Social & Cultural Club, Kalba (KISCC)
Opposit Kalba Police Station,
Near Bin Moosa Pharmacy
Kalba
Indian Social Center, Al Saroj District
Al-Ain
Indian Association
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Have you faced problems applying for passport and visa services at the Indian consulate? Do you expect the procedures to become easier with the outsourcing?
Your comments
Good measures to ease public. Details like telephone number and scheduled hours should be made available.
Farhan Abbas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 13:27
Good.
Aziz
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 11:57
There are more than 20-30 thousand people in the Ruwais area, near Abu Dhabi. It includes several oil companies. Additionally, the contractors working for these companies live in the area. Therefore, it is necessary to open one centre in the Ruwais area, too.
Majeed Mousa
Ruwais,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 11:09
The move is good, as it gives a flexible timing and place. It does not matter if we have to pay a nominal fee, as previously the application had to be submitted before 11 in the morning, Sunday to Thursday. However, now, things have changed. Good move!
Biju Jamal Al Deen
Ajman,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 10:22
I think it is a very good opportunity to submit our documents for visas. Thank you Empost.
Shareef Mullapally
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 10:08
This is a good move. I hope they introduce the same for attestation of documents, too.
Abhilash
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 09:11
Great service and the people behind it deserve the whole credit.
Santhosh
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 08:49
It will really save a day as we can go at non-working hours on Fridays, too. However, a detailed list of services offered by the center is required for more clarification.
Subodh
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 20, 2009, 08:46
