Dubai: Applicants of legal documents and tourist visas from the Philippine Consulate-General in Dubai need not go through the hassle of claiming the documents at the office in Al Qusais beginning October 1. The documents will be released through courier only, a senior consul official said on Tuesday.
Three documents such as Special Power of Attorney (SPA), Certificate for Driver’s Licence, and Non-Immigrant Visa or Tourist Visa will be released through Empost and delivered right in the applicant’s desired location beginning October 1.
“We’re doing this to make the services more efficient and to make the service more convenient to the clients. They don’t have to go through the hassle of coming back here just to get their documents. It will also be a big relief for Filipinos who need to take a day off just to come to the consulate to claim their documents,” Vice Consul Geronimo Suliguin told Gulf News.
Suliguin said they decided to use courier services to decongest the consulate. An estimated 50 people apply for SPAs in a day on top of the visa applications, other legal documents, and 250 applicants for passports.
The same application process for the three documents will be implemented, Suliguin said. The only additional step is paying for the courier service of Dh30. Delivery will be made within 48 hours once Empost receives the document.
Suliguin said this is just the first phase of the consulate’s plans to improve consular services. Phase two will include all other documents issued by the consulate, except for passports, which will be implemented by year-end.
