Saudi- 19,700 Indians seek emergency exit certificates

(MENAFN- Arab News)  The Indian Consulate in Jeddah received about 19,700 applications for emergency certificates till June 2, according to a press release issued yesterday. It said nearly 5,000 certificates were distributed so far. Around 90 certificates which were issued in 2011 and 2012 have been renewed/revalidated by the consulate. Registration for certificates will continue to take place at the consulate till June 20. The consulate has received 7,500 passports from Jeddah Passport Department and 863 passports from the embassy in Riyadh, totaling 8,363 passports. Of them, 2,667 passports have been handed over to the rightful claimants. Also, 875 applications have been received for new passports in connection with change of sponsorship. Distribution of such passports began yesterday. About 90 companies have so far approached the consulate for recruitment of Indians of which 23 have stationed their representatives in the consulate premises. About 2,000 Indian nationals have been interviewed till date. Some, 1,020 Indian nationals have been fingerprinted at the Jeddah Deportation Center during the last two Thursdays (May 21 and 28) that have been allotted for the Indians. The consulate has appealed to all Indian nationals with illegal status to register themselves with the mission before expiry of the grace period on July 3. "All Indian nationals are urged to submit their applications for emergency certificates before June 15 to the permanent centers in Jizan, Najran, Tabuk, Yanbu, Madinah and Abha," said the consulate. "They can also submit them at Indian schools.