Jordan Times
Friday, May 2, 2008
Visa system for Iraqis
goes into effect
By Linda Hindi
AMMAN - The visa requirement for Iraqis who wish to enter Jordan has officially
came into affect as of May 1, according to the Interior Ministry.
Eligible applicants will have to apply at the international courier TNT Post's
offices in Iraq or through the Jordanian diplomatic missions abroad, ministry
spokesperson Ziad Al Zu’bi told The Jordan Times.
The government and TNT Post signed a deal that established a system to regulate
the entry process by accrediting the company as a specialised party to receive
and forward visa applications under certain conditions.
The process, created in response to a request by the Iraqi government, seeks to
regulate the flow of Iraqi citizens into Jordan.
Under the deal with TNT, the international courier will receive visa
applications from Iraqis through its 13 offices in Iraq, process them and
forward them to the Ministry of Interior.
Applicants will be informed of the government response in 10-14 working days.
Visa applicants will need to pay a fee of 15,000 Iraqi dinars ($12.5) for each
application.
There are about 500,000 Iraqis living in Jordan, where they are offered
education, health and other humanitarian services.
There are about 500,000 Iraqis living in Jordan, where they are offered
education, health and other humanitarian services.
Meanwhile, a decision is still effective to fully exempt Iraqi nationals living
in the Kingdom and wish to leave permanently from accumulated overstay fines.
While those who wish to stay still have two weeks to rectify their residency
status and have their fines slashed in half.
According to regulations, any visitor who overstays is charged JD1.5 per day,
which means tens of thousands of Iraqis owe thousands of dinars each in
accumulated fines.