Jordan Times
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Majority of Iraqis’ visa
applications approved
By Linda Hindi
AMMAN - The Ministry of Interior said that it has
approved the majority of visa applications from Iraqis who applied to enter the
Kingdom since a new visa system came into effect at the beginning of the month.
“The ministry received 927 applications from a total of 2,811 persons during the
period of May 1-11… Most of these applications were approved,” the Jordan News
Agency, Petra, reported, quoting a ministry official.
The bulk of applications were sent to Jordan from the 13 TNT Post offices across
Iraq.
The government and TNT Post signed a deal that established a system to regulate
the entry process in response to a request from the Iraqi government “to
regulate the flow of Iraqi citizens into Jordan”.
From the main TNT Post office in Baghdad, Loai Eiedi, told The Jordan Times that
he sees around 50 persons come to the office where he works a day to apply for a
visa to Jordan.
“Around 60 per cent of applications sent by our office have been approved,” the
TNT Post official said.
He stressed that for the most part, Iraqis coming to apply are “very happy” with
the new system that has relieved them from a “10-hour deadly drive to the
border” with no guarantees to enter.
“Sometimes it is sad,” he said. “A father of five broke down in front of his
children because he wanted to get to Amman for an immigration appointment he had
at the British embassy and was denied entry,” Eiedi added.
Visa applicants need to pay a fee of 15,000 Iraqi dinars ($12.5) for each
application and will receive the response in 10-14 days.