Jordan Times
Friday, February 20, 2009
New instructions ease
restrictions for Iraqi guests
By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - The Ministry of Interior on Thursday issued instructions aimed at
facilitating the entry and residency of Iraqi citizens, effective as of February
22.
The new regulations were crafted by a government committee chaired by Interior
Minister Eid Fayez and comprising representatives from other concerned bodies.
Following directives His Majesty King Abdullah issued last month, authorities
took immediate steps to dilute the rules which have been a source of complaint
among Iraqi guests, the majority of whom fled to the country following the 2003
US-led invasion of Iraq and the subsequent violence that drove away four million
people, including two million who sought haven in other countries.
The new instructions cover the status of Iraqi businessmen and investors, Iraqis
already residing in the Kingdom and those wishing to come to Jordan.
Under the new regulations, a copy of which was e-mailed to The Jordan Times, a
special office will be established at the Karamah border crossing with Iraq to
facilitate easy entry of Iraqi diplomats, official delegations and holders of an
investor card issued by the Jordan Investment Board (JIB).
The measures were received with relief by Iraqi investors residing in the
Kingdom.
Sabah Rubaie, who has been in the country since 2003, said it used to take him
between 30 to 40 days to have his residency permit renewed.
"This long time had a negative impact on my business, particularly when I had
meetings in other countries," said Rubaie, who is a regional director of a
Jordan-based aviation company.
He said his Jordan-born 26-year-old son had to leave for the UK, after it was
impossible for him to get a residency permit.
The new measures addressed such impediments. A one-time security approval is
needed now for their residency renewal, while annual residencies of unmarried
children of Iraqi investors under the age of 18 will be issued automatically
when the parents’ permits are renewed.
Moreover, the JIB is required under the regulations to provide the ministry with
a list of Iraqi investors in order for the ministry to facilitate their entry
into the Kingdom.
Those who have been legally residing in the Kingdom for 10 years and more will
be eligible for a five-year residency permit, according to the ministry.
The regulations also spare Iraqis residing in the Kingdom the inconvenience of
seeking in advance approvals when they plan to buy property or vehicles or
replace their Iraqi driving licences with Jordanian ones, provided that their
residencies are valid.
When the government restricted the entry of Iraqis after the first influxes
following the war, it imposed a $150,000 bank deposit guarantee on Iraqis who
entered the country without a guarantee by a local employer. Under the new
instruction, this deposit has been reduced to $50,000, a ministry official told
The Jordan Times. Iraqis who entered Jordan before the deposit requirement was
imposed and have valid residency permits are exempted.
The regulations also spared transiting official Iraqi delegations from prior
approvals. They can obtain entrance visas at the border crossings and airports
as soon as they present the necessary official documents.
The ministry also decided to remove the in-advance visa requirement for Chinese
and Romanian citizens, who will be provided with entrance visas at the borders.
Meanwhile, Indians coming to Jordan in tourist groups can benefit from this
measure under the guarantee of the tourist agency that arranged their visit.
According to estimates, there are about half-a-million Iraqis residing in
Jordan, which does not label them as refugees, yet offers them free health and
education services.