KUWAIT CITY - The Indian Embassy in Kuwait, effective May 27, 2009, has declared open two new Indian passport and visa service centers. The collection and submission of Indian passport and visa applications and their delivery to applicants in Kuwait will take place only via the two centers located at the Emad Commercial Centre, Basement Floor, Ahmed Al Jaber Street, Sharq, Kuwait City, Telephone: 22470005, Telefax: 22470006 and Mujamma Unood, 4th floor, Office No. 25-26 Makkah Street, Fahaheel, Kuwait, Telephone 23912352. Telefax: 23912354. The centers, the first of its kind in the Middle East, were declared open by the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Ajai Malhotra in the presence of Ahmed Bu Khamseen, chairman of the Bu Khamseen Holding Group the local sponsor for BLS.
Speaking on the occasion Ajai Malhotra said the political and diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait are flourishing. He went on to say the Indian community in Kuwait has to a large extent has contributed in the development and economic sectors of Kuwait by their hard work and dedication and respect for laws of the country. He added he is proud that the number of Indians in Kuwait has increased five fold to reach 579,000 from a meager 120,000 when"we took over the Indian Embassy premises in 1992." "I may add here," he said,"that one of the important concerns raised by members of the Indian community here, especially project and household workers, related to the submission and collection of passports during their working hours, which meant taking half a day's leave and even resulted in loss of half a day's wages in some instances.
To address this aspect, the timings of submission and delivery of travel documents have been extended. Thus, the two Indian passport and visa service centers will be open from 0800 hours to 1200 hours and 1600 to 2000 hrs in the evening from Sunday through to Thursday. In addition, the service centers will also be kept open on Saturdays from 1600 to 2000 hrs. They will only be closed on Fridays and major public holidays. An Indian Company, M/s BLS International Visa Services, will operate both the Service Centers, which will also offer the following facilities: [a] Information desk; [b] free distribution of passport and visa application forms; [c] filling of passport and visa application forms [at nominal charge]; and [d] photocopy facility [at nominal charge].
A service fee of KD 1.500 for passport services and KD 5.000 for visa services per application will be charged by BLS International Visa Services, in addition to the passport and visa fees of the Government of India. The website http://www.bls-international.com provides details of all passport and visa services available at both the service centers. A consular representative of the Embassy of India, Kuwait, will initially be available at both locations in case of need for any clarification. Applications for visas on Diplomatic/Official/Special passports as well as for issue of PIO/OCI cards and Emergency Certificates will continue to be accepted directly at the Embassy. Affidavit/Attestation services will also continue to be provided at the Embassy.
By Paul Francis X. Fernandes
© Arab Times 2009
