Jeddah - Hundreds of prospective applicants for Saudi citizenship continued to throng Civil Affairs Department offices across the country to get application forms, but many were there without knowing its stringent conditions.
"Many thought that they would get citizenship by just filling up the application forms. The most important thing is that they have to get at least 23 points to pass the first phase," an official at the department said.
Some 150,000 application forms were handed out in just three days to residents, who can start submitting requests from May 23. Applicants began collecting the forms on Saturday, and 100,000 of those have been distributed in Makkah.
According to press reports, the department has so far distributed 15,000 forms in Riyadh, 12,000 in the Eastern Province and 9,000 in the southern Jizan region.
Some people exploited the huge demand to sell photocopies of the form on the black market. "These people are actually exploiting the ignorance of applicants as the authorities will accept only applications in original forms," the Civil Affairs official said.
"The department is not accountable for the selling of photocopies," he added.
The department will only consider the applications of those who have got 23 points. In line with the executive bylaw, the application forms along with other documents must be submitted to the department's headquarters in Riyadh.
Yemenis, Egyptians, Jordanians, Syrians, Lebanese, Pakistanis and Indians made up the majority of applicants. Some of them have been living in the Kingdom for the past 30 years and working as teachers and engineers in the private sector.
The application forms, along with certificates of birth, nationality and education, will be verified by a special panel in Riyadh. Only the forms of those applicants who qualify will be presented to Interior Minister Prince Naif, who has been given the discretion either to grant or reject citizenship.
Some applicants including elderly persons were not happy with the condition that they have to present the application in person at the department headquarters in Riyadh. They also objected to the condition that they must gain higher education in medicine and engineering.
By P.K. Abdul Ghafour
© Arab News 2005
