PHL Embassy sets outreach mission to Al-Khobar for undocumented Pinoy workers May 30-31

As undocumented Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia try to avail of a grace period to correct their status in the kingdom, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has scheduled an outreach program for those in Al-Khobar.

The embassy said its personnel will be in Al-Khobar on May 30 and 31 to help Filipinos needing documents to correct their status before the grace period ends July 3.

"The services will be held at Al-Jazeera International School in Al-Khobar, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 30 May and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 31 May," the embassy said in a news release.

However, the embassy pointed out the services "will not include any consular services to the public other than those who need to correct their status."

"Only those who need to correct their status will be entertained," it added.

The embassy said it can serve up to 600 passports.

Services

The services will include the issuance of travel documents for those who intend to go on final exit and do not have a valid passport; release of old passports surrendered by Saudi authorities; and encoding of e-Passport as replacement for lost passports.

For the issuance of travel documents, police clearance and report will be waived, while the travel documents are free of charge, the embassy said.

However, the embassy said applicants should attach copy of their last passport, and two recent photos.

As for the release of old passports surrendered by the Saudi authorities to the Philippine Embassy, extension of passports and new passports, the embassy reminded Filipinos to check the online database on www.philembassy-riyadh.org and send their name to the Embassy rype@riyadhpe.com before May 28.

This will allow the Embassy to locate and bring the passports to the Eastern region.

The old passport may be revalidated and extended provided that the applicant files for new passport.

A passport extension is free of charge while a passport renewal may entail SR240, it added.

For the encoding of e-Passport as replacement for lost passport, especially for those who need a passport to transfer to a new employment, applicants need to show an affidavit of lost passport, a copy of the lost passport, one recent photo and fees including SR460 for green/MRP and SR700 for ePassport.

Undocumented Pinoys

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said over1,000 OFWs camped outside the consulate, creating a Pinoy "Tent City," to avoid being arrested when the crackdown against illegal workers in Saudi resumes.

The crackdown operations started on March 28 this year because of the “Saudization” policy (nitaqat) or the policy encouraging the employment of Saudi nationals in private firms.

The migrant workers advocacy group Migrante-Middle East said undocumented Filipinos started camping outside the Philippine Consulate on April 11, or five days after the Saudi King announced a three-month reprieve on the crackdown against illegal workers.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on April 6 ordered a three-month delay to a crackdown on illegal migrant workers that has led to thousands of deportations.

The reprieve, which will end on July 4 this year, aims to give foreigners in the kingdom a chance to sort out their papers. - VVP, GMA News

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