The State of Qatar today, 25 September 2019 opened the newly built Qatar Visa Center (QVC) in Pasay City, in Manila, which is envisioned to facilitate visa and employment applications of overseas Filipino workers seeking employment in Qatar.

The QVC is supervised by Qatar Government authorities, represented by the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs. The workers can complete their medical test and biometric enrolment requirements within a shorter period.

The opening ceremony was attended by Qatar Ambassador to the Philippines - His Excellency Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki, and Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi, Director of Visa Supports Service Department, and Mr Ali Mohammed Al Meer, Labour Expert at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs and Dr. Ibrahim Al Shaer, Director of Medical Commission at MOPH amid the presence of other dignitaries.

Once the initial visa approval is issued by Qatar authorities, applicants can complete the contracts digitally, enroll their biometrics, undergo mandatory medical tests all under one-roof, thus saving time and making it hassle-free for applicants at the center without having to wait for the process to be completed in Qatar.

Qatar Visa Center will make it obligatory for workers to sign work contracts and undergo medical tests and make their recruitment more rewarding and systematic in a manner consistent with the best international standards.

As part of the visa application process, the employer in Qatar will ensure all necessary procedures and make the visa payments on behalf of the applicant. The applicant or employer will need to book an appointment online and visit the Qatar Visa Center 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time on a given day. Once at the center and after the identity of the visa applicant is verified and the list of required documents are checked, a token is issued. Once the token is called, the contract terms will be explained to the visa applicant, and can digitally sign the work contract. Biometric enrolment and the mandatory medical tests will be done at the center. Upon completion of the processes at the visa center, applicants can track the status of their application online or through their employers in the State of Qatar.

The next stages of the project will cover all types of visa including domestic workers.

Philippines the sixth country where QVCs are open so far in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan.

During the inauguration, the Director of Visa Support Service Department, Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi said, "As part of Qatar's willingness to facilitate the work process and protect the rights of expatriates, Qatar Visa Centers have opened in a number of countries which include the Philippines."

"Medical examinations, biometric data enrollment and the signing process of employment contracts will be done through the Qatar Visa Centers. All these reflect the extent and depth of Qatar's endeavors to ensure the protection and safety of expatriates under a simplified and effective recruitment regime upheld and facilitated by the visa center,"

The primary goal of Qatar Visa Center is to simplify and expedite all the procedures for acquiring entry visas to Qatar, either for work or residence purposes.”

Source: Press release

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Binu Cherian

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