Missions upbeat on conduct proof suspension

In the days following the suspension of the Good Conduct Certificate (GCC) for employment visas, embassies across the country have seen an increase in visa applications - and a better mood - from those seeking employment here.
On Sunday, an official circular shared with Khaleej Times stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) was temporarily postponing the good conduct certificate requirement, and many have welcomed the move.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on Tuesday, Indonesian Consul General Arzaf Firman said many Indonesians have put forward applications following the decision. "We have definitely seen an increase in the two to three days since the official news broke. In a day, we usually process about 20-30 visa applications, but have processed an additional 60-70 applications since Sunday."
Though a few people are still asking if the certificate is necessary, Firman said the consulate is reiterating what the MoFA has said: the certificate is not required. "We do not supply the conduct certificates here; it is issued by the authorities in Indonesia. But if the UAE government has postponed the need for it, we will support that decision and inform our compatriots of the same."
Though he was unable to share exact the data related to an increase in employment visas since Sunday, Consul General of India to Dubai, Vipul, said it "should result in an increase in employment visas."
"Several visa applications became stuck due to the implementation of the good conduct certificate in February, but we are sure now it will lead to a surge in applications among Indian nationals."
Moazzam Ahmad Khan, Pakistan Ambassador to the UAE, said: "we are very happy with the decision of the UAE government" to temporarily suspend the requirement of good conduct certificate.
"It will definitely give all of us more time to streamline and further facilitate the whole process of applying for work visas," he told Khaleej Times.
When the UAE announced that the conduct proof was a mandatory requirement back in February, Asma Ali Awan, community welfare attache at the Pakistan Consulate, said they received a lot of calls from those trying to attain employment visas.
"They were confused and many applications were suspended due to non-provision of this certificate. But the temporary suspension announcement, which came to light on Sunday, has been well received by Pakistanis looking to work in the UAE. They are very happy that the need for a certificate has been dropped for now."
Undoubtedly, she said, the number of employment visa applications is bound to increase over the coming period, following the decision. "I deal with the attestation of demand letters for employment visas and many that were filed previously were stuck because of non-provision of a good conduct certificate. Now, all those pending applications have been reopened and processed again," she added.
kelly@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
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