Query: Minister of Home Affairs Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, please speed up the issuing of ID cards. I applied for mine in June this year during the Khorixas Expo, but still have not received it. How am I supposed to renew my gun license?
Response: The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration participated in Khorixas Agricultural Trade Fair (Expo) from June 23 to 27 and a total number of 250 ID applications were received during the one-week event. These applications could not be processed on time because they had no images/photos, as the IMAGO machine, which was used during the expo could not export the images to the new system. However, the IT technicians have now fixed the problem. The ministry deeply apologises for the delay.
Out of the 250 ID applications received, 225 ID cards were printed and 25 applications were rejected for the following reasons:
Change of surname (correct procedures not followed); some applicants are registered as deceased on the National Population Registry System (NPRS) (declared dead by someone); no marriage certificates attached for females wanting to change to their husband’s surnames (core requirement); no entry number on some application forms (no record on M-File); and some clients applied for new ID cards when they already had cards, which have gotten lost. Last-mentioned applicants should apply for duplicates and pay the prescribed fee.
NB: To track and trace the status of your ID application, please do contact the ministry at the following numbers during working hours: 067-331078 Khorixas Sub-regional Office 061-217212; Khomas Regional Office 061-2922078 Head Office; PRO 061-2922169.
Query: Regarding an SMS that appeared in The Namibian newspaper on Thursday, July 30, 2015, stating that it takes a week to process a passport and a year to process an employment permit, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration wishes to respond as follows:
Response: Indeed it takes three to five working days to process a Namibian passport from the date of submission of an application. This is a further reduction of five working days from the previous ten working days waiting period, as was the case one year ago. As for the processing of employment permits, it actually takes an average of 30 calendar days to process the application and not a year, as the writer claims. Any further period beyond 30 days is really an exception due to reasons, such as the need to verify information or documents provided, etc.
Employment permits of shorter duration – a few days to three months (also referred to as a work visa) – takes an average of three to five working days to process. This is another reduction of five working days from the ten working days waiting period, which was the case one year ago. However, in order to help the ministry ensure a smoother and efficient processing of applications, we request applicants to submit fully completed applications and all required documents as per the list of requirements available at our counters and on the ministry’s website (www.mha.gov.na).
We also prefer that applicants submit their applications in person, rather than through third parties (the so-called agents), some of whom often delay the submissions or the transmission of feedback to the applicants. The said third parties tell outsiders, or their clients, that they are either employed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, or well connected with the internal processing within the ministry and are thereby able to influence decisions. These are lies and fabrications: decisions are made strictly according to the provisions and regulations of the Immigration Control Act of 1993 and not by unlawful individuals.
Sakeus Kadhikwa, PRO Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, E-mail: sakeus@gmail.com