The passport department has opened four more branches to fingerprint expatriate workers for issuance of digital Iqamas, said Director of Passport in Makkah Region Brigadier Muhammed Al-Asmari, Thursday. Three branches will work in Dallah Al-Baraka, Binladin Company and Saudi Oger and the fourth one will be mobile unit at the Industrial City. Brigadier Al-Asmari said more than 25,000 workers have so far been fingerprinted at the mobile unit. Captain Abdul Rahman Al-Sheheri, Director of Passport's Branch in Dallah office, said companies and establishments can send their employees to the branch for fingerprinting. He said the branch receives about 600-700 expat workers daily. Starting last Saturday fingerprinting has been made mandatory for issuance of Iqamas, transfer of sponsorship, and change of profession. Fingerprinting system has already been installed across the Kingdom. It will not only make the procedures easier and faster, but will also curb forgeries. The passport department has also opened two new branches in two malls to enable citizens to process visa formalities for their employees. These branches are devoted to individuals and not to companies and establishments. – Okaz __
