The Director-general of Passports, Major General Salim bin Mohammed Al-Bulaihed pointed out today that any assistance and support to Umrah-Visa violators in the form of accommodation, recruitment or transport from any city to another, is a flagrant violation of the laws and that any person committing such a violation will be subject to punishment, including imprisonment or fines of ten thousand riyals. The punishment will be also given to those persons who assist such offenders. Additionally, if the violation is repeated, the punishment will be doubled and deportation of expatriates who facilitate accommodation for Umrah-Visa violators. Major General Salim stressed that the citizens and legally staying expatriates contribute in reporting about such violators to passports officials or the toll-free number or contact Regions passports departments. The Director-General of the Passport Directorate said that the responsibility to follow up Umrah performers not only lies on the shoulder of Passport Directorate but solely lies on Umrah companies which are supervised by the Ministry of Hajj in coordination with the passport departments. He called on Umrah companies administrations to follow up the situation of the visiting Umrah performers and not give them any opportunity to illegally staying behind.
