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Some commercial bureaus in the country have taken advantage of people’s desperation and the Immigration Department’s incapability to produce enough Passport applications to start issuing the application forms at a fee of K250 per copy.
It has been established that where passport application forms are not available at Immigration offices, prospect applicants are being directed to go and buy the forms at any photocopying bureaus within the city.
The Department is apparently aware of the development, but refuted claims that it has stopped issuing the “free” application forms.
“We have not stopped issuing the application forms. It is our duty to issue those application forms.
We will never stop issuing,” said one senior official, who asked for anonymity.
He said they are unable to produce enough copies due to hiccups Immigration Department is facing.
It is under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security.
“Bureaus come in a second option because our current mechanism has hiccups beyond our efforts,” he said.
He also claimed that the Department had never entered into any business contract with any of the bureaus.
According to him, the Department will soon engage bureau operators to work out a minimum fee for the copies as some are allegedly demanding over K1000 for a single application form.
