Oil and Gas: Immigration Dept. processes over 15,000 visa, work permit applications

The Immigration Support Unit of the Department of Citizenship has processed 15,249 applications for visas, work permits and other related services from July 2018 to date for work in the oil and gas sector.

This was disclosed by Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix on Thursday at the dedication of his Department’s Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown building, named after late indigenous leader Stephen Campbell.

He told the News Room in a subsequent interview that the applications received covers application for visitors’ visas, student visas, employment visas, business visas, extension of stay, work permits and landing permits among others.

“I highlight oil and gas because it is frequently in large numbers and we would have over 100 or 200 applications per day and which at sometimes strain us but we are trying with the aid of technology, to see how best we can recognise when we’ve fallen behind,” he explained.

Minister Felix said his Ministry is working to increase its efficiency to benefit the expanding sectors of the economy.

In other areas, he said the Immigration unit has processed 4,054 applications.

The Department of Citizenship includes the Immigration and passport office, the General Registrar’s Office and will soon absorb the Diaspora Unit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.