KUWAIT CITY, Oct 21: The Ministry of Interior has ‘suspended’ and not re-imposed a ban on the issuance of visit visas for citizens of six countries — Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen, an Interior Ministry source told the Arab Times, Friday.

The sources, however, added that a final decision on the issue is expected on Sunday after a meeting of the General Immigration and Interior Ministry officials.

The source added that it is very likely that instead of the ban being re-imposed more facilities could be offered not only to these six nationalities but others also.

The source, however, refused to offer further details until the Interior Ministry officials had taken a decision.
Earlier the Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting reliable sources had said, in less than 24 hours the Ministry of Interior had revoked its decision to lift the ban on visit visas for citizens of the six countries.

The daily said no reason was given for stopping the receipt of applications except that clear instructions had been issued to the General Immigration Department and all affiliate departments to stop receiving and processing the visa applications from citizens of these countries.

The applications which had already been received were also not to be processed, sources had told Al-Watan.

The daily disclosed after intensive discussions between senior officials from the Interior Ministry and the General Immigration Department Thursday morning the Director-General of Immigration Major-General Kamel Al-Awadhi issued an order to stop receiving visit visa applications upon instructions from the Ministry of Interior.

The daily added there are certain issues which need to be clarified. Moreover, these visas need to be endorsed by the overseas Kuwaiti embassies in the respective countries. For example, the sources said, the Kuwaiti embassy in Yemen remains closed.