KUWAIT CITY, Jul 16: The announcement of the new decision's implementation has resulted in crowded scenes at Residency Affairs Departments, especially in Farwaniya, Ahmadi, and Hawalli, as applicants line up to obtain family/dependent visas for their wives and children under 14 years old.

Expats have been flocking to various residency affairs departments, eager to take advantage of the decision that they believe will bring stability to their family lives after being separated from their families for some time.

Informed security sources stated that the residency affairs departments across the country's governorates received approximately 540 applications for family visas, predominantly from expats of Arab countries.

Applicants are required to schedule an appointment and submit the necessary documents. However, the first day of implementation saw significant congestion, especially in the departments of Farwaniya, Hawalli, and Ahmadi, due to the high number of residents in these areas. There are directives for residency affairs staff to streamline procedures and expedite the processing of applications.

According to the sources, out of the 540 applicants, about 320 family visas were issued, while the remaining applications were incomplete and applicants were asked to provide additional documents. The most common issue was the failure to authenticate children's birth certificates, which require verification from Kuwaiti embassies abroad, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry, and the applicant's home country embassy in Kuwait. Additionally, a valid passport for more than one year, a new work permit, and a salary certificate are necessary to ensure smooth visa issuance.

The sources expect that the number of applications will decrease in the coming days as the decision is fully implemented. Expats expressed great relief and gratitude to the Ministry of Interior for the new decision, which they believe will significantly improve their quality of life.