First Qatar Visa Center in PHL opens in Pasay City

The government of Qatar on Wednesday opened its first visa center in Pasay City to facilitate visa and employment applications of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking jobs in the Gulf state.

Visa applicants can go to the center to complete their medical test and biometric enrolment requirements within a shorter period, the Qatar Visa Center said in a statement.

“Once the initial visa approval is issued by Qatar authorities, applicants can complete the contracts digitally, enrol their biometrics, undergo mandatory medical tests all under one roof,” the QVC said.

Applicants will no longer have to wait for the process to be completed in Qatar, which takes weeks.

The QVC said that according to Qatar officials, the Qatar Visa Center will make it obligatory for workers to sign work contracts and undergo medical tests.

During the inauguration, director of the center's Visa Support Service Department Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi said that the QVC is part of Qatar’s willingness to facilitate the employment process and protect the rights of expatriates.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Philippines Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki said that choosing the Philippines as one of the first countries where the visa centers are launched "reflects the great interest of the State of Qatar to strengthen its bilateral relations with the Philippines in various fields."

Qatari authorities also said that the center will provide migrant workers security and keep the recruitment in check. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News