FIJIAN DIASPORA APPLAUD GOVERNMENT FOR INSTALLING PASSPORT BIOMETRIC EQUIPMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO

17/08/2022

The Fijian Diaspora in San Francisco have commended the Fijian Government for its timely assistance in installing a state-of-the-art e-passport biometric equipment at the Fijian Trade Commission in San Francisco.

A promise made two weeks ago by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to the diaspora unfolded yesterday with the first renewal of a Fijian passport in San Francisco.

Passport holder, Ms Daiana Veremalua Racumu, could not contain her excitement when she received her new passport yesterday (16/08/22).

A team from the Fijian Immigration Department is presently at the Fiji Trade Commission to provide passport services to those Fijians in the West Coast in need of such services.

Ms Veremalua conveyed her sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Permanent Secretary of Immigration, Director of Immigration and the Fijian Government for attending to the plight of Fijians in the U.S.

"I sincerely thank them all for their contribution in expediting the establishment of a passport biometric equipment here in San Francisco."

"This will certainly alleviate immigration issues that the Fijian Community are experiencing here. Thank you Fijian Government for assisting us."

Prime Minister Bainimarama, on his recent visit to the U.S, assured the Fijian diaspora that passport services to Fijians will commence at the earliest possible time.

This, after he witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by Fijians in the U.S with passport renewals and other immigration services.

Now, Fijians in California and nearby states won't have to travel all the way to Washington D.C, sometimes for days by road to have their passports renewed or to apply for new passports.

Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Immigration, Mr Yogesh Karan said immigration officials are in San Francisco for the next three weeks. The officials have installed an e-passport biometric equipment, and have begun facilitating e-passport applications. They will also train the Trade Commission and Fiji Mission staff on how to operate the new equipment.