KUWAIT: Official
sources said increasing the minimum salary required for an expat to obtain
family visas to KD 500 is not the last decision with regards to controlling the
entry of expats in Kuwait, as other decisions related to increasing transaction
fees will follow, because the current fees are the lowest in the Gulf. They
said the aim behind studying the fee increase is to distinguish between those
who enter the country for tourism and visits and those who enter to violate the
state's laws.

The sources said
new procedures will be applied at the start of the year to fight visas forgers,
as all types of entry visas will be changed, with security features that are
hard to forge. They said there are stricter procedures regarding absconding
complaints and the legal period to report an absconding case. They said as soon
as the authorities are informed, the residency permit is cancelled and referred
to the investigations department, adding no residency has been restored of
those reported absconding after Jan 4, 2016. The sources said the fine of KD
1,000 for harboring violators is still in force and is being applied.

By A Saleh