The scene at the immigration department at Castille Place earlier this week.The scene at the immigration department at Castille Place earlier this week.

The immigration department at Castille Place resembles a bazaar, with long queues forming inside and outside the building.

Foreign residents have to wait for hours to get served as the weekly parody of frustration shows no sign of abating.

The situation, characterised by bureaucracy and lack of courtesy, was criticised by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat while visiting a software company in Mosta.

“It is ridiculous to see those queues every Friday,” he said, refering to number of the refugees and asylum seekers who spill on to the pavement when they are due to renew their residency permits.

Friday is the worst day of the week, as scores of immigrants queue for long, futile hours from the early morning to obtain the new e-residence cards.

Times of Malta has repeatedly aired their grievances and complaints that the immigrants are being turned away when the limit of 60 people is reached.

However, the problem is manifested throughout the entire week when all foreigners who live or work in Malta attempt to get their documents. Dr Muscat said the Government wanted to address the problem and was in the process of creating the legislative framework for a new agency that will deal with citizenship, visa, residential and work permits.

“We want to make this a courteous and more efficient process for everyone,” he said.

But the Government also wants to afford red carpet treatment to foreign investors.

Dr Muscat said it was unacceptable that foreigners who came to invest money and create jobs had to wait in long queues to obtain a visa or residence permit.

While the business environment was favourable to investors, Dr Muscat added, the country lacked the personal touch.

“Investors face problems when they want to obtain work permits or want to bring over their family.”

Dr Muscat’s comment may have been prompted by the software company’s chief executive, Radi El Haj, who expects to receive his Maltese ID card next week after years of working in Malta.

The Prime Minister said a revamped permanent residency scheme will be unveiled at the end of the month.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com

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