Papua New Guinea Immigration is 99.9 per cent ready for the VIP visits this month, Chief Migration Officer Stanis Hulahau has assured.
He told the Post-Courier that immigration officials, in fact, have been processing visas for technical teams travelling in and out of PNG over the last few weeks and months in preparation for these international visits.
Hulahu said they do not have a confirmed list or the number of officials including visitors to PNG this month, however, advised that the office has already issued visas online for those that have been travelling as advance or technical team officials.
U.S President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Papua New Guinea on 22 May to attend a meeting of Pacific island leaders.
President Biden will meet with Prime Minister James Marape, as well as 18 Pacific Island leaders, who will be in Port Moresby to attend the 3rd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC).
“We are now 99.9 percent through with our preparations, our PNG Immigration side in terms of visa, our deputy CMO visa is part of the committee so for us it is not a new thing because we’ve facilitated a lot of big events and travels like this. All of our officers are experienced so it’s easy.”
Hulahu said PNG only has visa on arrival for Melanesian Spearhead Group countries –– which includes Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) –– the rest of the Pacific island countries will have to apply for visa online.
“We will have our special visa facilities and categories for these members coming for these VIP meetings,” he said.
“They will have their visas approved, takes five minutes or not more than a week.”
Hulahau said their experience with the 2018 APEC Summit and other international events held in the country has been an experience, hence, the visit by the two global leaders will not be an issue for Immigration.
SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
