By Losirene Lacanivalu, Cook Islands News
Immigration Cook Islands Photo: RNZI / Mary Baines
A foreign workers group is challenging why foreign workers who already hold valid work permits stamped in their passports, need to carry an additional visa letter for travel purposes.
The call comes after most foreign workers have had to face some difficulties at the Rarotonga International Airport when reaching their final checks with the Customs Department just to find out they need to carry a visa approval letter when travelling out and back into the country- despite having work permit stamps in their passport.
A Cook Islands work permit holder told Cook Islands News they found it embarrassing that a Customs officer was shouting at them for not carrying a letter.
They said they had travelled in April and May for work reasons only to be stopped on another work trip to show a visa letter, which was time consuming.
They said they had protested what was the point of the work permit, but the officer maintained they needed a letter.
Friends of Fiji Inc acting president Vuli Vakayawa said: "It seems redundant for foreign workers who already hold valid work permits and have these stamped in their passports to need an additional visa letter for travel purposes."
Vakayawa said that since work permits are already stamped in passports, requiring an extra document adds another administrative layer for foreign workers, potentially leading to delays and unnecessary procedural burdens.
"This additional workload on the Immigration Department can be better utilised by ensuring that applications and users of their services are served more swiftly rather than queuing up for long hours just to be told to come back another time.
"I don't understand the purpose of this new requirement, as I believe that the existing passport stamp captures the necessary information for immigration purposes."
He said that to avoid bureaucratic hurdles for foreign workers, Friends of Fiji would like to suggest a reassessment of this condition because it doesn't alleviate the current burden of the users of Immigration services.
"We urge the Immigration Department to use its resources where it's needed the most."
Immigration Operations Manager, Phillip Metuariki in response to CI News queries said the visa approval letters served as an official confirmation that an individual's visa application has been reviewed and approved by Cook Islands Immigration authorities.
Metuariki said this document is essential as it grants the applicant permission to travel to the Cook Islands and engage in specified activities such as work, study, or residency.
"The conditions of the visa and permit are also specified clearly in the visa as the permit endorsement provides limited information.
"The issuance of visa approval letters ensures that all applicants meet the necessary entry and departure requirements.
"This process helps maintain the safety, security, and economic stability of the Cook Islands by verifying that individuals have the appropriate credentials and intentions for their travel to, entry and stay in the Cook Islands."
He said this is consistent with the requirements as stipulated in Part 6, Section 53 of the Cook Islands Immigration Act 2021.
Grace Scheel, president of the Filipino Community says she departed Rarotonga in October and was not asked to present a letter.
Scheel said" "If this is a new system from their office, I don't think it is appropriate to ask for the letter when the visa stamp on the passport is showing as evidence that the foreigner is a legal worker.
"Otherwise, if Customs officers insist on the letter, then employers should give a copy to the workers each time the visa is being processed as the letter approval is sent directly to the employer's email or to the manpower agent," she said.
Immigration operations manager Metuariki further said that information factsheets on visas and permits, were distributed to employers/sponsors to provide clarity on the requirements for visa and permit holders when travelling in and out of the Cook Islands.
"Also to confirm that visas are distributed via email to the applicant or their authorised representative. Cook Islands Immigration does not charge an additional fee for the visa."
He said that if the traveller doesn't have a copy of their visa they should request it from their employer or sponsor or alternatively request another copy from Cook Islands Immigration.
They can either have an electronic or paper copy of the visa for inspection purposes when travelling to and from the Cook Islands.