The Egyptian Consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah has begun to receive hundreds of Egyptians who have violated residency restrictions.
Lagging Umra pilgrims and other visitors place themselves in the same situation each year by exceeding the residency period stated on their visas, said Egypt's general consul in Jeddah Ali al-Esheiry, adding that this complicates their return to Egypt.
In some cases, Esheiry said, Egyptians stay up to 10 years. Compounding the problem is the fact that travel agencies withhold the passports of Umra pilgrims so that they are immune from liability by Saudi pilgrimage authorities, he added, explaining that most violators, therefore, do not possess their passports.
The Egyptian consulate is currently trying to return as many passports as possible to their owners, in order to enable them to return home.
Esheiry said that procedures to return the lingering Egyptians take time, adding that the consulate agreed to provide them with temporary lodging at Egypt's expense. He revealed that some citizens insist on lying down outside the consulate's building.
Esheiry called for more scrutiny over Umra pilgrimage organizers and to make sure passports are handed back to visitors to avoid any delay in their return.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
