Identity document queues in Latvia still long

Take note – story published 1 year ago

Although the long-known deadline for eID as a mandatory document as of May this year has been suddenly dropped, the queues at the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office (PMLP) are not reducing, Zemgale regional television reported February 16.

PMLP's Jelgava branch opens at 8 in the morning but people have been already waiting for hours.

"I came at seven and have been standing here ever since to get a line number. Not for me, but for this man with movement disability, because his passport expires, and he needs it. Can't call the office, can't book a slot, so I had to stand," said Jelgava resident Ārija Blūma.

Another resident, Regīna, said her relatives booked a slot last year and are still waiting. She decided to just come to wait in the line because "it is not possible to sign up electronically in Jelgava", and it is easier to go to Dobele. "It is also hard to sign up for Rīga, 3–4 months. I have come after 7:00 and I realized that with my back pain, I am not ready to wait."

Meanwhile, Jūrmala resident Dainis has filmed the inside of PMLP in Jūrmala – that many have booked slots and arrived but are not getting served. PMLP has started a service investigation of this.

"Of course we understand the situation is unpleasant and inadequate. So we will examine the responsibility of each employee."

"We work overtime to take more customers, the situation has normalized a bit now but we will hire more workers in the coming months," said Madara Puķe, representative of PMLP. It should be noted that the PMLP has been saying they are hiring new employees for a good while now but the vacancies are not filling – judging by the public information, likely due to the well below-average salaries.

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