Visa Applicants Kept Outside Over Virus Fears

Foreign domestic workers on Monday welcomed a new appointment tag system brought in by the Immigration Department to prevent people gathering in large numbers at its offices during the coronavirus pandemic.

While people applying for visas are advised to do so by post or online where possible, those who do need to visit offices in person will be given tags with approximate times slots on them and then sent back outside to wait.

Staff are then calling people to tell them when they can go inside to be seen.

At Immigration Tower in Wan Chai, officers could be seen asking people not to stay in the lobby or other areas of the building.

Helpers waiting near the tower to renew their visas said they were happier to be outside in the fresh air than inside with lots of other people.

"They give you a paper and then they call you. We cannot stay there any longer. Inside is crowded. If you have an appointment, they give you your time and you can go outside. You're sitting alone, it's better" one helper told RTHK.

"It's good to avoid the spreading of the virus inside the tower. It's better to stay here in the park," another said.

Officials said in a statement that there would be enough appointment slots available for those seeking them and there was no need for people to queue up too early, "particularly overnight".

They urged employers of foreign domestic workers to encourage their helpers to submit applications electronically or by post "to avoid the unnecessary risk of the spread of the virus caused by long waiting times at the offices".