VZCZCXYZ0022
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWD #0354/01 2721308
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291308Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0786
INFO RUEHWD/SADCC COLLECTIVE UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000354 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
For AF/S, CA, and L/CA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:      
SUBJECT: Work Permits and AMCIT travel in Namibia: Continuing 
Difficulties 
 
Ref: WINDHOEK 167 
 
 
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Summary 
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 1. Action Requests - see paras 15 and 16. 
 
 2. (U) Post has experienced extensive delays in the initial issuance 
and renewal of work permits for some USG employees and contractors. 
Also, as reported reftel, Americans traveling for tourism and 
business have experienced difficulties at ports of entry due to 
inconsistencies in the interpretation and enforcement of some GRN 
regulations by immigration officials.  Post requests assistance from 
the Department to help resolve these issues.  In response to the 
Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, post also requests that 
the Department provide technical assistance to help improve the 
Ministry's work flow and management controls.  End Summary. 
 
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Work Permit Issuances and Renewals 
---------------------------------- 
 
 3. (U) The Ambassador met with the Minister of Home Affairs and 
Immigration, Rosalia Nghidinwa, on September 4 to seek clarification 
of GRN immigration policies and resolution of a number of specific 
cases.  The meeting was in follow up to an August 19 call on 
Permanent Secretary Samuel Goagoseb by the DCM. 
 4. (U) In both meetings, delays in the processing and issuances of 
work permits was discussed.  Two specific cases were highlighted, 
both regarding Canadian personal services contractors employed by 
USAID.  In addition, the DCM provided the Permanent Secretary with a 
list of work permit renewal applications from USAID contractors and 
partner organizations, some of which had been pending for more than 
a year. 
 
 5. (U) Both the Minister and her Permanent Secretary separately 
declared that applications from USG agencies or from organizations 
working under a Government of Namibia (GRN)-USG bilateral program 
were supposed to be handled by a "special desk" and given expedited 
service, ordinarily processed within 10 working days.  Despite this, 
the Minister acknowledged that the system appeared to have broken 
down and requested the Embassy to document this problem. 
 
 
---------------------- 
Work Visas for TDYers? 
---------------------- 
 
 6. (U) The Ambassador and DCM expressed concern in their 
conversations that USG employees and contractors, who are called to 
Namibia on an ad hoc basis and only for brief temporary assignments, 
sometimes have been asked to obtain work visas at the port of entry. 
 The Ambassador and DCM noted that this requirement was highly 
burdensome and could have an adverse impact on programs which the 
GRN values highly, PEPFAR in particular.  In her discussion with 
Minister Nghidinwa, the Ambassador suggested that perhaps business 
visas acquired at the port of entry would be sufficient for TDY 
workers. 
 
 7. (U) A  staff member accompanying the Minister insisted that the 
law required all foreigners working in Namibia, even if paid from 
abroad, to have work visas.  Nevertheless, the Minister requested a 
written statement of the issue and the Embassy's proposal.  She 
committed to review the law and consider any accommodation which may 
be made. 
 
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Extended Visa Validity for Peace Corps 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 8.  (U) The DCM informed Goagoseb that Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) 
normally spend 27 months (three months training, followed by 24 
months of active service) in country, but the Namibian Embassy in 
Washington only issues 24-month visas.  As a result, 60 PCV 
passports must be submitted for three-month extensions every year. 
The DCM suggested that the GRN consider issuing 30-month visas 
instead, in order to relieve the administrative burden on both the 
Permanent Secretary's own staff and the Peace Corps/Namibia office. 
The Ambassador reiterated this proposal with Minister Nghidinwa, who 
was receptive to the idea. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
General Issues Related to Amcit Travel 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 9.  (SBU) Both the Ambassador and DCM noted inconsistencies in the 
 
application of some GRN regulations by immigration officials at the 
ports of entry.  They pointed out that guidance from the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs states that American travelers for business or 
tourism who are staying less than 90 days do not require visas, yet 
some travelers who have stated "business" as a purpose of travel 
have been required to obtain visas upon arrival.  They noted, 
additionally, that immigration officers are inconsistent about the 
number of blank pages they require for visa stamps as travelers 
enter the country (as few as one and as many as four), which has 
likewise caused needless expense and delays for American travelers. 
 
 10.  (U) Regarding the visa requirement, both Nghidinwa and Goagoseb 
confirmed that Americans who planned to spend less than 90 days in 
Namibia for tourism or business do not require visas.  Concerning 
the number of blank pages required for stamps, the Permanent 
Secretary stated that three pages were needed for entry and exit, 
but that this was "more of an administrative rule" which had not 
been codified. 
 
 11.  (U) The DCM raised the issue of passport validity, reporting 
that some American travelers have been delayed at ports of entry 
because their passports were valid for less than six months.  He 
noted that the U.S requirement of six months of passport validity 
for foreign visitors is related to the standard length of admission 
to the United States.  Asked for clarity on Namibia's policy on that 
issue, Goagoseb undertook to consult and get back to us. (NOTE: The 
standard length of admission to Namibia for temporary visitors is 90 
days. Subsequent to our meetings at the Ministry, the Consular 
section noted that two Americans arriving with passport validity of 
less than 90 days were admitted with instructions to obtain new 
travel documents at the Embassy. End note.) 
 
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Technical and Financial Assistance Requested 
-------------------------------------------- 
 12.  (U) The Ambassador followed up on the Minister's previous 
request for "technical assistance" (reftel) at the Ministry, asking 
for clarification and more detail on precisely what assistance was 
needed.  The Ambassador also noted that she had heard other 
diplomatic missions may have provided assistance.  She asked that 
the Minister identify gaps in assistance already provided, so that 
duplication of effort could be avoided. 
 
 13. (SBU) The Minister acknowledged that Microsoft Corporation had 
been contracted to computerize admissions and exits at ports of 
entry, but these services did not extend to the Ministry's workflow. 
 The Minister candidly acknowledged that their system was "a mess." 
She suggested that assistance in developing their workflow and 
management controls, as well as training for Ministry personnel, 
would be of benefit.  The Minister also specifically mentioned the 
need for security doors in some offices.  She did not yet know the 
cost of purchasing and installing the doors, but requested that the 
USG consider funding such a security upgrade. 
 
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COMMENT 
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 14. (SBU) Both Nghidiwa and Goagoseb listened intently to our points 
and seemed genuinely committed to resolving the difficulties 
outlined.  Follow-up and implementation has proven to be more 
difficult, however, due to serious inefficiencies and lack of clear 
communication within the Ministry. 
 
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ACTION REQUESTED 
---------------- 
 
 15.  (U) Per reftel, Post requests that CA engage the Namibian 
embassy to express concerns about our ongoing difficulties.  We 
propose the following solutions:  1) that the GRN issue 30-month 
visas for PCVs; 2) based on reciprocity, that the GRN agree to 
require a 90-day validity for passports rather than 6 months, which 
would be consistent with the standard length of admission into 
Namibia for temporary visitors; and 3) that the USG advise the GRN 
that endorsement/amendment pages may be used for visa stamps.  Post 
has already requested Overseas Citizen Services (OCS) to consider 
this last proposal for Namibia as it was recently instituted in S. 
Africa. We request feedback on the suggested proposals. 
 
 16.  (U) Post also requests that CA identify technical assistance 
that could be provided to the Ministry of Home Affairs and 
Immigration by the State Department or Department of Homeland 
Security.  It is in the USG interest to do so, given the substantial 
impact of the Ministry's difficulties on USG programs in Namibia and 
on travel by American citizens. 
 
 
HARRINGTON