KARAWANG, RAKYAT NEWS – The Karawang Class I Non-TPI Immigration Office in West Java has issued 54,303 passports between January and December 2024, surpassing its initial target of 50,400 passports.

Petrus Teguh Aprianto, Head of the Karawang Immigration Office, stated that the increase in passport applications is driven by rising public interest. “Passports are valid for 10 years, and even if there are no immediate plans for international travel, many people apply for them as a precautionary measure,” he explained on Sunday.

The passports issued were categorized into three types: 48-page non-electronic passports, 24-page non-electronic passports, and 48-page electronic passports.

The breakdown is as follows: 31,413 non-electronic 48-page passports, 3,476 non-electronic 24-page passports, and 19,414 electronic 48-page passports.

The majority of the passports were issued for tourism purposes, followed by applications for Umrah (Islamic pilgrimage) and employment abroad.

Other reasons for passport issuance included study abroad, hajj, medical treatment, and the needs of Indonesian migrant workers.

In 2024, the Karawang Immigration Office also rejected 111 passport applications due to suspicions of human trafficking.

“These applications were flagged as potential cases of irregular migration, as the applicants could not clearly explain the purpose of their passport request,” said Aprianto.

During interviews, immigration officers suspected that the applicants intended to work illegally abroad.

The Karawang Immigration Office has continued to strengthen its vigilance to prevent human trafficking and ensure the lawful issuance of passports. (Uki Ruknuddin)

 

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