Foreign nationals have been caught attempting to use fake passports in Guyana, with recent cases involving a Trinidadian and a Chinese national, according to Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Stephen Telford.
Speaking to the News Room during a recent interview, Telford confirmed that the individuals were detected after presenting fraudulent passports during immigration-related processes.
“We have recently a Trinidadian, a Chinese, they appear with fake documents,” Telford said.
Telford noted that the cases were quickly identified by immigration officers, preventing further processing. Those matters were handed over to the Police and the persons were charged.
Telford credited the vigilance of staff within the system for the early detection of fraudulent activity.
“We see it and I must say the staff are very vigilant in that operation so we detect it pretty much early,” he said.
The demand for the Guyana passport has increased with the Central Immigration and Passport office processing between 600 to 700 passports daily.
There are seven passport offices nationwide, including Camp Street, Leonora, Anna Regina, and Berbice.
Once application is submitted, persons can expect to receive their passport within three days. If expedited at a cost of $20,000, they can get it back within 24 hours or sooner depending on the circumstances.
“My advice to any applicant in filling out your application form, fill it as the information requires, ensure that when you are going to the passport office you walk with all the documents you are required to walk with and when you book an appointment and a location, show up at a time that you yourself made that appointment for…and come and be served and be dealt with in the shortest possible time,” Telford said.
The immigration office’s swift detection of fraudulent documents underscores the importance of security measures in protecting the integrity of travel documentation.
