Citizenship scrutiny cards to be issued to descendants of local and foreign origins

Reported by Min Thiha Zaw Translated and Edited by Myint Win Thein + MYA

Citizenship scrutiny cards will be issued to descendants of local and foreign origins who are qualified for citizenship in accordance with the existing law, an official of the Yangon Region Immigration and National Registration Department was quoted as saying at a press conference on 1 August 2011. ' Being asked whether the department is issuing citizenship scrutiny cards to descendants of foreign and local origins, the official said the department is issuing citizenship scrutiny cards to  mixed races and descendants of foreign origins who are qualified for citizenship in accordance with the law. On 22 July during his inspection tour in Yangon Region, Union Minister for Immigration and Population U Khin Yi said that his ministry is responsible for issuing citizenship scrutiny cards to those who are entitled to them, and to check the issuance of citizenship scrutiny cards wrongly to those who are not qualified for the purpose. And then he added that the ministry is placing emphasis on issuing citizenship scrutiny cards to descendents of Myanmar nationals, and there may be delays for descendants of local and foreign origins and those who are doubtful as the process requires step by step approvals. Applicants for citizenship scrutiny cards at the age of 18 are required to do so in person, while those at the age of 10 are to apply the cards in person together with their parents or guardians. Other requirements include an original and a copy of the household registration list of the applicant, an original and a copy of the age recommendation from schools concerned or the birth certificate, originals and copies of the registration cards of the applicant’s parents, the blood identification result of the applicant, residence recommendation of ward or village-tract administrators and four photographs of the applicant. New citizenship scrutiny cards for the 10 and 18 years olds are to be issued at the cost of Kyat 6 within 28 days after the application. Cards for those who reapply for their lost or damaged citizenship scrutiny cards will also be issued within 28 day from the application at the cost of Kyat 10, according to the information booklet published by the department.