posted
Long post - I just went through this so am posting the details in case anyone finds it useful:
This post tells you what's in the Mogamma and some info about temporary residency and visas. For the record, I am a British passport holder, but I think its the same for Americans (US) and Europeans.
THE MOGAMMA
I'm glad I went with someone the first time because its a bit confusing. However, when I went the second time on my own it was fine.
BEFORE YOU GO
Photocopy your passport and keep safe - you don't get a receipt when you hand it in.
Go in the morning (before 12 or earlier – I went 11). If you can get it the same day, you will need to go back about 2pm so you will probably have to wait 3+ hours somewhere – be prepared – you can leave the Mogamma and go somewhere else – you don’t have to wait in there (BUT bear in mind you won't have your passport with you because you have to leave it in the Mogamma which might limit some of your options).
Take something to lean on to do writing!
You can get drinks and toilets in there (see below).
Get off at Sadat Metro and find the ‘El Mogamma’ exit.
WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU GET IN
Yes, its a very big building but for residency you only need to know about the entrance floor and the one above it (i.e. for Brits - what we call the ground and first floor and for Americans, what you call the first and second floor).
You see a circular entrance hall - not too big. On your left are lifts (ignore) and on your right is a big staircase. On either side of the big staircase are two photocopy places. At the back of the big circle is a corridor. Take the right hand corridor and the first door on your right is the photo place. This is actually a little office with photocopiers and people in it, not a machine.
PHOTOS
Get photos from the photo office on the entrance floor. Pay 15LE to the person who gives you a number, then go to the back of the office (which is cramped with people taking photocopies etc), they take your photo digitally and print out a sheet of 8 passport-sized photos. Then its cut into 8 for you. They let me use the mirror to comb my hair in advance
PHOTOCOPIES
Cost 50pt each - you might prefer to wait until the people upstairs tell you what you need, but I had to get a copy of my passport (mugshot page) and a copy of the page with my current entry visa on it. I got mine from the photocopy place by the stairs not in the little office.
WHAT’S UPSTAIRS
Go up the stairs - doesn't matter which branch you take, they come to the same result. You have to go through the security machine under the 'welcome' sign on the right hand side. There's a circular entrance with corridors off.
If you are a foreigner, take the corridor furthest round from the entry. If you get lost just say visa to someone official looking and they will point you (how do I know? – guess!). The most useful word for directions in Arabic to commit to memory is ‘al atool’ which means ‘straight on’. Wander the corridor until you start seeing the booths that look like bank tellers. They are all labelled (in English) – eg Arab nationals, non-Arab, refugee etc etc.. (There are some signs hanging from the ceiling indicating 'foreigners' 'residency' etc as well to assist). If all the booths are labelled purely in Arabic then you're in the wrong bit!
If you want temporary permits and entry/reentry visas, I can’t remember the exact number but it was about number 32 or similar. When you know what quantity of stamps you need to buy, you need number 43 or 44.
REFRESHMENTS ETC
Refreshments are available. There are a couple of chaps wandering around with bottled water (2LE for half a litre) and various cans – all were cold, not warm. I also saw someone wandering round with pens for sale!
There are toilets – the ladies has both a squatty bog and a sitting down bog. I found paper in one, but recommend you take your own. I don’t know if the shitfer thing was working – I forgot to ask my friend who uses these devices!
**PERMITS**
RESIDENCY OR TEMPORARY?
Now, I have seen various conflicting information about what permit I am allowed to get. I own a flat, but it is not yet registered in my name and I haven’t yet got the electricity transferred into my name. I am not married.
The story is as follows: one woman in the Mogamma told my Egyptian friend that if I owned a property that was REGISTERED in my name PLUS had the ELECTRICITY registered in my name, I could apply for a RESIDENCY permit (3 years). Another woman, a couple of windows down said IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHETHER YOU OWN PROPERTY OR NOT – you cannot get a RESIDENCY permit unless you are married to an Egyptian. So, that is two different stories from two different windows.
Also, they told my friend that if I wanted to WORK, then I need to find the job first and the employer will do the work permit.
So, I applied for / obtained a TEMPORARY RESIDENCE FOR TOURISTIC PURPOSES valid for 1 year. This ends up stuck in your passport with the words ‘Work is Not Permitted’ on it.
The form is in English and Arabic and the woman tells you what you need to pay in stamps (91.10LE), which bits of the passport to photocopy and sticks your mugshot on the form.
Go away, find somewhere to perch with your handy ‘thing to lean on’ that you bought with you, fill in the form. Go and get the photocopies you need (back downstairs), then go to the stamps place (booth 43 or 44) and stick them on the top of the form. Then go back to the desk you got the form from. She’ll go through it and tell you to come back later. I THINK IT WAS TO A DIFFERENT COUNTER for this visa, I can’t remember (It may have been number 11 - this is ringing a bell in my head for some reason - but I might be wrong).
REENTRY VISA
Now, again, I have heard different stories about the reentry visas and when to get them. To cut a long story short, the key seems to be to get the reentry visa BEFORE you leave the country and not back in the UK otherwise the Temporary Residence is invalid. It seems you do NOT need to get it at the same time as the TEMPORARY RESIDENCE.
I went back to the Mogamma a second time and got a multiple reentry visa 61.10LE which is valid for 6 months from the date I got it. Again, this entailed a 3 hour wait between requesting and issuing – but even with the cost of lunch and copious lemon juice drinks in the Nile Hilton, it was still cheaper than buying it in the Egyptian Consulate in London (£18 and just as much waiting about). This time I went back to the same booth as where I put in the application.
Hope this info helps someone!
Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
wow..what a lot of typing. but it sounds like exactly what I went thru, and will have to do again pretty soon...grrr. But hubby just told me that they opened a branch for these visas in 6th of October and it would be a lot less crazy to do it there. Also, I had a ton of pics made at one of those Kodak places prior, and also have a ton of pics of the passport and marriage certificates, etc and keep in a folder for when I have to go thru all this crap. such fun !
Posts: 1103 | From: 6th of October | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
woooooooooooooooooow no matter where u are immigration is so hard u can wait hrs and hrs here in usa and if u did not brong a money ordaer (cas they dont except cash)u need go get one and come back and wait again
quote:Originally posted by jean_bean: wow..what a lot of typing. but it sounds like exactly what I went thru, and will have to do again pretty soon...grrr. But hubby just told me that they opened a branch for these visas in 6th of October and it would be a lot less crazy to do it there. Also, I had a ton of pics made at one of those Kodak places prior, and also have a ton of pics of the passport and marriage certificates, etc and keep in a folder for when I have to go thru all this crap. such fun !
Yes, let me know about the 6O office, someone told my friend there's an office opened/opening where some or all of things could be done but we didn't know for sure.
Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
definately will, cuz I hate having to go to that Mogamma office...what a zoo ! I would have had it done when I had to have my residency permit updated, but I needed it fast cuz I was going to Sharm, and they are pretty particular there, and it would have taken longer than Mogamma would have taken - so I pouted and went to Mogamma.... and they DO have a ton of other offices in the same building...will have hubby translate it all and I will write it down for us for future reference.
Posts: 1103 | From: 6th of October | Registered: Jun 2007
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quote:Originally posted by oldbag: Go in the morning (before 12 or earlier – I went 11). If you can get it the same day, you will need to go back about 2pm so you will probably have to wait 3+ hours somewhere – be prepared – you can leave the Mogamma and go somewhere else – you don’t have to wait in there (BUT bear in mind you won't have your passport with you because you have to leave it in the Mogamma which might limit some of your options).
In my personal experience, around 11 is not a good time because it's usually very crowded and stressful.
The best time is early in the morning; the last time I was there at 9 a.m., and it was great! There were hardly any people, no lines anywhere, and the whole procedure took me less than 15 minutes.
There are many things you can do in the waiting period of a couple of hours. I usually go to the AUC bookstore to have a browse while I'm in the area. There's also a Cilantro nearby where you can have a coffee and read or even bring your laptop and browse the internet. Also, there's an internet café on Talaat Harb (over the Madbouly bookstore); get a few sandwiches at Filfila and take them there. Or just take a walk around downtown ... it's lovely early in the morning.
Posts: 3587 | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by oldbag: Go in the morning (before 12 or earlier – I went 11). If you can get it the same day, you will need to go back about 2pm so you will probably have to wait 3+ hours somewhere – be prepared – you can leave the Mogamma and go somewhere else – you don’t have to wait in there (BUT bear in mind you won't have your passport with you because you have to leave it in the Mogamma which might limit some of your options).
In my personal experience, around 11 is not a good time because it's usually very crowded and stressful.
The best time is early in the morning; the last time I was there at 9 a.m., and it was great! There were hardly any people, no lines anywhere, and the whole procedure took me less than 15 minutes.
There are many things you can do in the waiting period of a couple of hours. I usually go to the AUC bookstore to have a browse while I'm in the area. There's also a Cilantro nearby where you can have a coffee and read or even bring your laptop and browse the internet. Also, there's an internet café on Talaat Harb (over the Madbouly bookstore); get a few sandwiches at Filfila and take them there. Or just take a walk around downtown ... it's lovely early in the morning.
When you went early, did you have to wait until 2pm or could you go back at 11 or so? Also, how could you get to the AUC bookstore without your passport? They always ask me to deposit it with security when I go (or do I look fishy?) Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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quote:Originally posted by oldbag: When you went early, did you have to wait until 2pm or could you go back at 11 or so?
No, I didn't have to wait until 2 p.m. They usually have it ready two hours later or even before.
quote:Originally posted by oldbag: Also, how could you get to the AUC bookstore without your passport? They always ask me to deposit it with security when I go (or do I look fishy?)
Well, I never, ever carry my passport around with me anyway. I have a German identity card that I usually leave with them if I have to go in there.
And, no, don't worry, they ask everyone. Posts: 3587 | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by oldbag: When you went early, did you have to wait until 2pm or could you go back at 11 or so?
No, I didn't have to wait until 2 p.m. They usually have it ready two hours later or even before.
quote:Originally posted by oldbag: Also, how could you get to the AUC bookstore without your passport? They always ask me to deposit it with security when I go (or do I look fishy?)
Well, I never, ever carry my passport around with me anyway. I have a German identity card that I usually leave with them if I have to go in there.
And, no, don't worry, they ask everyone.
seems like they're quite efficient then in turning the papers round contrary to popular belief! The 2-3 hours is all I've had to wait going later in the morning.
We don't have ID cards (yet!) in the UK so passport is only ID method available. Maybe I should try leaving my visa card Posts: 5593 | From: Egypt | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
I had my drivers license with me when I went in the AUC. They had no problem with that as it had my photo. I don't carry around my passport either unless I absolutely need it.
I've only been in the Mogamma once and it was in insane asylum for sure. I hope that the next time I need to go I will have someone with me to help make the time go faster.
Posts: 895 | From: NorthTexas, USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Phew I am so glad I live in luxor, it is so much easier. You go to the office opposite the Meridian/Nile palace, the morning is best but before 12:30.
There is only one set of counters and you go to the back where the two women sit. You hand over copies of your passport, entry visa page, and all one year visas since entry and photogaph. You come back at 2 and it is ready. You can speed up the process by bakshesh, about 20LE.
It is the same place for 1 year visas and re-entry.
The Meridian will do photocopies for you and there is a shop round the corner that does photos.
-------------------- Jane Akshar UK Co-owner of www.flatsinluxor.co.uk Appartments and Tours in Luxor Posts: 2791 | From: www.flatsinluxor.co.uk, Luxor, Egypt | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Okay,a wee tip fer your next visit to Mogamma..the first lady likes mobinil,second vodafone and third mobinil..(25 guinnea top up cards)..sad but speeds things up by at least 2 hours!
Posts: 854 | Registered: Aug 2006
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quote:Originally posted by ameriegypt: What is Mogamma?
mogamma el ta7rir is name of building which contain offices for doing such its located down town in cairo amr
Posts: 1499 | From: Dark Side of the Moon | Registered: Aug 2007
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