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Bulgaria's introduction of new biometric personal identity documents has drawn huge lines, and crashed the overloaded electronic system. Photo by BGNES
The webpage of Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry now has a link which can be used by people applying for new ID documents to check the status of their order.
The link http://nld.mvr.bg/nld/nweb.nsf/fVerification?OpenForm&Seq=1 can be accessed through the “Internet Services” part of the Interior site. The user needs to enter his or her social security number in order to be able to find the information about their ID card, driver’s license or biometric data international passport.
Glitches in the new ID system, manufacturered by the German Siemens, which was launched at the end of March, created huge lines in front of the Bulgarian passport offices and delays in the issuing of the documents.
Bulgarian Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, held emergency talks with Siemens. He informed the company has vowed to swiftly fix the problem and Bulgaria will ask for compensation for losses and overtime pay.
While scores are still stranded without ID documents, and had to cancel plans for paid in advance trips abroad, the Interior promises to catch up on all delays in the next 10 days and to refund all money for express orders that have not been completed on time.
The system was first introduced on March 29. On April 5, it also began processing express ID orders.
The Bulgarian passport offers its holders visa-free access to 178 countries and territories, placing it 11th globally for travel freedom and expedited border crossing, according to Henley & Partners.
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