Passport offices are experiencing a huge influx of applicants seeking to process their applications for legalization ahead of the Nov. 3 deadline.

Hardware is reportedly breaking down due to pressure on the offices' technological systems.

Expatriate laborers who have failed to either seek legalization or leave for their home countries are now taking on irregular and unlicensed jobs.

Officials have warned Saudis against dealing with residents who continue to be in violation of residency regulations, saying that their performance is below standard and that they are seeking to make money unscrupulously.

Lt. Col. Muhammad Al-Husain, a spokesman for the Makkah Passport Department, said: “The current rush at passport offices is due to last week's holiday. Many services, such as obtaining exit/re-entry and exit-only visas, can be performed electronically through the Abshir program. People only have to come in person to obtain or turn in their passports. The passport office also has branches in Sairafi and Tahliah Mall,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jazan has also seen large numbers of applicants crowding passport offices, especially the visa sections and the Abshir cabin. Congestion is said to be either due to insufficient number of visas or support staff.

There are similar scenes across the Kingdom. In Dammam in the Eastern Province (EP), residents panicked when the Abshir service failed to work for three days.

However, a spokesman for the EP Passport Office clarified that the Abshir service was not down but was overloaded on certain days because of the large volume of applications.