Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform Awards Siemens Business Services a Contract Deal for Developing an Automated Visa Application & Tracking System
Can Handle Ever-Increasing Capacity of Visa Applications Electronically for First Time in Ireland
The Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform has awarded Siemens Business Services a contract to roll out an automated Visa application and tracking system for foreign nationals seeking to enter Ireland. With a huge increase in visa applications in recent years, according to the Department of Justice, Siemens has developed a streamlined electronic visa application system for the first time in Ireland. The new system, designed and implemented by Siemens Business Services, allows a much faster and more efficient processing of all types of visas, with a better detection rate. The technology is based on a Microsoft platform.
The IT system has the capability to be easily integrated with the required government departments and agencies (including the REACH public services broker) and EU systems.
Derek Wilson, Managing Director of Siemens Business Services adds, "We are delighted to be chosen for such a prestigious win as it was a competitive EU open tender. The new system can streamline and fast-track visas electronically whereas in the past it was a paper trail only. It can also handle the capacity of ever-increasing visa applications which is a vital element of the new system."
Pat Folan, Director-General of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) explains, "There has been a huge increase in visa applications in recent years so we needed a system to support this increased volume growth. The visa system is often the first encounter that a foreign national will have with the Irish public service. This system enables us to provide a faster and more effective service. It will also improve the security of the visa system and help us to detect fraudulent visa applications as we will have more information and easier access to data to control abuse of the system."
The locations of the main processing visa centres are in Dublin, Moscow, Beijing and Delhi.
According to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the critical balance in the visa system is between providing a fast and friendly service for legitimate travellers while at the same time, ensuring that fraudulent applications are recognised and handled appropriately. This system will be able to provide a full audit trail of the visa application process demonstrating accountability. Before now all visa applications were non-automated.
Siemens has been responsible for a large number of successful design, development and implementation programmes in support of government security projects around the globe. Siemens expertise is in the areas of Visa and Passport Application Systems, Schengen Systems, Citizen Identity Solutions and Border Control Solutions. Siemens has also much experience with UK Passports and the UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). This experience has provided valuable insights into the particular requirements of national visa systems and solutions from a workflow, scanning, document management and security perspective.
Siemens partner on this project, Daon, is providing core biometric software and expertise to future proof the Visa application and issuance processes. This will enable multiple biometrics to be incorporated into the system over time.
About Siemens Business Services
Siemens Business Services is an internationally leading IT service provider. This Siemens Group company offers a single source for IT services - from consulting to systems integration, right through to the management of IT infrastructures. Thanks to comprehensive know-how and sector-specific expertise, the company provides measurable added value for its customers. With regard to outsourcing and IT maintenance, Siemens Business Services is among the top ten providers worldwide. Sales in fiscal year 2004 (ending 30 September 2004) were about EUR 4.7 billion, and 76 percent of this total was generated outside the Siemens organization. The company currently has approximately 36,100 employees worldwide. Further information at www.siemens.com/sbs.
About Daon
Daon is a leading provider of identity assurance software products focused on meeting the needs of governments and commercial organisations worldwide. Daon supports customers and system integrators in building enterprise solutions requiring the highest level of security, performance, scalability, reliability and privacy. Daon’s multi-modal authentication infrastructure, DaonEngine, integrates seamlessly with IT platforms and applications, manages the identity life-cycle of small and large populations and delivers a clear return-on-investment. Privately held, Daon’s offices are located in Dublin, London and Washington DC. For further information please visit www.daon.com.
Contacts:
Jacinta Ryan, Simpson Financial & Technology PR
Tel: +353 1-2605300
jacinta@simpsonftpr.ie
Suzanne Corr, Siemens Business Services
Tel.: +353 1-2162847
suzanne.corr@siemens.com
Immigration Division
Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform,
Burgh Quay, Dublin 2
Fiona D'Arcy
Tel: 703-984-4000
Direct: 703-984-4040
fiona.darcy@daon.com
