Cyprus-Forum.com

[alexconan9]

Hi fellow cypriots,

I have repatriated to cyprus and have my refugee number however I have encountered numerous dead ends trying to get my refugee certificate!

I have all appropriate paperwork, even my electricity bill from 1974 and still havent gone anywhere!

This has been going on for some months now and am feeling very stressed by the lack of support and work ethics from the government workers I am forced to work with in order to get my desired certificate.

Any advice, contacts or comments wilk be much appreciated

[Sotos]

Are you a refugee yourself or one of your parents? Was your primary residence in 1974 in the occupied areas? Did they denied to give you the certificate? Are they asking for anything else? Or is it just a matter of being slow?

[Get Real!]

I've heard of the little folded refugee card... I've got one, but a certificate?

[SKI-preo]

I think they always make you wait about 3 to 6 months if you have lived abroad. The department has a policy of "churning" refugees if they moved to another country after the war. You need patience and the ability not to live and breath the progress of your application. One third of all refugees moved overseas after the war thats about 70,000 people or more. Most did not recieve a cent in benefits or charity except for a few months use of a leaky tent and some second hand clothes. These people also did not get a vote during the referendum of 2004. I read a comment on Cyprus Mail a week ago from an expat claiming that refugees don't want a solution because of all the benefits they supposedly get. The department churns about a third of all refugees so you give up and just get on with life. The department probably has extravagant cocktail parties with its budget instead.

[CBBB]

I will have to get my son to chase this document for his daughter.

Her claim to this is based on the following:

Maternal grandfather - Greek Cypriot proper refugee in 1974
Maternal grandmother - Greek Cypriot Charlou not a refugee
Paternal grandfather - British
Paternal grandmother - Greek Cypriot not a refugee
Father - British/Cypriot not a refugee
Mother - Greek Cypriot Charlou refugee because of father

I hope all that makes sense, because I can't see the logic in it!

[B25]

This has been going on for some months now and am feeling very stressed by the lack of support and work ethics from the government workers I am forced to work with

This is your problem unfortunately. Government workers are about as useful as a chocolate teapot, total waste of skin.

They think they are doing you a favour when they have to put done their mobiles to serve you, or interupt their numerous coffees times to deal with you. They forget it is us who pay them with their decent salaries, guaranteed wage increases, spuer pension payments, retirement lump sum payments and whatever the hell else they get. Don't you wonder why avery man and his dog wants a government job in Cyprus. Easy life.

Spazoun kamilo as they say. And the reason is, they are not accountable to anyone, not measured, no performance targets and no one to complain to, beacuse the gaffer is at it as well. If it were upto me, 98% would be fired and start again.

just enlarge your liver and be patient.

Good luck mate.

[alexconan9]

Are you a refugee yourself or one of your parents? Was your primary residence in 1974 in the occupied areas? Did they denied to give you the certificate? Are they asking for anything else? Or is it just a matter of being slow?

My parents were both refugees and their residence was in the occupied area. It has been almost 4 months now and they keep asking for the most ridiculous information. They are even asking for neighbours first and second names in the village my parents resided. The lady we have been in contact with this whole time basically said she and her department have to make sure my parents are, who they say they are........next they will be asking for blood to run DNA tests!!!!

[alexconan9]

TO EVERYONE THAT REPLIED TO MY POST......
I really appreciated all your comments they were really informative as well as inspiring!

It is nice knowing that I am not going crazy and that this is a crazy place haha :p

many thanks to all