Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH & MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE’s immigration centres are witnessing large crowds rushing to take advantage of the visa amnesty period which began at the start of the month. Speaking to Aletihad, overstayers expressed their relief at being given a second chance at life.
On Wednesday, large crowds lined up at the typing centre at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security in Abu Dhabi’s Al Mushrif to have their documents signed off to have their amnesty granted.
“This is a big relief, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do,” Aarav, from India, told Aletihad outside the centre.
Aarav originally arrived in the UAE two years ago as a labourer, a position which was later made redundant, forcing him to undertake unofficial work to find the money to send home.
He said the time it required to settle his affairs put him in violation of his visa conditions, trapping him in a vicious cycle where the accumulating fines further hindered his ability to leave.
“I just want to go home, I had to go get an emergency passport because I lost mine, I hope this line finishes soon.”
Aarav expressed hope that one day he would return to the UAE, despite the hardships he had faced, believing the opportunity to provide for his family would be extremely compelling.
Ahmad, a Pakistani construction worker, was another beneficiary of the amnesty. Having qualified for an exemption from his hefty overstay fines, Ahmad said he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He described his time working illegally in the UAE as “very stressful” for him and his loved ones back home.
“I am so thankful to the UAE for this initiative,” Ahmad told Aletihad on Wednesday.
“Before the amnesty I had to work random jobs for very little pay just to survive here, and I couldn’t send my family in Pakistan any money. It was a very difficult time. Now I’m relieved.”
The ICP had recently announced a grace period for violators starting September 1, 2024, and lasting until October 30, 2024. This initiative benefits four main groups: visa violators, residency violators, individuals listed in administrative reports or those who have abandoned their work, and foreign-born children whose guardians have not regularised their residency.
During this period, violators are offered five key incentives to encourage them to regularise their legal status. These include exemption from administrative fines related to residency and visas for those residing illegally, establishment card fines, ID card fines, and fines imposed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Moreover, the grace period also grants exemptions from residence and visa cancellation fees, fees for withdrawing reports of work abandonment, departure fees, residence and visa details fees, and departure permit fees. It also allows violators to leave the country after regularising their status without a ban on re-entry.
