UAE gears up for drive to regularise illegals
abu dhabi — As part of the UAE Cabinet’s decision to grant those who are overstaying their visas and residing illegally in the country a grace period to amend their status, the Federal Authority for Identity and Naturalisation (FAIN) is gearing up to launch an initiative themed ‘Protect yourself by amending your visa status’.
Ali Mohamed bin Hamaad Al Shamsi, Chairman of the board of the FAIN, praised the Cabinet decisions, which include an array of new legislative facilitations to revise the current residence scheme. The new rules aim at making it easy for those who are willing to stay in the country as well as jobseekers, and grant the residency rule violators a grace period to settle their position or leave the country without bearing any legal consequences or fines.
“The decision consolidates the country’s economic competitiveness and makes it a more attractive destination to a great extent. It would boost the country’s position as one of the best countries in the world in terms of provision of modest life for those seeking social and economical stability,” Al Shamsi added.
He noted that the decision will be a driver for investment in the country and will be attracting skilled people and experts who are willing to realise their dreams here.
The decision, he said, will have limitless positive impact on all economic, social and security areas in the UAE.
Brigadier Saeed Rakaan Al Rashidi, acting director-general for
Missing this precious opportunity will subject a visa violator to the legal consequences, including pursuit and tracking by the law enforcement officers.” Brigadier Saeed Rakaan Al Rashidi, acting director-general for foreigner’s affairs and ports at the FAIN
The decision consolidates the country’s economic competitiveness and makes it a more attractive destination to a great extent.” Ali Mohamed bin Hamaad Al Shamsi, Chairman of the board of the FAIN
foreigner’s affairs and ports at FAIN, stressed the full preparedness of the authority to implement the decisions made by the Cabinet in this regard. He said the authority will work constantly and roundthe-clock to finish all the procedures and legal and administrative aspects that are required to implement the decision.
“The initiative will achieve lots of positive results in curbing the phenomenon of visa rule violators who overstay in the country, and will enable everybody living illegally in the country to amend their visa status so that he or she could stay peacefully in a country that is blessed with safety and security and known for respecting human rights,” Al Rashidi added.
Under this grace period, the details of which will be announced within weeks, a visa violator who turn up voluntarily will be able to leave the country against no fees. They will be exempted from any fines and if wanted, they can amend their visa status in return for a trivial fee. Those absconded their sponsors can also leave the country without getting a ban stamp. However, those who entered the country illegally through areas other than the official ports will be allowed to leave the country, but will get an entry ban for two years.
Brig Al Rashidi called upon all violators of the residence visa and sponsors to be keen to take the advantage of the limited grace period given to amend their visa.
He highlighted that this initiative is totally different from any previous similar initiatives because now once a visa violator amends the visa status, he or she can take up a job without leaving the country.
“Missing this precious opportunity will subject a visa violator to the legal consequences, including pursuit and tracking by the law enforcement officers after expiry of the deadline,” he noted. —