A GUIDE FOR VISA AMNESTY SEEKERS
Government launches media campaiGn for ‘protect yourself by modifyinG your status’ initiative
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship has unveiled modalities for illegal residents to apply for amnesty and rectify their status or leave the country without facing fines or legal issues
All people staying illegally in the UAE have been told to take advantage of the forthcoming amnesty initiative so they can rectify their status and avoid facing problems.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) on Monday launched a media campaign for the “Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status” initiative that grants a three-month grace period for illegal residents to modify their status or leave the country without facing fines or legal issues.
Amnesty seekers will be registered at nine service centres at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs across the UAE. In Abu Dhabi, the registration centres will be at immigration offices in Shahama, Al Ain and Al Gharbia in the Western Region. In Dubai, the registration centre will be in Al Awir while in other emirates, the service centres will be at the main immigration offices.
The amnesty registration service centres will operate from 8am to 8pm Sunday to Thursday. The time period to rectify illegal residency in the UAE will begin from August 1 till October 31.
“We call upon all people staying illegally in the country to use this opportunity and modify their status without facing fines or leave the country without a ban,” Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al Rashid, director of Residence Affairs at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, said during a media briefing in Abu Dhabi.
“This is a great opportunity for
all those wanting to rectify their status and continue to stay in the country without problems. The initiative also provides chance for these people to get jobs after they have modified their status.”
He added: “The amnesty initiative was intended to provide decent opportunities for those looking for social and economic stability in the country.”
The official said there are various benefits of the “Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status” initiative, including; exemption from violation fines, departure without a ban stamp, return after departure and the ability to modify the legal status inside the country against a minimal amount of Dh500. Previously, penalties and a ban on reentering the country were imposed on people without valid visas.
Officials said people who have modified their status can also avail of the job opportunities by registering at the virtual labour market available on the official website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. People seeking employment can avail of the privilege to obtain a six-month temporary visa.
The amnesty initiative also grants a one-year-residence visa to families of people from the wartorn countries including Yemen and Syria without restrictions attached. The visa, which will be offered to the refugees regardless of their condition of residence, is intended to offer the affected a chance to improve their living conditions until they are ready to return to their home countries, said officials.
According to Brigadier Rakan, the amnesty can be availed of by all kinds of illegal residents in the UAE, including workers and families overstaying residence visas, people overstaying visit visas and those who entered the country illegally without visas. People applying for an exit permit under the amnesty are required to submit the air ticket to their home country.
People with financial cases or those who have been blacklisted in other non-residence violations will not be part of the amnesty until when they clear their issues.
We call upon all people staying illegally in the country to use this opportunity and modify their status without facing fines.” Brig Saeed Rakan Al Rashid, director, FAIC