Fees paid against absconders won’t be refunded, clarifies GDRFA chief
I provided a visa to one of my clients, a tourist, but he did not exit the country upon expiry of his visa. My issue is not getting our fees refunded if that absconder makes use of this amnesty.”
Ratnakar Mohanty, manager, Alreef Tours and Holidays
dubai — While absconders residing in the UAE are eligible to avail of the upcoming amnesty next month, the company that filed the absconding case against them will not receive a refund on the fees paid to file the report.
This was reiterated by BrigadierGeneral Khalaf Al Ghaith, directorgeneral assistant of follow-up sector of violators and foreigners at the general directorate of residency and foreigners affairs (GDRFA) Dubai, during a preparation meeting for the August 1, three-month amnesty.
During a GDRFA meeting on Sunday, Al Ghaith told Khaleej Times that in the case an absconder qualifies to make use of the amnesty, the money handed over by the company to file the original absconding case will not be waived under the amnesty.
However, if there is an absconding report against a person, immigration will remove the report following payment of Dh500, given that there is no criminal case attached to the file.
Following the payment to lift the absconding report, all overstaying fines against the resident/tourist will be waived and an exit permit without a ban will be issued. Though this may be good news for tourists or residents looking to have their overstaying fines waived, some travel agents here say the news has not been welcomed by all.
“I provided a visa to one of my clients, a tourist, but he did not exit the country upon expiry of his visa. Despite many follow-ups for him to do so, he did not respond so we were forced to put an absconding case on him,” Ratnakar Mohanty, manager at Alreef Tours and Holidays, told Khaleej Times.
“I had to pay more than Dh5,600 to Dubai immigration to file the case, otherwise our licence would have been blocked. That is normal procedure, that is not my issue. My issue is not getting our fees refunded if that absconder makes use of this amnesty.”
Mohanty said it will be a “loss” to his small-sized company, as they file “five to six” such cases each year, which prove costly. And although he said that amnesties are useful for people in certain situations, it seems unfair that the person who violated the terms of the visa be let go, while the company gets nothing in return.
“If immigration will simply clear the original report for a Dh500 fee, why can’t we get our money back? They should really consider this. Otherwise, if the tourist is looking to use the amnesty then they can come back to us and ask for a clearance certificate. That way the amnesty will cover their overstay fines then we can contact immigration to lift the case and we can get our money back.”
For a second travel agent in Dubai A.S. (who asked not to be named), he said the introduction of the amnesty is encouraging for people who really need help.
But if absconding tourists who have been ignoring and evading travel operators can simply get their absconding case lifted and overstay fines waived, it would be best for them to contact the travel agent first.
“If they can please get back in touch with us first, then we can come to an agreement and we can contact immigration to get the money back that we filed to make the absconding case.”
Individuals who are absconding from their employers or sponsors in the UAE may apply for current amnesty programme. They should approach their respective embassy/ consulate and thereafter directly approach the amnesty centre set up by the UAE government to complete the procedures to leave to their home country.