Amnesty rings wedding bells
dubai — The UAE’s visa amnesty scheme not only helped Filipina expat Yunilyn Liamzon shed her illegal status in the country, but also signalled wedding bells for her.
After overstaying in the UAE for almost eight years, Liamzon travelled back to her home country from the Dubai International Airport with her Emirati fiancé by her side.
Clutching her travel documents in one hand and her fiancé’s hand with the other, Liamzon, 40, told Khaleej Times: “Many lives have been changed for the better because of the UAE’s immigration amnesty programme. For me, the amnesty has paved the way for my matrimony.” Liamzon was among 117 overstaying Filipinos who were repatriated by the Philippine Consulate in Dubai.
dubai — a big joyful smile was etched over the face of filipina yunilyn liamzon. not only did she return home after overstaying in the uae for almost eight years, she left the country on saturday with her emirati fiancé to get married in the philippines.
clutching her travel documents in one hand and her fiancé’s hand with the other, liamzon, 40, told khaleej times: “many lives have been changed for the better because of the uae’s immigration amnesty programme. for me, the amnesty has paved the way for my matrimony.”
liamzon, a resident in ajman, joined 116 kababayans (compatriots), including eight minors, for the second batch of overstaying filipinos repatriated by the philippine consulate in dubai and the northern emirates.
the first batch, composed of 101 filipinos, flew back home on august 15. the philippine government footed the bill for their one-way ticket and also paid for their outpass worth dh221 and another dh521, if they had an absconding case. they were also given $100 (dh365) each (excluding the minors) as “humble welfare assistance.” the money was sourced from philippine assistance to nationals fund.
liamzon said she couldn’t be happier. “i did not pay a single dirham from my pocket. i’m very thankful to the uae government for waiving my overstaying penalties and to our (philippine) government for the free ticket and assistance,” she added. “my fiancé, who will be paying for his own air fare, and i really want our wedding to happen in the philippines so that my family can witness it. i also want my husbandto-be to see the beautiful place where i grew up. our trip back home is like an extended eid holiday for us,” added liamzon, a born muslim who hails from davao city, in philippines.
“first i will go home to get married then return to the uae on husband visa,” said liamzon, who met her emirati fiancé, ahmad ali alalili, six years ago.
for his part, alalili told khaleej
that he looks forward to meeting liamzon’s family. “we will prepare for our wedding and then i will return to the uae on september 13 and process my wife’s visa. we will settle here and raise our own family,” added alalili, who is employed at the ajman municipality.
meanwhile, philippine deputy consul-general renato duenas jr said a total of 285 exit passes have been issued to overstaying filipinos as on august 25 and more than 500 filipinos have renewed their passports to avail of the six-month temporary visa.
the second batch of 117 filipinos, who flew out of dubai via philippine airlines flight pr 659 on saturday (august 25) arrived today morning (manila time) at the ninoy aquino international airport terminal 2, where they were received by officials from the philippine department of foreign affairs (dfa).
I did not pay a single dirham from my pocket. I’m very thankful to the UAE government for waiving my overstaying penalties and to Philippine government for the free ticket.”
Yunilyn Liamzon, amnesty-seeker from Ajman
We will prepare for our wedding and then I will return to the UAE on September 13 and process my wife’s visa. We will settle here and raise our own family.”
Ahmad Ali Alalili,
Emirati fiancé
101
First batch of Filipinos, who flew back home on August 15
117
Second batch of Filipinos flew out of Dubai on August 25
285
Exit passes issued to overstaying Filipinos as at August 25
500 Filipinos renewed passports to avail of six-month visa