Amnesty extension hAiled As A perfect ‘nAtionAl dAy gift’

dubai — As a perfect gift on the occasion of the UAE’s 47th National Day celebrations, the amnesty programme for illegal residents has been extended for yet another month, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) announced on Monday.

Processing of amnesty applications will continue from today and amnesty-seekers will have until December 31 to avail of the scheme. Diplomatic missions have told Khaleej Times that they are coordinating with officials and the extension period will give overstaying residents more time to modify their status.

Social workers and amnestyseekers expressed gratitude and great joy over the UAE government’s decision to extend the amnesty period till December 31. They praised the UAE’s benevolence, and called it the perfect ‘UAE National Day gift’.

“The UAE leadership is keen to give the applicants an opportunity to modify their status and get job opportunities in the UAE, a senior officer at the Sharjah immigration said.

“Extending the deadline helps counteract the effect of the delay some amnesty-seekers may have faced,” said Brig. Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, FAIC acting director-general of Foreigners and Ports Affairs.

Maj-Gen. Mohammed Saeed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residents and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai, said the announcement aims to grant another chance to every illegal residents and visa violators who could not take advantage of the scheme earlier.

dubai — The amnesty scheme for illegal residents in the UAE has been extended for another month on the occasion of the UAE National Day.

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) issued the statement on Monday, giving amnesty-seekers time until December 31 to avail of the scheme.

The processing of amnesty applications will continue from Tuesday.

The UAE leadership is keen to give the applicants an opportunity to modify their status and get job opportunities in the UAE, a senior officer at the Sharjah immigration confirmed to Khaleej Times.

Immigration centres across the UAE will begin to look into applications of amnesty-seekers, who had already started the procedures. Those applicants will get a chance to complete their procedures.

Diplomatic missions have told Khaleej Times that they were coordinating with officials. They said the extension period would give illegal residents more time to modify their status.

Hashim, a Bangladeshi worker, said he was happy to hear the news of extension as many people wanted to amend their status and avail of the amnesty but some of them have not yet received their passport to complete their procedures.

A ‘generous initiative’

“The authority will on Tuesday continue to welcome people wishing to avail of the amnesty initiative at the nine registration centres across the UAE so that they can rectify their status,” the FAIC said in a statement. The ‘Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status’ initiative, which granted a three-month grace period for illegal residents to modify their status or leave the UAE without facing fines or legal issues, started on August 1 until October 31. But the authority extended the scheme for a month, which was supposed to end on November 30, after the expiry of the extension.

Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, acting director-general of the Foreigners and Ports Affairs at the FAIC, said the decision to extend the deadline comes as a “generous initiative” to mark the country’s 47th anniversary.

“The extension of the amnesty initiative is a generous offering from a dignified leadership that enhances the UAE’s security, safety and tolerance,” he said.

Al Rashidi added: “This second extension will offer greater chance to all those who are still living in the UAE illegally to fully legalise their status.”

The officer said the FAIC had earlier extended the amnesty scheme for 30 days because there was some delay in processing applications at the start of the amnesty period due to some technical issues.

“Extending the deadline also helps counteract the effect of the delay some amnesty-seekers may have faced,” said Brig Al Rashidi, adding that some embassies and consulates were unable to issue or process documents in a timely fashion, causing further delays.

He asked consulates and embassies to fully cooperate and push for greater efficiency in processing the documents.

The amnesty initiative is intended to provide decent opportunities for those looking for social and economic stability in the country, according to Al Rashid.

Major-General Mohammed Saeed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residents and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai, said the announcement aims to grant another chance to every illegal resident and visa violator who could not take advantage of the scheme earlier.

People seeking employment after regularising their status can avail of the privilege to obtain a sixmonth temporary visa.

The amnesty initiative also grants a one-year-residence visa to families of people from the war-torn countries including Yemen and Syria without restrictions.

This second extension will offer greater chance to all those who are still living in the UAE illegally to fully legalise their status.” Brig Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, acting director-general of foreigners and ports affairs, FAIC