Amnesty helps 2,417 Filipinos return home

DUBAI: The two Philippine diplomatic missions in the UAE have so far helped repatriate 2,417 back to Manila as of Monday (Oct.29) through the 2018 visa amnesty programme.

Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes released the igure alongside other data on Wednesday evening after the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) in Abu Dhabi announced on Tuesday, the extension of the 90-day “Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status” scheme to Dec.1.

FAIC took note of the heavy turnout and the lag of the procedures at some of the embassies and consulates general in the capital and Dubai respectively; thus the decision.

Cortes told The Gulf Today: “There are many who want to go home. But not as many as those who want to stay and (have availed/or decided to go for the six-month temporary visa to seek new employment).”

He said those who have been issued exit passes by the UAE authorities have 10 to 20 days to leave: “So, those issued exit passes on Nov. 1 for example, have to be out of the country (by) Nov. 11.”

Meanwhile, a Filipina and her two daughters granted exit passes on Oct.14 by the visa amnesty personnel at the General Directorate for Residency and Foreign Affairs Compound in Al Aweer, Dubai had been told that they should be out of the country on Nov.13.

They are awaiting the release of their airline tickets through the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai (PCGDXB) as the Duterte Administration is paying for all the expenses of the Filipinos who want to return home as part of the UAE visa amnesty programme.

Other data as of Oct.29 released by the Philippine Embassy and the PCGDXB:

•Travel documents issued to those who wish to travel back to the Philippines: 2,467.

•Passport renewals to allow those wishing to apply for a six-month temporary visa for job search or for those who have been offered immediate employment: 3,140.

•Lost passport application for amnesty or for those who wish to rectify their immigration status in the UAE: 1,203.

•Reimbursed exit pass or those whose exit passes were paid for by the Philippine government: 2,308.