Amnesty plan

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) will shortly launch a general amnesty for violators of the residency laws, a senior official said yesterday.

Ali Mohammad Bin Hammad Al Shamsi, FAIC Chairman, said violators will have the option of either rectifying their legal status by paying nominal fees or leaving the UAE without having to suffer any legal consequences, along with a waiver of any fines that they may have due to their illegal stay.

August 1, 1996: About 200,000 illegal residents left the country under an amnesty. It began on August 1 and ended on December 31.

January 1, 2003: Amnesty was declared for the second time. Around 300,000 illegal immigrants used the five-month period to exit the country.

The government said those found living in the country illegally after the amnesty would be punished under Federal Law No 13 of 1996. The law stipulated a maximum jail term of 10 years and Dh10,000 fine. The minimum punishment was one-month jail term and a Dh1,000 fine. Those sheltering illegals faced deportation without trial. June 3, 2007: Nearly 342,000 illegal immigrants took advantage of a threemonth amnesty.

The cabinet issued a warning to employers of illegal workers and infiltrators and those who gave them shelter that they would face up to two months in jail and a Dh100,000 fine.

The penalty for those employing or sheltering illegal workers was set at one month in jail and Dh50,000 for each worker.

The penalty was to be doubled for those who employed or provided shelter to illegal immigrants. December 4, 2012: Amnesty was declared for a two-month period for illegals to leave the country. Illegal immigrants were allowed a chance to leave the country without penalty. 61,826 illegal residents took advantage of the opportunity to leave the country without penalty.