Official: No decision yet to extend amnesty

TASHEEL, AMER CENTRES WILL RECEIVE APPLICATIONS UNTIL OCTOBER 31

October 31 remains as the last day of the three-month amnesty in the UAE unless otherwise announced officially by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, a top official said yesterday, quashing rumours that an extension is in the pipeline.

Talk of an amnesty extension is unfounded, said Lieutenant Ahmad Al Dallal, spokesperson at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of the Ministry of Interior (MOI).

“There is no official decision to extend the amnesty period yet. If there are any plans for extension, it will be announced by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship,” Lt Al Dallal told Gulf News.

The amnesty has given illegal foreigners the chance to legalise their residency status or leave the country without having to pay their overstay fines or getting a ban since it began on August 1.

Lt Al Dallal also denied rumours that amnesty centres in some parts of the country have stopped accepting applications ahead of the October 31 deadline.

“All amnesty centres, including Tasheel and Amer centres, in the country are accepting applications from illegal residents who turn up to regularise their residency status or leave the country without paying fines,” Lt Al Dallal clarified.

“This information of not accepting applications is falsely rumoured among people. It’s baseless. I would like to tell people that all amnesty seekers are welcome across the country’s amnesty centres until October 31, the deadline set by the Federal authorities,” he added.

The rumour was spread by illegal residents who approached typing centres and failed to understand the procedures hence they thought that the amnesty centre had started refusing to accept applications, he said.

Large numbers of amnesty seekers have started flocking to the centres as the deadline nears, he added.