Hundreds turn out as UAE's three-month visa amnesty begins

The UAE's much-publicised visa amnesty begins with thousands of undocumented workers expected to attend immigration centres set up to process them.

The new scheme will allow anyone who has overstayed their work or residency visa the opportunity to either legalise their status in the country or return home. previous amnesties in 2007 and 2013 saw more than 340,000 illegal residents taking advantage of the grace period.

Those wishing to take advantage of the programme - which runs until October 31 - can visit any of nine centres dedicated to the amnesty, including those in Al Shahama in Abu Dhabi and Al Aweer in Dubai.

Anyone living in the country without a valid visa will be allowed to return home without paying the fines usually required for overstaying, and without facing the possible threat of a jail term.

The government has also announced a one-year residency and exemption from overstay visa fines for individuals from war-torn countries.

The full list of immigration centres set up to process those seeking assistance includes offices in Shahama, Al Ain and Al Gharbia in Abu Dhabi and Al Aweer in Dubai. The remaining five offices will be in Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain.

Here's what you need to know:

How long can those opt to alter their visa status stay in the country to look for a job?

A six-month temporary visa will be issued to individuals looking for employment.

Will those who entered the country illegally be given amnesty?

Yes, but they will be instructed to leave the country and banned from returning for two years.

Can individuals with criminal cases against them apply for amnesty?

No. Anyone with criminal cases against them or who have been previously banned from obtaining a visa is not eligible.

Can people with absconding reports apply for the amnesty?

Yes. Immigration authorities will delete any absconding reports and issue an exit permit without a ban.

What documents are required to apply for an exit permit?

Residents need to submit either their original passport or an Emergency Certificate. A valid airline ticket out of the country must also be provided.

Can residents without passports apply for the amnesty?

Yes.

What is the fee for applying for an exit permit?

Dh220.

What is the fee for modifying residency status?

Dh500.

What is the time period allowed to leave the country after receiving an exit permit?

Those given exit permits are required to leave within 10 days of its issue.

What benefits will the amnesty provide to those from war-torn countries such as Syria or Yemen?

Individuals will be granted a one-year residence visa without restrictions

UAE Amnesty 2018,6-month visa for violators who seek jobs

A six-month visa announced by the UAE government for amnesty seekers to stay back and search for jobs is a golden opportunity for them to start life afresh here.

Although the UAE has granted amnesty to residency law violators several times in the past, it is the first time that amnesty seekers are getting a temporary visa to aid in their job hunt.

Amnesty seekers who already have a job offer can immediately move to a residency visa during the amnesty period. Those who want to stay back but have not managed to find a job can avail of the six-month visa.

However, the six-month temporary visa and new residency visa will be issued to those who entered the UAE through legal channels only, as others who came here illegally will get a two-year entry ban. They can leave the country without facing any legal action including fines but can re-enter the UAE only after two years.

The six-month visa will be issued to the amnesty seeker on his or her own sponsorship, said a statement issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC).

The visa holder will be eligible to find a job in the government or private sector during these six months. If they get a new job during this period, they can move to the new residency visa.

However, if they don’t find a job within six months, they have to leave the UAE, FAIC said in a statement. It is understood that they can come back to the UAE on a new visa as they are not subject to an entry ban.

The authority is expected to announce the cost and procedures for the six-month visa soon.

Amnesty seekers looking for a job can also register on a portal of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which will help them find jobs.

Foreign diplomats of the majority labour-sending countries to the UAE told Gulf News that they welcomed this new step by the UAE and urged their compatriots to utilise the opportunity.

“My congratulations to the UAE government for this initiative. We welcome the move because it gives a second chance to Indians who may have overstayed their visas for technical reasons,” said Navdeep Singh Suri, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE.

“We have already been trying to assist these individuals on an informal basis. The proposed MoHRE portal would be of great value to workers who find themselves stranded simply because they were laid off by their employers,” Suri said.

Mohammad Imran, the Bangladeshi Ambassador to the UAE, said the six-month visa for amnesty seekers is an important step in helping such people. “Hope this will help Bangladeshi nationals who want to find a new job here.”

Rowena Pangilinan Daquipil, chargé d’affaires at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said, “Yes, of course, we welcome this move. But we leave the decision of whether to exit or stay within this amnesty period to our compatriots.”

She noted that those who exit can come back as no ban will be imposed on them. “Both options are good, so we leave it to our nationals to decide for themselves,” she said.

Sabarullah Khan, chargé d’affaires at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said the six-month visa will be a golden opportunity for amnesty seekers who want to stay back and search for a new job. He urged his compatriots to utilise this opportunity.

UAE visa amnesty guidance for expats to avail the scheme

In a relief for expats whose visas have expired and who are illegally staying back in the UAE, a three-month general visa amnesty by the government from August 1 will help them sort out their status and put their lives together.

Under the scheme called 'Protect Yourself via Rectifying Your Status,' foreigners violating the residency law will be granted a three-month grace period to either leave the country voluntarily without prosecution or rectify their legal status by paying the required fees.

The visa relaxation will lift the fears of over-staying foreigners, reduce the burden on those facing hefty fines, while encouraging illegal expats to make their status legal or voluntarily depart, without incurring a ban. The scheme will end on October 31.

Here is a guide for those seeking to avail the scheme:

Rectifying violators status:

• Exemption from all applicable financial penalties (Penalties of Residency-Emirates ID-Labour card)
• Closing absconding case without recourse to the sponsor
• Fees for rectifying the status (Dh521)
• Adherence to the residency conditions in case of renewal of visa or new sponsor

Exit of Violators (Al Aweer):

1. Shall be exempted from penalties and closing the absconding case, if any.
2. Fees for individual applying for closing the absconding case 121, for private institutions 521, for government institutions 71
3. Exit permit fees Dh 221
4. In case of an exit, a passport is required.
5. In case there is no passport, travel document shall be issued from the consulate after submitting certificate 'To Whom It May Concern' about the loss of passport
6. Violators must provide the ticket and the travel date must be booked after 10 days of visiting the amnesty headquarters
7. Violator's exit will be without a ban.

 Notes:

1: Countries of wars and disasters (Syria-Yemen-Libya)

2: Temporary residency for 6 months shall be issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization.

3: Beneficiaries of violators amnesty for visa and entry permits of Dubai only.

4: In case the violator wishes to rectify his status inside the country, the visa is issued from another emirates and he has an absconding notification, he should contact the same emirate to close the absconding case.

Details of amnesty 2018 by UAE government

Duration: The duration of the amnesty will be from August 1, 2018 to October 31, 2018 (3 months), subject to extension for a further period of two months depending upon the circumstances.

Beneficiaries: All individuals who are overstaying in the country can utilize the amnesty either to regularize their visa status legally or to exit the country without paying any overstay fines without entry ban.

How to utilise

• The individuals who are staying illegally can regularize their visas by getting a new sponsor. They can submit their application through Amer centers for new visa by paying an Immigration fee of Dh500.
• Those who wish to exit the country can approach Awir Immigration directly and get exit permit without ban. The Immigration will issue exit permit and they can exit the country within 10 days after issuance of permit. A fee of Dh220 is to be paid for the exit permit. The Immigration will take the fingerprints and eye scan as normal procedure and will issue exit permit accordingly.
• Those who entered the country illegally without any documents will get exit clearance with two years ban. They can re-enter the UAE after two years.
• If there is an absconding report against a person, the Immigration will remove absconding report against him with payment of Dh500 and will issue exit permit without ban.

The exit permits will be issued from the concerned Immigration authorities from where the visa is issued. Therefore, the individuals have to approach the immigration authorities of their respective emirates.

The applicants can approach the Immigration either with original Passport or EC issued from the consulate. In case of the passport already submitted in any Immigration office the same will be located immediately and handed over to the applicant directly. If passport is not available, the Consulate can issue EC and exit permit will be issued without police report. They will consider requests of the Consulates for repatriation of individuals in special cases.