UAE authorities are making sure that the visa amnesty program runs smoothly. At the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) amnesty tent in Al Awir, overstayers are quickly resolving their residency issues. Many people told Khaleej Times that their immigration problems were fixed in just a few minutes, showing how efficient the amnesty program is.

"I walked into the tent as an illegal resident at 11am, and by 11:06am, I was no longer breaking the law. My visa status was updated, the penalties were removed, and now I can go home without any trouble," said Hassan Sabuni, a Ugandan national who had been living in the UAE illegally for two years. He had all his papers ready before going to the tent. When Sabuni arrived, he was unsure about the process. "An officer greeted me and asked for all my documents, including my passport, Emirates ID, and work details. He then gave me a token at the first counter," Sabuni explained.

While waiting for his turn, another officer led Sabuni to the second counter. "My fingerprints were taken by the GDRFA system, and it didn't take long to fix my status. The officer entered my details into the system and cleared all my fines. He congratulated me and told me not to make the same mistake again," Sabuni said. "I'm very grateful to the UAE authorities for this program."

Thousands of overstayers are visiting the GDRFA tent to take advantage of this opportunity, and for many, it's a mix of happiness and relief. Another amnesty applicant, Shahbaz Alam, was thrilled after his status was fixed in just 15 minutes. "It only took me 15 minutes to fix my status, with 12 minutes spent waiting because of the crowd," said the Pakistani expat, who went to the GDRFA tent on the second day of the program.

"I was afraid it would be a long and difficult process, but the GDRFA staff were very helpful and walked me through each step. The air-conditioned tent was great in this heat. The free drinks, like water, coconut water, and juice, made the whole experience very comfortable," Khan said. The GDRFA set up separate areas for female and male residents and large tents with air conditioners. These tents had plenty of chairs and roomy interiors, providing a comfortable place for amnesty seekers.

Maria, a Filipina amnesty applicant, was impressed by the arrangements for applicants. "I was very nervous about coming here because I thought it would be very crowded at the start. I didn't expect an air-conditioned tent with comfortable seating. But from the moment I entered the tent, I felt at ease," said Maria. "The staff were very kind and patient, explaining everything clearly. I was fixed up in no time, and now I can stay in the UAE without any worries by getting a visa. I'm so thankful to the GDRFA for this chance."