GDRFA officials are helping last-minute amnesty applicants. Photo: Angel Tesorero
Foreigners who have overstayed their visas are urged to take advantage of the final day of the UAE visa amnesty on October 31. "If you're still waiting because you haven't secured a job offer yet, it's best to leave now and return later," advised a senior immigration official. "There is no re-entry ban and no fines for those who take advantage of the two-month amnesty," said Lt Col Salem M Bin Ali, director of the customer happiness department at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai, in an interview with Khaleej Times on Wednesday, the day before the amnesty program's conclusion. The amnesty, which covers all visa types, including tourist and expired residency visas, ends on October 31 with no extensions announced.
Bin Ali noted that some are concerned about not being able to return to the UAE, while others are waiting for job offers. "It's in their best interest to leave the country now to avoid fines for violating visa rules." On Wednesday, October 30, hundreds of overstayers flocked to GDRFA Al Awir Centre. Imran, a 45-year-old Pakistani who overstayed his tourist visa for nearly a year, said, "I waited until the last minute to apply for the amnesty because I was still waiting for a job offer. I still need to submit some requirements, which will take time. I can't afford to pay my overstaying fines, so I'll be going home for now and applying for re-entry later." Nepali expat Khabir, 38, who received an exit pass on Wednesday, is in a similar situation. "I didn't pay any fines, but I was told I have 14 days to leave the country. I've already interviewed with a couple of cleaning companies, and I hope to return to Dubai soon with a proper employment visa," said Khabir, who previously worked as an office assistant.
Stricter measures and deportations will follow the amnesty. Earlier this month, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) announced that there will be no extension of the UAE visa amnesty program, but there will be deportations and stricter measures, including placing violators on a no-entry list. "This two-month visa amnesty program, which started on September 1, is the final opportunity for individuals to correct their status. There will be no leniency, and no court proceedings," said Maj-Gen Sultan Al Nuaimi, ICP director-general, adding that visa violators will be apprehended and placed on a list of individuals banned from entering the country in the future. Al Nuaimi also mentioned that overstayers can apply at any ICP centers throughout the UAE, approved typing centers, and online channels. GDRFA has doubled its personnel in anticipation of an expected increase in overstayers in the last two days of the amnesty.
This year marks the fourth amnesty program initiated by the UAE government since 2007. The last one was six years ago, starting on August 1, 2018, and initially set to run for 90 days until October 31, 2018. However, the federal government extended the amnesty scheme for two more months until December 31 that year to allow more residency violators to rectify their status or leave the country without penalties.
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