As the UAE's two-month amnesty program commences on Sunday, September 1, offering illegal residents and visit visa overstayers an opportunity to regularize their status or return home without penalties, a new threat has surfaced. Scammers are targeting vulnerable overstayers with fraudulent offers of residency visas at suspiciously low prices, raising concerns.
Khaleej Times interviewed several overstayers in Jebel Ali and Sonapur, who reported being approached by individuals promising residency visas for as little as Dh5,000, significantly below the usual costs. Sadiq, a 35-year-old Pakistani national who requested anonymity due to his overstaying status, recounted his encounter with a scammer. "I was approached by a man who promised a residency visa for just Dh5,000. It seemed too good to be true, and when I inquired about the company and position, he became evasive," Sadiq explained.
Sadiq, like many long-term overstayers, is cautious and unwilling to make any mistakes that could jeopardize his situation. "I haven't seen my children in three years due to my illegal status, and I can't afford to make any errors now," he said. A.N., a 39-year-old overstayer in Sonapur, also encountered scammers offering to renew his residency status and issue a new visa. "Khan has approached me multiple times with offers to clear my Dh70,000 penalty for Dh8,000, but I couldn't trust him due to his persistent approach," A.N. stated.
Raj Thiru, an Indian expat from Tamil Nadu, has been in the UAE for nearly a year after his visit visa expired. He was also approached by individuals offering residency visas for Dh6,000, but their lack of an office or proper setup raised red flags. "I don’t know how they knew I was desperate to fix my status, but I couldn’t risk losing my money to a scam," Raj said.
Immigration experts warn that these scams exploit the desperation of overstayers. Mohammed Dawood Shahbuddin of Seven City Document Clearing Services explained that the actual cost of a legitimate residency visa is significantly higher than Dh5,000 and varies by visa type. He advised caution and dealing only with accredited agents or government authorities.
