As the UAE launched its two-month amnesty program, numerous illegal residents seized the opportunity to correct their visa status. This initiative provided a much-needed relief for them amidst their challenging circumstances. But what led them into such a predicament?

Adverse life conditions compelled 73-year-old Indian expat Ali to return to Dubai five years ago. "I worked in the UAE from 1992 until a few years ago," he recounted to Khaleej Times at an Amer center in Mamzar. "But then my second son had a severe accident that left him burned and in need of an operation to regain his speech. I had to come back to the UAE to earn money for that operation." After his initial work visa as a cook expired, he was hired by another family. "The man kept telling me that my visa was being rejected due to my age and that he was trying to fix it," Ali explained. "After a year, he fired me, and that's when I realized I was cheated. By then, I had developed severe asthma and there were days I feared I would die." Ali took on odd jobs and spent much of his time in the mosque. "The first few days were very difficult," he recalled. "My health slowed me down and I was unable to work. But God always showed me the way, either through people or circumstances. I was able to survive. Now, I want to go home and see my people." He laughed when asked if he could get his son's operation done. "I barely have Dh10 in my pocket," he said. "The Amer center waived off the Dh20 charge for my application. How will I have the money for his operation? But I trust God will show me a way." Ali was issued an outpass on Tuesday, and a group of public relations officers (PRO) called the United PRO Association gave him a free ticket home.

For Ugandan housemaid A.S., it was an illness that derailed her plans. She worked with a family in the UAE when she developed a nerve problem, which prevented her from lifting heavy objects. "I was a live-out maid for a family in Jumeirah when I developed this problem," she said. "I had only been working with them for eight months when it happened. They waited for me to get better, but when things didn't improve, they wanted to fire me." A.S. was in no position to return home. "I had borrowed money from people to come here and had not even finished repaying it. How could I go home? I needed to work to repay the money and look after my family." She spent the next few months doing part-time housemaid jobs. "It was stressful," she confessed. "I always felt nervous about being an illegal. Every time a police car would pass by, I would get nervous. I never went to crowded places for fear of being caught. My friends would invite me to parties at night and to the malls, but I would always refuse. It was like living like a shadow." Now, she can regularise her status two years after arriving in the country. "I want to find a job, but I am aware it is challenging," she said. "But I believe in God. I am hoping that I can stay on. If not, I will go home and try to come back."

Indian expat R.K., who used to work in a bank, found himself in an illegal status after losing his passport. "Unfortunately, it was also the time when my visa expired," he said. "I tried applying for the passport, but they needed my residence visa. By then I had an absconding status. I kept shuttling from department to department for help." R.K. finds it hard to believe that he is an illegal resident. "During my work, I had very good knowledge of government procedures and regularly used ICP and GDRFA websites. I knew people who could help but in my specific circumstance, no one was able to help. It has been six months now, and I am so happy about this amnesty." He now has a job offer from another bank for a similar role he held previously. "However, to get a job in a bank, I need my visa to be sorted. I am still unsure where to go and what to do. I visited an Amer centre, and they were unable to help me. I am not sure whether to go to the GDRFA tent or the Indian Consulate next."

For Filipino couple L.M. and K.M., it was a bounced cheque and missed credit card payments that made them illegals. Running an events company in the UAE, the couple did well until an employee embezzled money and ran away. "Years of hard work was down the drain," said L.M. "Apart from the financial ramifications, the incident had an emotional impact on us. We were heartbroken, and it took us several months to recover from it. By then, contractors and banks had started calling us. We had maxed out our credit cards, and no money came from anywhere because contractors refused to work with us until we settled their dues." Eventually, when one contractor deposited a cheque, the couple had a bounced cheque case in addition to non-payment of credit card bills. "Now we are both trying to find jobs during the amnesty so that we can finish off our debts," said L.M. "Hopefully, we can find something."