With just a few days remaining before the UAE introduces its two-month visa amnesty program starting September 1, typing centers are flooded with calls and inquiries from expats who have overstayed their visas and want to legalize their residency status. During this amnesty period, illegal residents will be able to have their fines waived, allowing them to either return to their home countries or remain in the UAE.
"We've been receiving numerous inquiries from individuals who have overstayed their residency visas. They have many questions, particularly about the document processing and the application procedure to legalize their status," stated Firose Khan, the operations manager at Arabian Business Centre. Khan acknowledged that while addressing these queries, they could not provide detailed information about the procedure as they were also awaiting guidance from immigration authorities.
"In a few days, we expect to receive more details from the authorities, and our online portal will be updated," he added. Mohammed Dawood Shahbuddin from Seven City Document Clearing Services noted that his agency was receiving several calls daily. "These overstayers are keen to legalize their status," he said. Shahbuddin explained that an overstayer could submit their documents to his agency, which would then forward them to an Amer center. Upon approval from the authorities, an outpass would be issued, giving the illegal resident 14 days to leave the country.
"The overstayer will need to either obtain an offer letter from a company and apply for a visa to stay, or leave the country," Shahbuddin added. Many typing centers, however, are still awaiting comprehensive instructions from the authorities. Nazeel Ahmed of Al Burj Document Clearing Services mentioned that while many people approached them for detailed procedures after hearing about the UAE amnesty program, they had only received information about the application dates and duration so far.
Currently, Ahmed said they were focusing on raising awareness about the importance of the amnesty scheme while waiting for clarity. As the grace period approaches on September 1, typing centers are gearing up for a surge in inquiries. "We encourage everyone staying illegally in the country to take advantage of this opportunity to legalize their residency status. Don't be concerned about the process being time-consuming. Once completed, you gain the freedom to legally reside here," said Khan.
