Foreign embassies in the UAE are preparing for the two month visa amnesty that begins on Sept 1 to assist expatriates.
This initiative, launched by the UAE government, offers residents without valid visas a chance to either regularize their status or leave the country without incurring penalties.
Embassies and consulates have gone into overdrive sensitization mode to ensure that their nationals are in a position to capitalize fully on this stipulation. This would involve some partnerships with community service agencies to help spread the word and to help the less fortunate.
B. M. Jamal Hossain, Bangladesh Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates called it a significant initiative, saying it offers a golden opportunity for the expatriates to rectify their legal status. The Bangladesh mission has even opened up more counters to help expedite the process of renewing passports for those who do not have valid travel documents.
Similarly, the Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi has extended its working hours, including opening on Saturdays, to accommodate the increased demand for passport renewals. Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi expressed his appreciation for the UAE’s efforts, highlighting the mission’s commitment to ensuring that all eligible Pakistanis can benefit from the amnesty program.
Even the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi is thinking about having extended hours due to the demand. Din Bandhu Subedi, Consejero (Trabajo) informo que estan trabajando estrechamente con asociaciones comunitarias locales para incentivar a los trabajadores nepaleses a ponerse al dia con sus estatus migratorios.
Even the Indian Consulate in Dubai has suddenly sprung into action, contacting diaspora associations throughout the UAE to fish out those who would need amnesty. Consul General Satish Kumar Sivan underscored that this is a good program that would enable expatriates to go back home with their heads held high or remain in the UAE with their legal status rectified.
The Philippine Embassy and Consulate has also strongly advised all Filipinos in the UAE to take advantage of this great opportunity. According to the missions, the amnesty program is very important because it enables expatriates to set their immigration status right without being penalized by law.
