Great news for all amnesty seekers! The UAE amnesty program, which was supposed to end on October 31, 2018, has been extended for one more month — until December 1, 2018! Yay!
The program, which is formally known as the “Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status” initiative, has been extended by the Federal Authority of Identity & Citizenship (ICA), WAM News Agency reported. The agency launched the program in August, for visa violators.
ICA Extends Deadline of UAE Amnesty Program
Basically, the amnesty program allows violators (e.g. those who have overstayed their visas) to leave the UAE without having to pay any fines and without getting a “no entry” stamp on their passports. For a certain fee, it also enables those who wish to stay a chance to change their visa status.
Moreover, the program allows those who entered the UAE illegally to leave with only a 2-year ban. Afterwards, they can always come back to the country by applying for a new visa.
According to the Acting Director-General of Foreign Affairs & Ports at ICA, Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al-Rashdi, they decided to extend the deadline as part of the UAE leadership’s directives to help visa violators in the country.
To apply for amnesty, he said that applicants can go to any of the 9 centres around the UAE:
- Al Aweer in Dubai
- Al Ain, Al Shahama, & Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi
- Reception centres in Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, & Umm Al Quwain
After the grace period, Al Rashdi warned that the UAE will enforce tougher visa rules and conduct inspections to ensure that everyone follows proper legal procedures. So if you haven’t done it yet, be sure to apply for amnesty and modify your status as soon as possible!
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