An amnesty program has been offered by the government of UAE for three months to leave the country without paying for any fees and penalties. This also includes a waiver on the re-entry ban of the availing expat.
This is a good opportunity for OFWs with expired visas to return to the Philippines without paying fines and return to UAE without a problem in the future. Therefore, Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes urged Filipinos in need of this program to avail it as soon as possible.
“We urge our compatriots to keep themselves abreast of developments regarding the immigration and visa policies of the UAE and ensure that they plan accordingly so as not to accrue any fines of overstaying or other penalties relative to violations of these policies,” says Cortes.
The announcement was made by the Philippine official after the UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) extended the grace period given to expats with expired visas until November 17, 2020.
Cortes also added that another batch of OFWs, about 100 Filipinos, is expected to be repatriated by the end of the month. The repatriation program headed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is prioritizing children, senior citizens, pregnant women as well as Filipinos with expired visas.
“We continue to receive requests for repatriation from our kababayans and we reiterate the DFA’s commitment to assist all overseas Filipinos who have submitted their requests to allow them to return home to the Philippines, subject of course to their appropriate outpass clearances from our host government,” says Cortes in a statement.
Expired visit visa holders are also encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.
“Kung willing silang mag-overstay, that is their risk to take,” says CEO of MPQ Travel & Tourism Malou Prado, further stating that fines start at DH300 on the first day and DH100 every succeeding day.
“Kaya, it’s better na mag-renew sila ng visit visa before the date. Mahirap kung mag-overstay kasi ang pagkaka-alam namin, maghighigpit ngayon sa mga visit visas,” she added.
Source GMA News
