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2,000 passports handed over to Indian association Sharjah

Sharjah - Dr Rajan Varghese, social worker at the IAS, said they are cooperating with the authorities to help amnesty-seekers.

Residency law violators from India, who have had their visas issued in Sharjah, can get their passports at the Indian Association Sharjah (IAS), according to a social worker. 
Over 2,000 passports of Indian nationals violating the UAE residency laws were handed over to the IAS by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Sharjah.
Dr Rajan Varghese, social worker at the IAS, said they are cooperating with the authorities to help amnesty-seekers. "The GDRFA has faith in the IAS and has handed over passports of residency law violators, who were issued visas from Sharjah. After the amnesty seekers get their passports from us, they can get their absconding fines lifted. All formalities like eye and fingerprint scanning can be completed at the Tasheel centres. They can then approach the GDRFA Sharjah for their exit permits," he said.
"We have handed over 225 passports in two days to their owners who can now avail of the amnesty initiative. Around 30 per cent of the passports we received from the GDRFA-Sharjah are of women. Half of the passports that were handed over were of people stuck due to the shutdown of businesses and the rest absconders," said another social worker, Mohamed Sheroz.
He added that the IAS has also helped the amnesty-seekers with 20 travel tickets for those who were struggling with their finances and were unable to return to India.
"The association works from 9am to 9pm. We also have a platform at the amnesty tent at the GDRFA-Sharjah," he said.
Dr Varghese said the IAS was extending help to all amnesty-seekers regardless of their nationalities. "Many of the residency law violators are confused and anxious as they do not carry any travel documents. We calm them with a friendly atmosphere at the IAS platform in the amnesty tent."
amira@khaleejtimes.com