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Covid-19: Indian mission in Dubai receives over 750 visa fine waiver applications

Dubai - A total of 146 early applications have been approved by the GDRFA: Indian Consulate

The Consulate General of India in Dubai has received over 750 overstay fine waiver applications, following the announcement of the scheme on July 23, Khaleej Times has learnt.
Out of which (barring two-three applications) a total of 146 applications have been processed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA), said Neeraj Agarwal, Consul - Press, Information, and Culture.
Indian nationals wishing to avail the ongoing overstay fine waiver scheme provided by the government of UAE were advised to submit their applications to Indian diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai last week. The scheme was made available to those whose residency and visit visas holders expired before March 1.
The mission has urged all Indian nationals whose visas have expired before March 1 to avail of this opportunity to leave the country without paying any fines until August 17.
Agarwal said, "The approvals for early applicants who applied from July 23 - 28 has come through. Since the Eid Al Adha holidays came in the middle, the approvals for applications which came after expected to be received soon." He added, "In very few cases, the applicants were called back for finger print collections."
The official has urged all applications to keep their mobile phones switched on as individual calls are being made to the applicants.
"Those who have received the approvals are advised to leave as soon as possible," he added, urging applicants not to wait till August 17, as the approval process takes five working days.
Last week, the embassy said those intending to travel must give in the application at least seven working days ahead of their intended date of travel.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com