UAE visa amnesty: 15 FAQs about 3-month long programme

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) - Dubai and Brigadier-General Khalaf Al Ghaith, director-general assistant of follow-up sector of violators and foreigners at the GDRFA, shed light on the amnesty process during a question and answer session on Sunday.
Q1: How many people are expected to apply for the amnesty which will begin on August 1?  Can you give an estimate on number of people staying illegally?
A: We are willing to receive any number of people and we will solve their matters. We will receive some people from other emirates as well because of the facility which we have here. I cannot give you precise numbers now.
Q2: How many personnel will be available at the amnesty tents? Will there be representatives from other government agencies at these tents? Like a one-stop deal?
A: All consulates, or most consulates, will be represented at the tent, as well as from the police. The number of staff will depend on the number of visitors, as the GDRFA department is here. We will increase capacity accordingly.
Q3: A number of families hire housemaids illegally. How will you facilitate the amnesty process for them?
A: We are dealing with people who are illegally staying in UAE. The housemaids, if they are illegal residents, should come by themselves to the tent, and if they have a new sponsor we will facilitate that change.
Q4: What about people who entered the UAE illegally, who don't have an entry stamp or entered via other methods?
A: Here, we are not talking about those who entered the country illegally. If we deal with the people who entered the country illegally then we are allowing them to enter the country tomorrow again. We are dealing (in the amnesty scheme) with people who entered the country by legal channels.
Q5: Do you require all illegal aliens to come directly to Al Aweer to have their status rectified and not go to the respective consulate in Dubai, for example?
A: There will be representatives from the Philippine and Indian consulates, amongst others, to help their nationals clear their paper work at the tent in Al Aweer. Not only for men, but also for women.
Q6: What is the procedure, will there be a token system for those who come?
A: For sure we will have a token system. I hope all of you come the first day to share and support us in this initiative.
Q7: There are plenty of people with criminal cases and civil cases here. If they come here, will they be arrested or will they be informed that they have a police case and must rectify their problems then come back?
A: You ask and you answer your question by yourself. We are here for the amnesty, but if he (or she) has a bigger case then they must clear the case then come back to the amnesty tent. Once they clear it with the court, they come back to us. Priority is given to clearing criminal cases - once that is cleared, we can fix their status.
Q8: Please clarify what is meant by temporary residence issued for people. Is it for people who leave the country under the amnesty?
A: This is with the Ministry of Labour. There is an account. We will give the email address where people can request the 6-month residency to apply for work.
Q9: Is there a time frame to leave the country for those who will be travelling without passport?
A:  If the person received their exit permit, they need to come to the tent, we will give them a paper and they can travel with it, but it will be valid for 10 days after its been issued. If the person does not travel within 21 days, the amnesty waiver does not apply anymore and they cannot reapply.
Q10: If they are traveling without a passport, are they allowed to come to the UAE again?
A: Anyone who comes to the amnesty tent, can travel and come back again.
Q11: Which nationality will benefit primarily from this amnesty initiative?
A: All people will benefit from the amnesty equally, regardless of nationality.
Q12: What is the GDRFA's plan to reach the poorer segments, the blue collar workers, and inform them of the initiative?
A:  They know about these initiatives even before the media. They know how to connect and find out such matters. Those who can give us a good reason as to why they didn't avail of the amnesty period (before it expires) we are open to receive such queries. We must help everyone go back and start a new life, whatever it is.
Q13: For someone who overstayed in the UAE, some of them cannot speak English, will there be help for them to communicate with the GDRFA?
There will be translators and we have 78 translators speaking Chinese in our department.
Q14:Will there be a campaign to find those who overstayed after the end of this initiative?
A:  We must be positive, not think negative. We should look to the future on a positive note.
Q15: Will there be help for women with undocumented babies and those from war zones?
A:  We have a humanitarian section which has been working hard for several years. They will be here during amnesty, to support these people. We will listen to everyone, according to the case.  Those who wish to change their visa status from the war zone countries like Syria, Yemen and Libya, can go to Amer's 43 centres directly, if they have Emirates ID. If they don't have Emirates ID, they should come to Al Aweer tent if they have a work permit.