UAE | Visa
Hundreds apply for amnesty outpasses
Asian embassies in the capital have received more than 1,000 applications from illegal workers taking advantage of the amnesty and have started issuing passes, according to diplomatic sources.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 June 21, 2007
- Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
- An amnesty applicant has his iris scanned while legalising his status at the Department of Naturalisation and Residency in Dubai.
Abu Dhabi: Asian embassies in the capital have received more than 1,000 applications from illegal workers taking advantage of the amnesty and have started issuing passes, according to diplomatic sources.
The Bangladeshi Embassy received about 400 applications and about 300 outpasses were issued, said a senior official of the embassy.
The Sri Lankan Embassy issued outpasses to almost all 100 applicants who approached the embassy as of yesterday, said Madurika Weninger, Counsellor, Head of Chancery.
"Our strategy is to respond to the applicants at the earliest; if possible the same day. We issued around 20 outpasses yesterday alone."
Around 500 illegal workers contacted the Pakistan Embassy and about 70 outpasses have been issued so far, said a senior official.
Although the Indian Embassy has made elaborate arrangements to help the illegal workers, not many have turned up yet, according to an official.
"We are processing around 200 applications received until now and we will start issuing outpasses on July 1 onwards. Our officials have made special arrangements in an auditorium in the embassy premises to help applicants. Almost all Indian community organisations have also extended their support," said the official.
"The Indian Embassy has received around 4,000 passports so far from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those include lost ones, passports of absconders which were handed over by their sponsors and others. The rightful owners can approach the embassy," added the official.
A Chinese Embassy official said they received no applications yet but only telephone enquiries.
"Most of the Chinese workers are in the Northern Emirates. That is why not many applicants are in Abu Dhabi. But we have given maximum publicity to the amnesty announcement among the Chinese community," said the official.
Gulf News repeatedly contacted the Philippine Embassy, but no official was available for comment.
All the Asian embassy officials said they expect a big rush of amnesty seekers during the last month of the amnesty.
"Our previous experiences prove that illegal workers plan to work to the maximum before they go home. So they will turn up en masse at the last moment," said a senior official of the Indian Embassy.
"The duration of the amnesty was extended by the UAE government once. So some people may expect the same and wait," said a senior official of the Pakistan Embassy. "Our advice to the people is to come forward at the earliest and utilise the opportunity given by the UAE government."
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