UAE amnesty: Amer centres issue over 25,000 new visas

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UAE amnesty: Amer centres issue over 25,000 new visas

Dubai - Centers across Dubai finished over 32,843 transactions since the amnesty period started August 1.

by

Sherouk Zakaria

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Published: Sat 8 Sep 2018, 1:40 PM

Last updated: Sun 9 Sep 2018, 8:31 AM

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai announced issuing over 25,000 new sponsor visas and renewing around 2,900 residencies during the ongoing amnesty.
As part of 'Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status' initiative, which will end on October 31, Amer centres across Dubai finished over 32,843 transactions since the amnesty period started August 1.
Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA, said among the transactions Amer centres finished involved 7,757 cases of residency violators. Since the amnesty started, Amer centres cancelled 2,344 visas, renewed 2,916 visas and issued 25,086 new sponsor visas.
Al Marri added that Amer centres also received 165 applications from people of war-torn countries who were allowed to apply for a one-year residency with an exemption from overstays fines.
"We have equipped these centres with all the required services to ensure easy completion of transactions," said Al Marri. Amer and Tasheel centres allowed job seekers and over staying residents to modify their status without facing legal action or hefty fines. Instead, applicants only paid Dh521 to modify their status.
"As long as there have no absconding records, they can modify their status if they have a new sponsor or job offer," Al Marri told the press.
Job seekers are allowed to apply for a six-month temporary visa.
He noted that the centres also cancelled visas for people who wanted to go home without paying overstaying fines. 
There are currently 47 Amer centres across Dubai, of which 21 centres are in the densely populated areas of Bur Dubai and 26 are in Deira. "This spread allows customers to finish their transactions in the closest centre to them to save their time and effort," said Al Marri.
The one-stop shops finishes all visa-related transactions,  entry permits and visit visas, issues or renews residency visa, visa cancellation and finishes Emirates ID services among other related government services provided by entities like Dubai Courts, Dubai Municipality and Department of Economic Development.
The centres operate from 8 am to 8 pm from Sunday to Thursday, some of which are open 24 hours a day. Over 718 Emirati employees receive and complete transactions at the centres. Customers can contact the 24-hour
Amer Call centre for inquiries at 8005111.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com


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