I have a legal case against me in UAE. Can I sponsor my family?

Dubai - After legalising their status, they will have to pay fines for traffic violations or Emirates ID violations.

Illegal residents, who have legal cases against them in the UAE, can sponsor their families inside the country, said a senior official with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Sharjah on Wednesday.
Colonel Hazeem bin Falah Al Suwaidi, director of the department of entry and residence permits at the GDRFA in Sharjah, explained that those who are staying illegally in the country with their families and facing legal cases should regularise the visa status of their families first and then apply for modifying their status before the end of the amnesty period. They can solve their legal cases or financial obligations later.
"The immigration authorities will modify the status of defaulters who want to live in the country. After legalising their status, they will have to pay fines for traffic violations or Emirates ID violations. For other cases, they should follow-up and sort out the cases after modifying their status," Col Al Suwaidi said, stressing that other irregularities will be raised in the event of departure. However, criminal cases will be dealt with according to law. But the family will be allowed to stay in the country legally, he added.
Col Al Suwaidi referred to the case of an Arab investor who had financial obligations and was staying in the country illegally with his family. "He approached the immigration centre and his family was allowed to modify the visa status."
Colonel Ali Amin Mohammed, director of the establishments department and amnesty centres at the Sharjah GDRFA, said during a Press conference that the amnesty work in sharjah is proceeding in an organised manner without any obstacles.
"The Sharjah immigration centre has established nine lounges and halls to accelerate the services provided to the beneficiaries of the initiative. A new tent has been established today at the immigration centre to hand over the passports of certain nationalities. They will receive all kind of services at the tent that can accommodate 500 people at a time. The work is in progress in collaboration with the representatives of consulates," Col Ali Amin said.
Colonel Hazeem bin Falah Al Suwaidi pointed out that Arab nationalities represent only a small percentage of the total number of visitors at the amnesty centre.
"Completing all the transactions electronically has contributed to reduce congestions at the centre. It also helps us complete the transactions professionally in a record time.
"We also carry out daily checks on the typing centres to follow-up the progress of work. We have guided them to developing the system for various transactions," Col Al Suwaidi added.
He reminded the people who modify their status and stay back on a six-month jobseeker visa that they needed to exit the country if they could not find a job during their visa period.
amira@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Sharjah