Abu Dhabi - The six-month residence visa applies to the people who entered the country through legal channels.
Published: Sat 1 Sep 2018, 11:08 PM
Illegal residents availing of the six-month temporary visa under the amnesty scheme, but fail to switch to employment visa or leave the country after the expiry of the visa will face prosecution, authorities have warned.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) has explained that residency law violators who have rectified their status and granted the six-month temporary visa must use that time to find jobs and transfer to residence visas under the sponsorship of their employment firms. And if they fail to get jobs within the six-month period, they must leave the UAE and maybe return on a visit visa if they wish to, so as to avoid facing problems.
Officials have warned that anyone who will be caught staying in the country after the expiration of their visa will face legal action including jail sentence, hefty fines and deportation.
Authorities also reminded people that the six-month temporary residence visa granted to illegal residents wanting to find jobs under the amnesty scheme doesn't permit anybody to work and cannot be renewed on expiration.
Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, director of residence affairs at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, said: "People seeking employment can only avail of the privilege to obtain a six-month temporary visa through the 'Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status' amnesty initiative, if they have a sponsor.
"But if they don't find a job within that period, they will have to leave the country, and maybe return on visit visa because the temporary visa cannot be renewed on expiration."
The official also explained that this temporary visa doesn't permit anyone to do any kind of work until the person finds a job and transfer the visa status to employment, which should be sponsored by the company employing them.
"The government had offered the six-month temporary visa under the amnesty scheme for people living illegally in the country to get jobs after they have modified their status," said Al Rashidi.
The amnesty initiative, which allows illegal residents to regulate their status or leave the country without facing legal issues, was intended to provide decent opportunities for those looking for social and economic stability in the country, according to Al Rashid.
Authorities said people who have modified their status can also avail of the job opportunities by registering at the virtual labour market available on the official website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
The six-month residence visa applies to the people who entered the country through legal channels and people can benefit from this offer throughout the amnesty period which runs until October 31, according to officials.
Authorities warned that intensive campaigns will be conducted across the country to crackdown on the violators of residency laws after the end of the three-month amnesty initiative and that those caught living illegally in the UAE will face tough penalties.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
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