UAE amnesty surge expected as deadline draws closer

  DUBAI - As the deadline for the UAE's amnesty programme draws closer, missions in the UAE are expecting a surge in applications. Consulate and embassy staff said that many residents, however, continue to wait until the last minute to avail of the amnesty so that they can maximise their earnings before leaving the country. The Indian consul general in Dubai, Vipul, said "there are more people who have yet to come in” for the amnesty. Vipul said the consulate is expecting a surge of people next month, before the October 31 deadline because "most workers don't want to lose out on the money they can earn in two months". Around 150 Indians reportedly approach the consulate in Dubai daily to inquire about the amnesty. Consulate officials this week have begun warning that those who want to avail of the amnesty to regularise their status must send their application in September as requirements for documents, like passports, may take time to process. Under the three-month amnesty programme that started in August, anyone who overstayed their work or residency visa in the UAE can legalise their status for a small fee or exit the UAE without incurring fines. Philippine and Indian governments are among those who have offered to pay for the airfare of their nationals availing of the amnesty. There were 950 Indians, 400 Filipinos and 314 Sri Lankans given exit permits during the first month of the amnesty, according to official figures. GAD/Expat 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