Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Tourists to face absconding charges, blacklisting if overstaying

Travel agents have advised tourists on visit visas to not overstay, even for a day, because doing so could result in blacklisting and charges of absconding. According to certain travel agents, those on the blacklist cannot enter the UAE or any other GCC countries. Visitors with expired visas have been asked to make the required preparations and leave the country as soon as possible.

Why do agents charge overstaying visitors as absconding?

Visitors who enter the UAE on 30- or 60-day visit visas do so with the sponsorship of an agent. If tourists overstay, the agent is then forced to take the hit and suffer financial loss. “It is not about losing money. We are given a specified number of visa applications on the portal and cannot apply for new visas if a visitor overstays. At times our portal can also be blocked,” said Libin Varghese, sales director at Rooh Tourism and Travel LLC. The absconding penalty increases everyday, starting at a minimum of Dh2,000. The amount that visitors must pay will increase based on how many days they overstayed.

How can a person exit if charged with absconding?

According to the agents, evading arrest is a crime, and the police may detain charged travelers. The person must first make contact with the representative who handled their visa before they can leave the country. The appropriate payment must then be paid to the agent for the absconding case to be removed from the portal and for the visitor to be issued an exit permit to leave the country. “If visitors cannot establish visa status at the airport, they can be deported,” said Taha Siddique, owner of Siddique Travels, adding that every tourist should stay in close contact with their sponsor. Aggregators have advised travelers to set a reminder a few days before their visa expiry to maintain the validity of their visa status. KD/Expat Media
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