The UAE plans tougher rules on issuing visit
and tourist visas because most of the residency law violators, who seek the
ongoing visa amnesty, entered the country on such visas, the Federal Authority
for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) announced.
Many of the residency violators were also
involved in dangerous crimes, warranting stringent measures to prevent such
people from entering the country, the officials told the media. Most of the
residency law violators who entered the country on a visit or tourist visa were job seekers.
Therefore, the authority plans to introduce a three-to-six month-long visa for job seekers.
As part of the tougher rules, some
pre-conditions, including a security deposit, may be introduced for issuing
visit and jobseeker visa. The pre-conditions will ensure that such visitors go
back after the expiry of their visas.
The authority is also planning to ask the
foreign embassies to bear the costs of flight tickets for their citizens who
overstay in the UAE because such people often do not have money for a ticket to
go back home.
The authority warned that there would be
regular inspection campaigns to identify residency law violators after October
31, the final day of the ongoing visa amnesty. Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al
Rashidi, Director of Residency Affairs at the authority (left), told
journalists that violators will face arrest and tougher legal action after the
amnesty period.
He said the amnesty is a good opportunity for
violators to rectify their status, or leave the country without paying any
fines.
Dr Yousuf Al Sherif, the legal advisor at the authority, said the courts
will give tougher punishments, including hefty fines and deportation, to
residency law violators after October 31.
A sponsor or businessperson who employs an
undocumented worker will be fined Dh50,000 [for each worker].
