The early last week, the UAE government introduced two months visa clemency beginning September with a view to boosting residents whose documents have expired. This campaign will also incorporate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) process to ensure that the rules are fully understood and there are clear procedures available to follow which will enable people to avoid fines for being in the country illegally or to be able to leave the country legally.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) is to be responsible for this endeavor. As preparations for the meeting prior to the launch of the amnesty campaign, an extraordinary meeting was convened to deliberate on the operational policies of the amnesty campaign. The meeting was chaired by Maj Gen Suhail Juma Al Khaili, acting director and head of the ICP, where he reiterated the plan to minimize the use of new technologies such as electronic services and artificial intelligence for the implementation of the ICP as per the government’s desire to remove much bureaucracy.
The UAE has also applied the same process in past where amnesty programs were held in 2007, 2013 and 2018 when thousands of individuals turned up to immigration offices to address their issues. Another similar event was conducted in 2020 with an intent to help those people who were lost because of the coronavirus.
Further information about the amnesty will be released soon according to Maj Gen Al Khaili who also believes that the amnesty will emit positive results. He affirmed that it goals and objectives of the initiative reflect the UAE culture of tolerance and values and the opportunity for violators to normalize their situation in accordance with the law.
The fines for overstay have been set at AED 50 ($13. 60) per day for both, tourists & residents. Foreigners under the residency visa are allowed six months to either depart from the country or seek other visa categorization after the visa has lapsed or has been revoked due to job acquisition. Civilian amnesties will serve the remaining traditional asylum seekers beyond six months of grace, providing hope to such individuals to seek ways on how they will rectify their unlawful status without the added burden of paying a fine.
For the purpose of improving the efficiency of the given process, AI is integrated into the government’s action plan for amnesty as an element that is supposed to enhance the experience of all the parties involved. It is a way that underlines developing initiatives and improving administrative data and systems in the UAE for the benefit and care of all its residents.
