KUWAIT CITY, Feb 5: Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah is expected to issue a decision soon on waiving the payment of fines for those who are violating the Residence Law and allow them to enter the country again, reports Al-Anba daily quoting sources.

Stating the decision will be announced during the national festivals, sources said around 60,000 to 65,000 expatriates of various nationalities, mostly Asians, are violating the Residence Law. Sources revealed this year’s grace period for regulation of residence status will range from three to six months, instead of the usual two months, to give the ‘illegal expatriates’ enough time to legalize their stay in Kuwait.

Sources explained those with children studying in the country might be treated as special cases if the grace period is four months. Sources added the minister might issue another decision for this group but what is definite is that the grace period this year will be longer than the earlier such periods.