Illegal Expats Flock to Avail Amnesty in Kuwait

This news has been read 5094 times!

KUWAIT CITY, March 17: The Residency Affairs Departments in the six governorates opened their doors Sunday morning to receive applications from expatriates who are in violation of the residency and labor laws and wish to benefit from the amnesty to amend their status based on the conditions set by the Ministry of Interior. Al-Seyassah visited many residency affairs departments, where it was noticed that the number of visitors who arrived on the first day, especially in Jahra, Mubarak Al- Kabeer, and Ahmadi departments, were significantly less as compared to the numbers in Hawally and Farwaniya departments. According to security sources, the number of expatriates who applied to amend their status on the first day did not exceed 500.

However, it is normal for fewer people to turn up on the first day because some violators under Article 18 visa require obtaining a new work permit and a sponsor for a new company. It takes time to renew the work permits and then adjust their status. There is coordination between the Directorate General of Residence Affairs, the airport, and the border crossings regarding the departure of violators without paying the fines. Those in violation can pay their fines, leave the country, and return without a block being placed on their file. The amnesty launched by the ministry is an opportunity for an estimated 120,000 residency law violators of various nationalities to amend their legal status. They can benefit from the amnesty after paying the fines they owe, and avoid security prosecution. It is expected that the number of violators visiting the departments will increase in the coming days to take advantage of the amnesty.

Meanwhile, an expatriate, who requested anonymity and whom Al-Seyassah met during its tour, revealed that some violators do not have enough money to pay the fines, which is a maximum of KD 600, and they are unable to transfer their sponsorship to a new company, due to which they are forced to remain in their current situation.

Another expatriate violator praised the Ministry of Interior for issuing this amnesty to violators of the residency law for the latter to either amend their legal status or leave the country without paying the fines. He said, “Kuwait is a country of humanity and generosity. It is not strange for Kuwait to issue such a humanitarian amnesty that takes into account the circumstances of the violators.

There are hundreds of violators waiting for this moment to amend their status and that of their families, and pay the fines owed by them.” He described the amnesty as a “precious opportunity” as there are violators who have been with their families for more than five years but can now amend their legal status without facing any prosecution or deportation from the country. It is worth highlighting that the duration of the amnesty announced by the Ministry of Interior is three months, which began yesterday and will end on June 17.

After the expiry of the amnesty, the Ministry of Interior will continue its security campaigns to arrest violators of the residency law, and deport the violators who will not be allowed to return to the country again. The amnesty launched by the ministry gives the violator of the residency law the ability to leave the country through any border crossing without paying any of the fines and return to the country whenever he wants through fresh procedures and without a block placed on his file.

According to a security source, violating expatriates wanted in financial cases against whom final judicial rulings were issued cannot benefit from the amnesty, and can amend their legal status until these debts and financial claims are settled.

Documents required to benefit from the amnesty:
■ A passport copy
■ A copy of the civil ID
■ New work permit
■ A copy of the new sponsor’s card
■ Signature authorization
■ Application Form

By Munif Naif
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 5094 times!