By Paulo Loreto Lim

With the United Arab Emirates (UAE) currently offering an amnesty program for those in the country illegally or have overstayed their visa, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is urging all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in such situations to take advantage of the program.

“DFA is encouraging undocumented Filipinos in the UAE to take advantage of the amnesty program,” the agency posted on social media yesterday. “DFA also extends its gratitude to the UAE for giving as many as 30,000 Filipinos the opportunity to either correct their immigration status or return to the Philippines.”

The program allows for those who have overstayed their visas to leave the country without paying any fines or, for those currently employed, apply for a new visa.

Those who entered the country illegally will be allowed to exit without any fines but will be penalized with a two-year entry ban.

While the program runs until October 31, any cases reported recently (after July 31) will not be considered.

Last week, over 60 OFWs returned home from the UAE in connection with alleged abuses experienced while working in the Middle Eastern country./PLL, WDJ