UAE visit visa holders who overstay after September 11 will be fined
This news story was published in Khaleej Times and has been shared here without any changes and alterations. CLICK HERE to read the original post.
Visitors or tourists whose visit visas expired after March 1 may have to shell out overstay fines, starting September 11.
An Amer call centre agent said the penalty for overstay is Dh200 for the first day. "The exact fine amount will be calculated by the immigration authorities at the airports. The fines are Dh200 for the first day of overstay, Dh100 each consecutive day, and Dh100 as service fees," said the agent.
However, whether the calculation of overstay fines is from September 11 or from the exact date when the visitor's visa expired is yet to be ascertained. "Only immigration authorities will be able to tell how the amount will be calculated, based on visa information," said the agent.
'No extension announced'
"We have not received any intimations about an extension of visa validity," another agent added.
The UAE's Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) in August announced a one-month extension for visitors whose entry permits expired after March 1. The extension began on August 11 and ended on September 11.
"The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship extends the grace period for holders of expiring entry permits, starting from August 11 for a period of one month, with the aim of enabling them to leave the country with exemption from all fines during this period," the ICA announced earlier in a tweet.
Visit visa holders were urged to 'change status' or 'leave'
On July 10, the UAE had announced that "holders of visit or tourist visas that expired after March 1 must leave the UAE within one month from July 11. That is by August 11".
The UAE Cabinet had issued a decision that cancelled all previously issued resolutions related to the residency of expatriates and validity of visas, entry permits and ID cards. The automatic extension of expired visas and IDs until December this year was withdrawn.
'No rush at travel agencies'
A majority of those staying on visit visa have already availed of extensions, said Afi Ahmed, managing director of Smart Travels. "We had no last-minute applicants. Earlier, between August 8 and 9, the agency saw 5,000 to 6,000 new applications. This month, we had about 595 applications. I'm not sure if those who did not extend have left the country," he said.
Harish Kumar, managing director of Jubilant Group, added: "Unlike last time, we didn't have a lot of last-minute applications. A large segment of our customers are Indians. They have all changed their status and many have also applied for the one-month extensions. We have seen a few last-minute applications from members of the Nigerian community."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Gurugram: Four college students held for night-time thefts of car tyres, rims
Gurugram (PTI): The Gurugram Police has busted an alleged tyre-theft gang that was active in the city for the past two months, police said on Saturday.
Four students from different colleges were arrested for allegedly stealing tyres and rims of vehicles parked outside houses and hotels during the night, police said, adding that the accused squandered the proceeds of theft on lavish escapades at clubs.
According to an official, the accused have confessed to 14 cases of tyre and rim thefts, and all four have been taken on a two-day police remand after being produced in court.
The accused were identified as Rishikesh (23), a chartered accountancy student from sector-39 Jharsa; Arjun (22), a native of Siwana village in Jhajjar studying BA (LLB) at Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak; Piyush Rana (23), resident of Jodhpur village in Palwal and a student of B Com in Gurugram University; and Tushar Kumar (22), a native of Bihar's Munger and a B Com student of DSD college, Gurugram.
According to the police, a crime branch team nabbed the gang on Friday.
A senior investigating officer said, during interrogation, the accused revealed that they would go out at night in a blue Maruti Suzuki Fronx car belonging to Arjun.
They would park the car near the target vehicle and, using a jack and other tools, removed the tyres, including the rims. Then, they would leave the vehicle on bricks and load the stolen tyres on to the Fronx before fleeing, the officer added.
The vehicle used in the crimes will be impounded soon, a Gurugram Police spokesperson said.
"During interrogation, the accused revealed that they are childhood friends and have studied together. All of them are fond of parties and clubs, and began stealing when they couldn't get pocket money from home. They had been actively involved in thefts for the past two months," he added.
