DNRD receives applications from over 29,000 amnsety-seekers

Up to now, 29,378 amnesty-seekers have approached Dubai immigration authorities to regularize their status, Brig. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD), said on Thursday.In June, the UAE Cabinet announced a three-month grace period for foreigners present illegally in the country to regularize their situation according to the law, or to leave the country, without penalty.''Around 6000 labourers have had their visa changed and their status regularized and 50 per cent of applicants have had their residency cancelled, ''Al Marri told a joint press conference with Indian Consul-General Venu Rajamony at the Indian High School. The Indian Consulate opened today in coordination with the DNRD a centre at the Indian School to receive applications from amnesty-seekers.Al Marri praised the constructive cooperation shown by the Indian mission with the DNRD to facilitate procedures of Indian labourers.On his part, the Indian Consul-General, Venu Rajamony, told reporters that the centre will continue to receive applications from labourers seeking to legalize their status up to August 25.He added that Indian labourers who lost their passports would be issued outpasses to go home.According to him, three counters were allocated for Air India, Indian Airlines and Air Arabia to issue tickets for those completed their formalities.Al Marri and Rajamony toured the centre at the Indian School to inspect arrangements made the Consulate and DNRD to process transactions of amnesty-seekers. Source