JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday a six-month amnesty for the hundreds of illegal foreigners overstaying their visas, saying they would be allowed to leave the Kingdom without punishment.
The Interior Ministry said the amnesty would cover those who arrived in the Kingdom on Haj, Umrah, visit or any other type of visas which had expired, or violated Passport Department regulations.
"They have been advised to complete the necessary procedures for their departure by reporting to the nearest Department for Foreigners' Affairs (Wafideen) from Sept. 25, 2010 to March 23, 2011," the ministry said in a brief announcement.
The ministry has advised all overstayers and other illegal aliens to benefit from the pardon and leave the Kingdom before the grace period. "Violators caught after the grace period will receive tough punishment including jail and fine," it added.
The ministry warned that those who transport or shelter or employ overstayers would also receive severe punishment including fines, imprisonment, vehicle confiscation and defamation (through publication of their photos in local newspapers).
The declaration of the amnesty comes two days before the Kingdom's National Day, which falls on Sept. 23, when Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah usually declares amnesty for a large number of prisoners, including Saudis and expatriates, arrested for petty crimes.
Expatriates expressed their happiness over the amnesty as many of them have been facing difficulty sending their families, parents and relatives to their respective countries, following the expiry of their visas.
"We have been awaiting this royal gesture for quite a long time," said Nasseruddin, an Indian, who could not send his overstaying family fearing that he would be either fined or jailed or deported for keeping them after the expiry of their visit visas.
Arab News
