Outpass fees waiver for Indian amnesty seekers

The UAE’s Indian Embassy has formally sought a waiver of the Dh60 charge levied on illegal Indian immigrants seeking to exit the country under the ongoing two-month amnesty.

Indian Ambassador M.K. Lokesh yesterday told media persons that he had formally requested the Indian government for a waiver of the ‘out-pass’ fees.

This follows protests from Indian community associations in the UAE, who objected to the decision by the Indian government to charge a service fee from amnesty seekers.

While the UAE government is waiving liabilities due from these illegal migrants, stuck in the country without a job or legal papers, each worker is expected to shell out about Rs1,000 (Dh69) to get an outpass from the Indian embassy in order to fulfill immigration formalities at the airports.

“It is inhuman to collect any money from these ill-fated Indian citizens who are applying for out-passes,” said YA Raheem, President, Indian Association, an organisation that has been helping distressed Indian workers and families.

The association submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, in which it stated: “It is shocking to note that last time only Dh20 was charged as fees or service charge from amnesty applicants for issuing an Emergency Certificate (out-pass). But this time the fees is hiked to Dh 60.”

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