DUBAI: Validity of resident and visit visas that have expired beginning March 1, 2020 has been extended till December 2020 as a matter of the UAE government’s “support to lessen the repercussions” of COVID-19.
The move, announced through a tweet yesterday by the UAE Government Communication Office (UAEGCO), is good news to resident visa holders stranded outside the country following suspension of flights in March. It also is a relief to visit visa holders in the UAE who face challenges renewing their visas considering border closures.
The UAEGCO’s tweet was in reference to a regular briefing by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) as well as the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) during which various UAE government efforts to address the COVID-19 situation were discussed.
The government’s communication office referred to His Excellency, Colonel Khamis Mohammed Salem Al Kaabi, FAIC spokesperson as saying during the briefing that “residents whose visas expired in early March 2020 will receive an extension of their visas until end of December 2020.
“This measure applies to both residents inside and outside the UAE.”
The government agency also referred to the top official as saying that “UAE visitors who have remained in the country and their visas expired in early March 2020, will also have their visit visas extended till end of December 2020.”
Flatten the curve
Meantime Dr. Farida Al Hosani, official health spokesperson said “it is important to know that no studies could give a specific timescale for when the Covid-19 cases may finally peak before we see the curve flattened.”
She said precautionary measures and practices like social distancing and increased testing help flatten the curve to stagger the rate of cases infected with Covid-19.
In light of this, she said, the government is increasing COVID-19 tests across the UAE with an additional 23,380 having been done.
Dr. Hosani said that the total number of recovered cases of COVID-19 has reached 852 while the death toll has reached 25.
As of April 13, total COVID-19 cases was at 4,521, according to MOHAP.
Repatriation
In a related development meanwhile, the Philippine mission in the UAE has called on Filipinos in the country, who have lost their jobs and called it quits in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, to coordinate with the embassy or the consulate so that their repatriation could be processed.
Those who are on visit visas wanting to go home may seek help from their travel agency and relatives who sponsored their stay in the UAE, the mission said.
In a joint advisory issued also yesterday, April 13, the embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate general’s office in Dubai said funds will be requested from the home office in Manila to buy plane tickets for those who have no employers, relatives or friends who could help them out.
“Kung ikaw ay walang amo, walang kamag-anak o kaibigan na tutulong sa iyo at gusto mo nang umuwi ‘for good,’makipag-ugnayan sa embahada o konsulado para malaman namin ang kalagayan mo,” the advisory said.
“Hihingi po ng pondo ang embahada o konsulado sa ating pamahalaan para makabili ng ticket para sa inyo. Kapag mayroon ng pong pondo, aayusin na po ang inyong pagbalik sa Pilipinas,” it added.
Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said the funds can be coursed through the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Assistance to Nationals section.
The advisory clarified that terminated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should ask for plane tickets from their employers as the law states.
“Ito ay sang-ayon sa batas ng UAE. Maaring mag-book ang inyong employer sa Emirates Airlines o Etihad Airlines dahil may mga binuksan silang flights at binigyan na sila ng pahintulot na lumipad sa Pilipinas. Hindi kailangang tumawag sa embahada o konsulado dito dahil may pahintulot na ang mga nasabing special flights na ito na makarating sa Pilipinas kahit may lockdown sa Metro Manila at buong Luzon,” it stated.
Apparently referring to visit visa holders, the advisory said those who have no employers or work contracts and have given up looking for work, should ask help from their friend or relatives who invited them to the UAE as well as travel agency that facilitated their trip.
“Kailangan mo ng tulong nila para makabili ng ticket sa eruplano,” the advisory said.
The embassy and consulate asked that its staff be given ample time to process the repatriation, noting current mobility restrictions.
Here are the emails opened for this purpose: atn2.abudhabi@gmail.com and atn@pcgdubai.ae.
The Daily Bread 