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Illegal expats in Kuwait granted with 45-day amnesty
Illegal foreign residents in Kuwait have been granted a 45-day amnesty to legalize their status, or to leave the country without any penalty.
According to KUNA (Kuwait News Agency), Sheikh Jaber Khaled al Sabah, the Interior Minister, announced that the amnesty would commence on 1st September 2008, and expires on 15th October. Expats who plan to leave during this period will not have to pay fine, and will be permitted to return.
Several thousand expats are likely to take advantage of amnesty. People, who have decided to stay, should pay fines for legalizing their status. A fine of KD2 per day will be charged on expats who continue to live illegally in the country. Those who get caught after the expiry of grace period will be deported and de-barred from re-entering the country.
This decision has been taken by H.H. the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as a humanitarian gesture during the occasion of fasting month of Ramadan. Residents entering the country on a visit visa, but do not carry a residency permit, are free to report to any border exit and leave the country. Those who have lost their passports and have received new ones can report to the immigration authorities with two photos to process their departure.
Expatriates with a travel ban due to the absence from work are also free to leave the country through any exit, but those with court cases will have to report to the prosecution for settlement of their cases.
Expats with travel ban imposed by investigation authorities for any unsettled offenses, will have to meet the necessary terms and apply residence during the said period, or face deportation.
The Interior Ministry has announced that expats who are barred from travel due to overdue financial liabilities too, must report to the execution department of the Ministry of Justice for settlement of their cases as a prelude to take advantage of amnesty period.
In the cases of new-borns who are yet to be granted residence, their parents are required to report to immigration authorities for settlements during the said period, or face deportation.
The segment of people whose passports are seized by their employers, will have to get new ones and leave the country within the said period or apply for residence, else they will have to face deportation.
The Minister has requested nationals and residents to co-operate and respond properly to the grant and the declared guidelines on the manner of settling such cases.
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