“Protect Yourself”

25/07/2018

With the start of the grace period countdown set by the Cabinet for violators of residency laws to change their status or to leave the state voluntarily, and to remove the fines resulting from illegal staying in the state, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to learn the public about the campaign launching, which will begin titled “Protect yourself by changing your status”, as of the first of next August, and continue till October 31, 2018. Brigadier Rakan Al-Rashedi previewed the details of the initiative and its beneficiaries at the press conference held by ICA for such purpose at its headquarters in Khalifa City the day before yesterday. He explained further through the mass program “Studio 1” in Abu Dhabi Radio with colleague Salem Al Kaabi.

The initiatives confirmed the great consideration given by our wise leadership to the safety of the society and its citizens. This is th care which is reflected by ICA and Ministry of Interior and its strategy to enhance the sense of security and safety of all people living in UAE, whether its citizens or residents. Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship was very keen to highlight the humanitarian decision of our wise leadership to grant a one-year renewable residency visa to our brothers, whose countries are suffering from turmoil and disasters, and whose countries have been afflicted by various instability and are facing difficult conditions that will prevent them from returning to them in the near future.

ICA provided all the facilities and centers to receive those who wish to benefit from this grace period within 90 days, which is a sufficient period for those who are serious and want to change their status or leave the state. The toll-free number assigned for this good initiative provides adequate answers for anyone who wants to inquire and learn more, in many languages, to reach the right information to all people, as well as the required step and procedure.

We praise the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship for the greatness of its ongoing preparations, in order to maximize the benefit of this step. We hope that we all will interact with it, especially the national sponsors whose works have been stalled for one reason or another and postponed the status changing of their sponsored persons until the improvement of their conditions and found that the circle of violation expanded and the fines multiplied.

The optimal interaction of such people with the initiative is very important, as it serves the state and the law enforcement authorities. It is our duty to encourage violators to take advantage of this initiative and the grace period, because, as stated in its title, they protect themselves from violating the law again, and protect themselves from those who want to harm them, taking advantage of their ignorance of the Law.