PHL embassy seeks clarification on KSA amnesty extension

Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia have sought a clarification from Saudi officials on the six-month extension of a royal pardon to expatriates who violated residency rules there.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh referred to the Saudi Interior Ministry’s announcement last April 27 that the royal pardon was extended up to September 14, 2011.

“The Philippine Embassy immediately sent on 02 May 2011 a Note to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify the parameters of the Royal Pardon as news reports regarding the extension differed on the coverage," the embassy said in a news release posted Monday on its website.

It cited a report from news site Arab News last April 27 that the royal pardon “includes visa overstayers and people who are currently residing in the Kingdom in violation of the terms of their iqamas (work/residency permits), such as those who have absconded from their legal employment."

But an Alriyadh newspaper report on April 28 said the royal pardon will cover “overstayers who came to the Kingdom on Hajj, Umrah, or Visit Visas, whose visas expired before September 25, 2010."

The report said the Saudi Ministry of Interior called on overstayers included in the royal pardon to capitalize this opportunity by reporting to the nearest foreigner offices.

This would avoid “subjecting themselves and those persons who transport, harbor, deal with and facilitate their overstay to the maximum penalties including fines, imprisonment, vehicle confiscation, and slander by local newspapers," the ministry said. - JE, GMA News

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