Overstaying Pinoys in Qatar have only until Dec. 1 to avail of amnesty

Overstaying Filipinos in Qatar have only two weeks to avail of the amnesty being offered by the Qatari government to illegal residents.
In a statement on Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III urged those who could not make the deadline to instead leave Qatar to avoid facing legal consequences.
"With this opportunity, I strongly urge Filipinos illegally staying in Qatar to avail of this amnesty and go home to the Philippines to avoid the repercussion of their being declared as illegal foreigners in Qatar," Bello said.
The three-month amnesty, which will end on December 1, covers all foreigners residing in the country who have violated Law No. 4 of 2009, which regulates the entry, exit, residence and sponsorship of expatriates.
Bello said the amnesty is the first in 12 years and the third ever in Qatar.
Based on reports the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has received, the last amnesty was offered in 2004, but it was extended for a month due to the high turnout of illegal immigrants availing of the program.
No data was available as to the number of people who availed of the amnesty 12 years ago. —KBK, GMA News

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