Question : Illegal Migrants in Gulf Countries

(a) whether there are more than 2,000 people from Andhra Pradesh living illegally in Gulf countries out of the total 70,000 Indians:

(b) if so, the detail thereof:

(c) whether UAE has issued a directive to illegal migrants to leave its country and given three months time and has also given one month amnesty period which has expired in November last year ; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the manner in which the Ministry is going to help these hapless people from Andhra Pradesh for their return and providing them employment etc.?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]


(a) & (b) The number of illegal Indian residents in the Gulf countries have not been shared by the host countries.

(c) & (d) An Amnesty scheme was announced by the UAE Government for overstaying foreigners to regularize their visa status w.e.f. 01.8.2018 to 31.10.2018. The scheme was later extended month by month upto 31stDecember 2018.

During this period, a total of 6823 Indian citizens sought consular help from the Indian Mission, of which 1949 were from Telangana, 1064 from Andhra Pradesh and remaining from other parts of India. Consulate issued 4034 Emergency Certificates free of cost for their return to India and 2802 short validity passports for those who wanted to rectify their status and continue to remain in UAE.  Consulate also provided free air tickets to 230 Indians for their return to India during the amnesty scheme.
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