JEDDAH — With 28 days of the 90-day amnesty period of the "Nation free of violators" campaign already over and 62 days still remaining, violating expatriates are departing in large numbers, according to a report in Makkah daily. The amnesty started on Rajab 1 (March 29) and will end on Ramadan 29 (June 24). According to Passports Department (Jawazat) sources, there were 78 locations to receive the violating expatriates wishing to process their passports and be issued with the final exit visas. They said the Eastern Province, with 16 such locations, topped all other regions in the number of the locations especially set up to receive the violating expats followed by Makkah which has 12. The sources said King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (KAIA) has so far been the main exit point for the departing expats. Spokesman of Makkah Jawazat, Col. Mohammed Al-Hussain, said expat reception centers were established in the holy city, Rabigh, Qunfudah, Taif and Jeddah. "The exiting points were KAIA, the Taif airport and the Jeddah Islamic Seaport," he added. He said all the reception centers were manned by qualified personnel and equipped with the state-of-the-art technology. There are 10 centers in Riyadh, seven in Qasim, six in Tabuk, five in Najran, four in Madinah and many others in various parts of the Kingdom. Under the amnesty regulations, the overstayers from Haj, Umrah and visit could proceed directly to the outlets without having to refer to the Jawazat while those who came on work visas but were not issued with iqamas (residence permits) could complete their travel procedures electronically. The expats with no identities who sneaked illegally into the Kingdom, those reported as escapees (Huroob) from work and the violators of the Haj rules and regulations should process their travel procedures at the nearest Jawazat office. The amnesty covers overstayers who opted to remain after the expiry of their Haj, Umrah, visit and transit visas, foreigners whose iqamas have expired before the announcement of the amnesty period on Feb. 17, those who were reported Huroob, the illegal infiltrators, the random workers including those with valid iqamas and the expats in companies and establishments in the red Nitaqat zone. Those who benefit from the amnesty to travel to their respective homes will be exempted from deportation fingerprinting and the fees and can return to the Kingdom legally anytime of their choice.
