JEDDAH — A residence status correction campaign for illegal Yemenis started on Sunday and will continue until July 7 at 46 branches of the passport department (Jawazat) all over the Kingdom. As per the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, all illegal Yemenis residing in the Kingdom before Apr. 9 may be given six-month renewable visit visas. Under this arrangement, Yemenis who have their residence status corrected can work in the private sector. Yemenis who wish to correct their status should bring copies of their ID as well as passports and a letter from the consulate addressed to the Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat). They should also bring a host sponsor, fill in a special form and pay fees of SR222. According to the Jawazat, priority will be given to those who have already made appointments through the Abshir electronic gate of the Interior Ministry. Health Minister Khaled Al-Falih has directed all private hospitals and health centers to make medical tests for the Yemenis free of charge and to send the results directly to the concerned Jawazat department. Dr. Mohammed Bajubair, in charge of the affairs of private hospitals at Jeddah Health Affairs, said 30 private hospitals and health centers in the city have been authorized to carry out medical tests. Maj. Gen. Khalafullah Al-Tuwairgi, director of Makkah Jawazat, said the detention center in Al-Shumaisy has been made into a correction center for the Yemenis. He said the center is spacious enough and can comfortably accommodate all those seeking correction. The Jawazat, however, said there will be no correction for Yemenis wanted for criminal cases or those with regular iqamas who have been reported as having run away from their sponsors (huroub). The directorate also said Yemenis in deportation centers who opt to go home will not be fingerprinted for final exit.
