(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) TheGeneral Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai announced issuing over 25,000 new sponsor visas and renewing around 2,900 residencies during the ongoing amnesty.

As part of 'Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status' initiative, which will end on October 31, Amer centers across Dubai finished over 32,843 transactions since the amnesty period started August 1.

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA, said among the transactions Amer centers finished involved 7,757 cases of residencyviolators. Since the amnesty started, Amer centers cancelled 2,344 visas, renewed 2,916 visas and issued 25,086 new sponsor visas.

Al Marri added that Amer centers also received 165 applications from people ofwar-torn countries who were allowed to apply for a one-year residency with an exemption from overstays fines.

"We have equipped these centers with all the required services to ensure easy completion of transactions," said Al Marri. Amer and Tasheel centers allowed job seekers and over staying residents to modify their status without facing legal action or hefty fines. Instead, applicants only paid Dh521 to modify their status.

"As long as there have no absconding records, they can modify their status if they have a new sponsor or job offer," Al Marri told the press.

Job seekers are allowed to apply for a six-month temporary visa.

He noted that the centers also cancelled visas for people who wanted to go home without paying overstaying fines.

There are currently 47 Amer centers across Dubai, of which 21 centers are in the densely populated areas of Bur Dubai and 26 are in Deira. "This spread allows customers to finish their transactions in the closest center to them to save their time and effort," said Al Marri.

The one-stop shopsfinishes all visa-related transactions, entry permits and visit visas, issues or renews residency visa, visa cancellation and finishes Emirates ID services among other related government services provided by entities like Dubai Courts, Dubai Municipality andDepartment of Economic Development.

The centers operate from 8 am to 8 pm from Sunday to Thursday, some of which are open 24 hours a day. Over 718 Emirati employees receive and complete transactions at the centers. Customers can contact the 24-hour

Amer Call Center for inquiries at 8005111.

Sherouk Zakaria "Born and raised in UAE, Sherouk Zakaria is a Senior Correspondent at Khaleej Times. Joined since May 2016, she covers Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), special events and humanitarian issues. Her choice of journalism as a career stems from her passion of telling people's stories and writing to inspire or make a difference. In her free time, she's an occasional theater and film actress. Sherouk received her BA in Mass Communications from the American University in Sharjah in 2013. Before joining Khaleej Times, she was a senior lifestyle/entertainment editor for a magazine in Dubai."

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