India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Hamid Ali Rao has urged those who have not availed the concessions offered by the Saudi authorities to correct their legal status or to leave the country without facing any penal action to come forward. The grace period announced by the Saudi authorities closes on November 3. Mr. Rao told AIR that this is the last chance for the NRIs in Saudi Arabia to correct the legal status or to leave the country without facing penal action and no one should expect another extension. He assured all possible help to those who wish to avail of the benefits under the grace period.
The Indian Ambassador said that the response from the Indian community has been quite impressive. Quoting the Saudi Arabian official figures, he said that since the beginning of grace period over 3,60,000 Indians have transferred their services. More than 3,55,000 Indians have changed their job title and 4,67,000 Indians have renewed their licenses. Mr. Rao added that around 89000 people have reached Indian embassy for issue of Emergency Certificates or the ECs, while 5956 have collected their huroob passports from the Embassy and 2091 have renewed their old ECs. The number of those Indians who received final exit is also impressive.
Mr. Rao urged the two million plus strong Indian community in Saudi Arabia to join in the efforts in reaching out to those who have not yet availed of the grace period benefits. He said that Embassy would take up with the concerned authorities each and every case. The helpdesks at airports would be reactivated. Helpdesks at community schools and Emergency Certificate centers at Dammam and other places will work round the clock till that last overstaying Indian is helped. He thanked Saudi King Abdullah for the initiative that first announced the grace period in April 2013 first and then further extended it till November 3, 2013.
The Ambassador thanked the volunteers, schoolteachers, parents, students and interpreters in various Government departments in reaching out to the people. He lauded the role of NRIs in Saudi Arabia who behaved responsibly as law-abiding citizen in the country and they must strive to ensure that legal status of every Indian residing in Saudi Arabia is correct.
