The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reminded undocumented Filipinos in Kuwait to register for the amnesty program before registration deadline on April 12.
According to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola, more than 6,000 undocumented Filipinos in Kuwait have yet to register for the program.
“We appeal to our kababayans in Kuwait to heed our advice and register for repatriation as soon as possible,” Arriola said.
She reminded illegal OFWs that failure to register to the program may result in arrest, detention, and deportation by the Kuwaiti authorities.
“Our overstaying kababayans in Kuwait should know that as soon as the amnesty is over, they could be arrested and jailed for immigration violations,” she said.
“This is why they have to take advantage of the amnesty offer so we could immediately bring them home.”
Arriola explained that despite the deadline set being April 22, OFWs should register by April 12 as it will take the Embassy 10 days to process their exit requirements.
Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa echoed Arriola’s sentiment and said the amnesty program is the best way for overstaying OFWs to be with their families in the Philippines.
“As soon as the extension of the amnesty program ends on April 22, we should expect Kuwaiti authorities to launch a crackdown against foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas,” the envoy said.
“The amnesty is the best and quickest way for our overstaying kababayans to go home and be reunited with their loved ones in the Philippines,” he added.
The Philippine government has since repatriated 3,930 OFWs from Kuwait who belong to authorities’ list of overstaying workers in the Gulf state.
