OMAN OFFERS OVERSTAYERS AN EASY EXIT

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001327

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, G/TIP
DEPT FOR DOL (JSHEA)
DEPT FOR USTR (AROSENBERG)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM SMIG SOCI PREL MU
SUBJECT: OMAN OFFERS OVERSTAYERS AN EASY EXIT

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) In an effort to spur the exit of expatriates who
have overstayed their visas, the Royal Oman Police (ROP)
eased departure regulations and urged all persons on expired
visas to pay a one-time fee of $655 USD and depart the
country without hindrance by August 19. The offer did not
apply to foreigners who entered Oman illegally. Although the
government widely advertised the initiative, officials at the
Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indian embassies say that
relatively few of their nationals took advantage of the
offer, opting to hope for something better in the future.
End Summary.

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Bargain
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2. (U) In early August, the ROP eased departure regulations
for the estimated 50,000 expatriates believed to be in Oman
on expired tourist visas, urging all those on expired visas
to depart the country by August 19 after paying a one-time
fee of $655. The steep reduction in fees, normally set at
$26 per day beyond expiry of a visa, was meant to be a strong
incentive, especially for those visitors who have overstayed
their visa by a year or more and conceivably owe over $9500
in fines.

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Seeking a Better Deal
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3. (SBU) Although the ROP's initiative represents a
potentially significant discount for long-term overstayers,
many expatriates are unable to raise the necessary money and
accompanying airfare home. In an attempt to promote timely
and legal departure, an official from the Bangladeshi Embassy
said that his government negotiated an even lower fee of $131
for first-time offenders. In effect since September 2004,
the ROP has granted reduced exit fees to over 2000
Bangladeshis, while another 1000 repeat offenders paid the
$655 fine.


4. (SBU) Pakistani officials are attempting to negotiate a
reduced exit fee for their nationals as well. According to
one Embassy official, no more than 20-30 Pakistanis have come
forward to take advantage of the current program. Since most
out-of-status Pakistanis entered the country illegally, the
easy-exit program is of little relevance.


5. (SBU) The Indian Embassy, whose nationals could be the
largest beneficiary of the easy-exit plan, has no firm
figures on those who departed before the August 19 deadline.
It estimates, however, that more than 8,000 Indians are
currently in Oman on expired visas. Indians constitute the
largest percentage of Oman's foreign population.

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Comment
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6. (SBU) While the easy-exit program should appeal to those
expatriates stuck in Oman on expired visas, it does nothing
to facilitate repatriation of that those who entered
illegally. Moreover, most expatriates on expired visas tend
to be poor working-class South Asians who would find it
difficult to raise airfare and pay any amount in overstay
fines. It appears that most of them have taken the rational
economic decision to remain in Oman in hopes of finding more
lucrative employment or, alternatively, a lower-cost option
for departing.
BALTIMORE