Indian Family in UAE Gets Passport After 30 Years of Illegal Stay

An Indian family which had been staying illegally in the UAE for 30 years without valid identification can now start their life afresh as four of their five adult children received their passports, Khaleej Times reported.

Indian expat Madhusudhanan, 60, along with his wife and four children—Sangeetha, 25; Shanthi, 23; Gauri, 22; and Mithun, 21— had been living illegally in the UAE for 30 years without a residence permit. His children’s passports had expired in 2012.

After his children received their passport on Oct. 22, he told the newspaper that “can now breathe freely” and pursue their dream of getting a job.
“They don’t have to live in fear anymore. For almost three decades, my children lived as prisoners inside their own house. Now, they can live freely and pursue their dream of getting a job in the UAE. It is like a rebirth for them,” the Indian expat was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Prem Chand, an official at the Indian Consulate in Dubai, confirmed the news that four passports were handed over Madhusudhanan.

The newspaper quoted him saying, “Now, they can apply for a work permit without any legal impediments.”

While four his children got their passports, Madhusudhan’s eldest daughter Aswathy, 29, is yet to get hers. “That is the next struggle. But I will not give up till my wife and all my children can live as legal residents in the UAE,” Khaleej Times reported Madhusudhanan as saying.

According to Chand, as Aswathy was born in Al Ain, the Indian family will have to get in touch with the ministry in Abu Dhabi and register her birth there along with applying for her passport in the same emirate.

The Indian expat also said that his wife who hails from Sri Lanka will get her passport on Oct. 29.

Talking about his ordeal, Madhusudhanan told the publication that he came to UAE in 1979 as a blue-collar worker and got married in 1988. He said “We had our first child in 1989. I lost my job in the same year and hence could not apply for her passport. In 1992, when we had our second child, my wife lost her job, and because of the mother’s illegal status, it was not possible to apply for our child’s passport.”

Coupled with the continuous fear of arrest and deportation, the Indian expat had to work as a heavy vehicle operator until 2017 to earn enough to feed his family. Talking about his declining age, he said, “My health is deteriorating. But we have new hope. Following the media reports about our situation, many people had come forward and offered jobs to my children. Though they do not have formal education, all of them can read, write and speak English.”

Madhusudhanan also stated about his intention of having the six-month temporary visa for the children under the current visa amnesty scheme which ends on Oct. 29. The UAE launched a visa amnesty program on Aug.1, to enable foreign workers overstaying their permits to leave the country without paying any fine or undergoing jail term. It will also allow workers to look for a new job within the time frame.

“The timing is just perfect for them. Now, my worry is about Ashwathy. Her application is still pending with the consulate,” the publication quoted Madhusudhanan as telling.