A Filipino family’s harrowing experience after overstaying in the UAE for six years is finally over and they have one advice for people going through the same situation: never resort to fixers.
Anne K.M., a housewife, her daughter, 7, and two sons, aged 5 and 2, on Sunday afternoon boarded a plane to the Philippines after waiting six long years to get their residency status legalised in the UAE.“I have in my hands now our out pass. We’re flying to the Philippines today,” Anne Kristine told Gulf News before their flight on Sunday. “I can’t be any happier. Finally, the long wait is over,” she said, sobbing.
Anne and her three kids each racked up Dh178,100 in overstay fines since. Their ordeal began when Anne’s husband, Joseph, switched jobs in 2012 and his family’s visas had to be cancelled.
Joseph’s new visa was released. But it took months for the company to process his wife and three kids’ visas.
“Then, a friend recommended a PRO who had helped them previously. It was all based on trust. We paid him Dh24,000 in cash and gave him all our documents,” Anne said.
But every time they would ask the PRO for updates, he would give all sorts of empty promises.
Until one day, he disappeared — with their money and passports.
They filed a police case against the man, who apparently had duped other residents too. Their case was heard in court.
“It cost us a lot of money. In between, I got pregnant twice and had to deliver without insurance. We had to pay for everything out of pocket, even for my son’s vaccinations,” she said.
Living in constant fear and isolation, the family struggled to live in normality.
“We couldn’t send our kids to school. I’ve been home schooling them on my own. My daughter keeps asking me when she can go to school. She’d say, ‘Mum, you promised last year.’ But the next year came and still, we couldn’t send her to school.”
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