Stranded Warangal toddler returns to Telangana from Saudi
Jeddah: The system of visa procedure in gulf countries is rigid and adhering to its norms to minimise violations irrespective of circumstances, is always advisable.
In most cases, the dependents – children and spouses – of expatriate workers pay a heavy price without any of their fault. In the latest case, a six-month-old infant hailing from Telangana, who had been stranded in Saudi Arabia for over an year and half, due to visa extension issue has finally returned home. Her parents had to take up the herculean task of proving that it was not their fault.
Mamidala Ramyakrishna of Hanmakonda has been working in a hospital in eastern province in Saudi Arabia for the last five years. She gave birth to a girl child Samantha on september 30,.2019 in Warangal.
Ramyakrishna decided to bring her newborn baby to Saudi Arabia, accordingly she obtained a visit visa for the newborn baby and brought her into SAudi Arabia a month after her birth. The woman had applied for an extension of visa for the daughter following expiry and it was extended electronically. However, the same was not reflected in official records thus the visa expired, according to Ramyakrishna.
Panicked over the situation, the working mother approached the authorities concerned explaining her efforts and electronic evidence including screenshots that state extension of the infant visa.
In the process, amid the coronavirus lockdown where flights were suspended yet Ramyakrishna was running behind officials in Hassa, Dammam and Riyadh where she was told to pay penalty of 15,000 Riyals for herself for lapse of visa and another 15,000 on behalf infant Samantha for the same violation. The total 30,000 Saudi Riyals is equivalent to nearly Rs 6 lakh in Indian currency.
Looking after young children and working with patients, Ramyakrishna didn’t leave any stone unturned for redress of her grievance. In the process, she came in touch with Pleace India, a NRI group in Saudi Arabia and its president Latheef Thechy. Thechy has taken up their case to a Riyadh based attorney who persuaded the case and officials waved the hefty penalty, according to Pleace India.
Finally, Ramyakrishna along with her children and husband returned to Hyderabad on Wednesday.
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