IMMIGRATION LEGALITY CHECKS HEIGHTENED

Immigration has heightened its efforts to check on the legality of expatriates in the country. From the month of June, immigration has been carrying out random raids/checks on foreigners for the following items;

1.    If you are working or running a business, they check to see if you have the correct permit. Those found working/running a business on an incorrect permit/expired permit are immediately arrested, summoned to court and requested to either pay a hefty fine in lieu of a jail term or to face immediate deportation. Please note that all permits are required to be renewed 3 months prior to the expiry date.

2.     Those residing in Kenya on an expired tourist visa. You can no longer expect to be OK residing on an expired visa. Visas need to be renewed BEFORE the expiry date.

3.    Those who have been in the country for longer than 3 months, yet do not possess an Alien ID or have not applied for an Alien ID. It is a legal requirement to register as an Alien and failure to do so will attract a fine or imprisonment.

Please get your paperwork in order. We know of over 5 people who have been heftily fined due to incorrect paperwork just this past week. The new immigration director is definitely not messing around. It pays to do things the correct way.

SOURCE: Update retrieved from the Department of Immigration