Caught in the complexities of visa renewal, the skilled labourers had turned illegal migrants due to expiry of their visa period and were forced to leave that country. The grace period for regularizing their status ended on November 4, sources said.
The oil-rich country has undertaken a drive to deport illegal expatriates who had overstayed in Saudi Arabia after expiry of their working visas.
"The administration has received reports of return of migrant workers from Saudi Arabia. The matter is taken up with competent authorities to ascertain the number of workers from Kendrapara still left in Saudi Arabia without valid visa," said Kendrapara collector, Niranjan Nayak.
"After announcement to drive away illegal expatriates, I left the country with the help of Indian Embassy at Riyadh. Local government had offered the foreign workers an amnesty period for those who overstayed. I left Arabia with a temporary visa issued by Indian Embassy before the period expired," said Seikh Abdul Sayeed (29) of Haladia village in Kendrapada district.
