Dubai Forums Dubai Expat Forums Dubai Expat Help Forum

Hello

I have been reading the forums about how long a visa should take, and it seems there really is no guarantee as to how long it will take. I have been waiting for my work visa for 3 months.

My question is a little different. I would like to know how long someone should wait for a visa, before giving up and pursuing other opportunities. I have not received income for 3 months, and although I love Dubai, I cannot wait forever. I would like people to put themselves in my shoes, and tell me how long they would be willing to wait.

Some more details of my situation (possibly non-essential):
I arrived in Dubai on 9th April 2008, on a holiday visa my friend arranged for me, he currently lives there and works in the construction industry. We are both South African citizens. I immediately started looking for a 'software development' position. After 2 months I had not found anything, so I extended for visa for another month. A few weeks before my visa would expire, I found a job with a company which was based in Scotland, and had just opened a new branch in Dubai. I worked for them for a few weeks, in which time they were able to get my diploma attested. On 9 July 2008, my visa expired and I was forced to leave the country, even though I was employed there. I came back to South Africa. My company told me to get my diploma attested in South Africa, apparently it needs attestation in both countries. This process took about 2 months. I couriered the document to dubai, and my company told me that a work visa would be ready in 5 days. It has now been a month since that day. The company has sent me complex emails involving LLC's and PRO's. Of course, I do not understand them. Because I have invested alot of time and effort into this venture, I think I would wait a very long time. Unless someone, in the know, thinks that would be foolish. Like I have mentioned above, my biggest problem is deciding exactly when 'enough is enough'.

Thanks

Hwzt,

Couple of points.

1. Firstly it should have not taken 2 months to get your papers attested in Pretoria; this can actually be accomplished in a single day.

2. If the company is a start-up they have to go through a registration process in order for them to be able to trade legally in the UAE. This also includes a process of registering the company with the Labour Department, the LD then determines according to the nature and projected size of the business how many visa’s the company will be allowed to sponsor. Normally with a small start-up it will only be 5 to 10 visa’s! This means the company has to use their allocation carefully to ensure a successful boot-strap.

3. The Ramadan/ Eid Holidays would definitely have slowed down the processes or even halted it depending on whether the companies sponsor stayed in the country over this period or not.

4. It sounds like your are currently non-resident, please clarify

5. Are they currently paying you while not being at work?


I’d suggest drafting a careful letter/ email to your direct manager, failing that the owners of the company in Scotland. Explain the situation and the frustration of the delays, explain that even though you are not working you still have financial commitments and require the stability of a full-time job. Ask them (not the PRO) to give you a written commitment as to when to expect a visa. Also, do not accept a visit visa – employment visa or nothing; during your delay the visa rules have now changed, if you were to now enter Dubai on a visit visa (SA passport) and get a job you would have to again leave the country (back to SA) and then re-enter again once labour approval and residency were sorted by the company.

If you decide not to take the position, make sure you get your attested documents back from the company.

I appreciate the reply. Your knowledge is remarkable.

4. It sounds like your are currently non-resident, please clarify
- I am currently in SA

5. Are they currently paying you while not being at work?
- No

I will wait another month or 2. My company is new to Dubai, and still finding their feet. I believe that at this point, it will be wise to stick with them. This delay will probably be a 'once-off'. I think investing in them now will prove my loyalty, and I will be rewarded for that in the long term.

Thanks again.

You hit the nail on the head, I was actually going to mention the “loyalty” issue yesterday, but left it out. This is particularly true in a start-up situation, the going can be extremely tough as everyone finds their feet and adjusts to the local conditions. On the upside it is obviously an established UK company, so there is an element of stability to the start-up process. If you’re feeling worried about your visa, the owners of the company are also probably worried about the delays in getting things off the ground. To have unproductive staff sitting around in foreign country costs money with no visible return.

You do have a safety net of sorts, whilst working in the Freezone; you can theoretically transfer to another employer within the same Freezone without incurring the mandatory labour ban (6 months).

i forgot to mention that my company is not in the free-zone, i dont think. they are in jbr, saba tower 1.

although this has been a frustrating time, i have used it to build a freelance portfolio. in the 3 months i have been involved in a few software projects. i will continue part-time freelancing once i resume full-time employment. it is something i have wanted to do for a while, but it takes some time, which i have had. so some good has come of the experience.

i have been reading alot of forums about dubai lately. it seems some people are terrified of failing their medical exam for residency. they are scared that the blood test will show illegal behavior, such as marujana or steriod use, which will have them deported aswell. one person said they failed the test, but were not told why. i cant believe this to be true though, i see the test as something to make sure you will contribute to the workforce for a long time, not something to check up on what you have been up to. their comments have got me worried though. what is your experience with these medical tests?

Sorry about the Freezone bit, I got confused with another posting I was answering. Ask them to provide you with an “Unlimited” Labour contract, this will give you the option of transferring from your sponsor (without a ban) after a year (within certain parameters) if you feel things are not working out.

The medical tests for issuing a labour card are for communicable diseases nothing else. Unless they pick you up at the airport if you are acting suspiciously, or are caught in a compromising situation where drugs could possibly be in use then you have nothing to worry about. They will however prosecute you if they do a blood test for drugs and find traces of it in your system.

Medical tests (for communicable diseases) are done every 3 years for all temporary residency holders, with the exception of persons working in the food or medical health (even includes massage parlour staff – the legit kind), where tests are required every year.

If you fail your medical test you are isolated and then deported!