Bora Bora wrote:The person who could help you is "bonk". Hopefully he will see this and can provide the correct info.
Aahhhhh, I did see this question. I was trying to avoid it in the hope someone else would answer it. It's too complicated for me
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Here's what I think I know ... or know what I think ...
...
After 6 months out of the country, a residence visa expires (becomes invalid), meaning you cannot use for entry to the UAE, nor can you enter the UAE on another visa until it's cancelled. Cancellation is different from expiry.
It is possible to cancel a residence visa from outside the UAE in one of two ways (I think).
1. Send your passport to your employer to get visa cancelled (which I would be reluctant to do).
2. Wait until 6 months passes then send copy of passport to employer to get visa cancelled.
Either way, you need cooperation of employer to cancel visa. Or contact the DNRD direct to see if they can cancel your visa without employer involvement.
I would check with DNRD or MOL anyway. As Bora Bora says, it's possible your employer has already cancelled your visa. If they reported you as absconding, then you are likely to have been given a 1 year ban or worse. If they didn't then you might have had a 1 year labour ban anyway for not completing notice period. But given that you left in December 2008, the ban should have finished. MOL should be able to tell you.
DNRD website says this procedure applies.
http://www.dnrd.gov.ae/Dnrd/Transaction ... lang=en-GBCancellation of residence permits of persons who are outside UAE
This involves a description of procedures of Naturalization and Residency Administration/Dubai to cancel residence permits of persons who are staying outside UAE, and which will be carried out without the expatriate person's passport.(cancellation of an employment permit of a worker who is outside UAE)
Required Documents:
Required documents to cancel a residence permit without the sponsored person's passport:
Copy of the sponsored person's passport or departure list provided that the residence permit has expired.
Sponsor's passport copy
Two (2) copies of cancellation application
Required documents for cancellation of residence (employment) permit issued by Naturalization and Residency Administration and Ministry of Labour without the sponsored person's passport:
Two (2) copies of application to cancel a residence (employment) permit issued for a person by Ministry of Labour, when the residence permit has expired.
If the sponsored person holds a residence (employment) permit issued by Naturalization and Residency Administration, his residence permit will be cancelled by Naturalization and Residency Administration/Dubai.
Copy of the establishment card.
Copy of the commercial license if his residence (employment) permit is issued by Naturalization and Residence Administration.
List of departures list issued by Cancellation Unit if his residence (employment) permit is issued by Naturalization and Residency Administration.