New Visa Rules being framed for Job seekers in UAE

The UAE plans tougher rules on issuing visit and tourist visas because most of the residency law violators, who seek the ongoing visa amnesty, entered the country on such visas, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) announced.

Many of the residency violators were also involved in dangerous crimes, warranting stringent measures to prevent such people from entering the country, the officials told the media. Most of the residency law violators who entered the country on a visit or tourist visa were job seekers. Therefore, the authority plans to introduce a three-to-six month-long visa for job seekers.

As part of the tougher rules, some pre-conditions, including a security deposit, may be introduced for issuing visit and jobseeker visa. The pre-conditions will ensure that such visitors go back after the expiry of their visas.

The authority is also planning to ask the foreign embassies to bear the costs of flight tickets for their citizens who overstay in the UAE because such people often do not have money for a ticket to go back home.

The authority warned that there would be regular inspection campaigns to identify residency law violators after October 31, the final day of the ongoing visa amnesty. Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, Director of Residency Affairs at the authority (left), told journalists that violators will face arrest and tougher legal action after the amnesty period.

He said the amnesty is a good opportunity for violators to rectify their status, or leave the country without paying any fines.

Dr Yousuf Al Sherif, the legal advisor at the authority, said the courts will give tougher punishments, including hefty fines and deportation, to residency law violators after October 31.

A sponsor or businessperson who employs an undocumented worker will be fined Dh50,000 [for each worker].