Dubai Visa System through Typing centres

The UAE Vision System, a new visa system which allows residents to apply and renew visas directly through typing centres without the need of visiting the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), has been officially adopted by a number of typing centers in Dubai.

One such centre even launched a toll-free number on Wednesday to help with the new system. ID Card Centre, located in Deira, launched its 800 IDCARD (800 432273) hotline on Wednesday. The hotline is available in Arabic, English, Hindi, and Malayalam, to help customers enquiring about the new ‘UAE Vision’ system. It allows customers to schedule the pickup and delivery of their visa-related documents through Zajel courier at a convenient location.

With the unveiling of the UAE Vision system earlier this month, residents are no longer required to visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs headquarters or any of its external branches in order to renew or apply for visas. Instead, all transactions will be carried out through the approved typing centres.

The transactions include applying for visa, renewing residency, applying for new residency, and visa cancellation, in addition to any other related services. According to a GDRFA official, there have been no changes to the required documents or charges related to the visa transactions.

“When customers visit typing centres, they need to look out for the Amer logo,” a GDRFA official said. “The logo will be clearly visible on the counters and on the staff uniform. The logo is a badge of approval from the GDRFA, indicating that the typing centre is qualified to carry out visa-related transactions through the UAE Vision system.”

Speaking on the delivery of new services to customers, Esmail Ebrahim, managing director of ID Card Centre, said, “Keeping with the government’s efforts of digitization and technological development, we decided to offer our customers services that will make the visa application processes more convenient and less frustrating.”

The other related services the centre offers range from documentation for medical tests, attestation, legal translation, and wages protection system (WPS).

Jailab Abdullah, marketing manager of the centre, said the centre is equipped with facilities as per the GDRFA standards. “To be accredited by the GDRFA, the typing centres need to have a space of at least 1500 square metres, a token system, security and camera systems and a waiting area,” he said, adding that the centre aims to make visa application procedures as efficient as possible for customers.

Elaborating on the new system, Colonel Hussain Ebrahim, assistant of the director-general for administrative support at the GDRFA, earlier said: “The UAE Vision System is a new system where public members will be able to visit any of the typing service offices and submit their transactions without having to visit the GDRFA building or any of the centres to complete their transactions as everything will be done at the typing centre only.”

Visa applicants are urged to provide accurate contact information to typing centres. Those who apply for visit visa-related transactions will have it sent to their email and those applying for residency visa service will have it sent to them via Zajel courier service, Col Ebrahim explained.

Zajel counters will be available at all approved typing centres. Those applying for residency visas can hand over their passport to the counter after the application process is complete. The Zajel courier service will deliver the customer’s passport once the visa is issued and stamped.

Mandatory health insurance for all in Dubai by June 2016

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will complete the implementation of Dubai’s Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme ISAHD (Bringing Happiness), by the end of June, 2016.

DHA is currently in the third and final phase of implementing the scheme on companies with less than 100 employees, including all spouses, dependents and domestic workers

Dr. Haidar Al Yousuf, Director of Public Health Funding at DHA said that 75 per cent of Dubai expatriates are now covered by the insurance, thanks to the mandatory health insurance."This means we have 25 per cent left to cover by June, we hope to have close to 100 per cent of Dubai expatriates covered by the insurance by the end of next month," he said.

He added that the implementation of the scheme, to have all Dubai resident covered by health insurance is going according to the adopted time frame. Dr. Al Yousuf said that linking the health insurance scheme to visa issuance and renewal in partnership with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) contributed to the success of the implementation process.

Dr. Al Yousuf called on all companies to hurry in insuring their employers before the end of June 2016, to avoid penalties imposed by Executive Council Resolution No.7 of 2016. DHA has completed the first phase that included companies with more than 1,000 in 2014 and the second phase, which included companies with 999 to 100 employees in 2015.

The necessity to hold the Health Insurance Permit (HIP) is mandatory and only those companies with a valid permit are eligible to provide insurance cover as part of Dubai's Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme which is being rolled-out in phases until June -2016. The scheme is known as ISAHD which stands for Insurance System for Advancing Healthcare in Dubai and also means happiness in Arabic.

So far, 46 insurance companies and four TPA's have achieved unconditional compliance, AL Maidoor said: "Putting these criteria in place is important as it sets unified quality standards for the health insurance industry in Dubai and protects all parties involved especially customers. Since we have set minimum criteria many insurance companies have improved their standards in terms of customer service, complaints handling, data security and operational effectiveness in order to obtain a permit. Putting such a process in place also assures the public that these companies have met minimum standards required. From a regulatory point of view, we can ensure that checks and measures are in place and in case of violations we can take action with the ultimate sanction being revocation of the permit."

He said insurance companies who qualified as Participating Insurers to provide essential health benefits (EHB) package to resident employees with salaries below AED 4,000 underwent a rigorous assessment procedure to ascertain their ability to provide an insurance package at an affordable rate. The premium for this package will range between AED 500-700 per person per year. Al Maidoor said: "The objective of the essential benefits plan is to provide adequate cover at a reasonable cost to employers. DHA recognizes that in doing so insurers also have to make a reasonable profit. Only those capable of handling volume business and who can operate effectively over the long term can make the system sustainable.

New System for Residence Visa and Visit Visa in Dubai

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) introduced the "UAE vision" new system, which allows public to apply for all kind of visa and residency related transactions only via typing service centers approved by the residency department.

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and foreigners’ Affairs in Dubai, said yesterday that public will not be required any more to visit the GDRFA headquarters or any of its external branches in order to apply for any visa or residency related transaction including applying for visa, renewing residency, applying for new residency or cancellation in addition to any other related services as all the services will be available at the typing services centers.

Major General Al Marri said that the GDRFA is introducing the "UAE vision" new system, which is deemed one of the best systems introduced for public to save effort and time and this is in line with the vision of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai who stressed on facilitating governmental services offered for and reach them wherever they are.

Colonel Hussein Ibrahim, Assistant of the Director-General for administrative support at GDRFA said the " UAE Vision System" is a new system where public members will be able to visit any of the typing service offices and submit their transactions all without having to visit the GDRFA Building or any of the centers to complete their transactions as everything will be done at the typing center only.

Colonel Hussein pointed out that clients must provide accurate information to the typing center such as valid phone numbers, address and email in order to allow communication with them.He said that those who apply for visit visa related transaction will have it sent to their email and those applying for residency visa service will have it send to them via Zajel service.

Present procedure for Issuing families Residence visa –resident’s family reside in UAE
   
Description of Procedures of Residency Department to offer a service of issuing a family Residence visa of a resident in UAE include the following:
1-Spouse 2-Sons 3-Relative of first degree (parents/ humanitarian situation) and relatives of second degree (grandparents and brothers/humanitarian situation).
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Applicant: Sponsor, Agent

Documents Required
1- Application Form of newly born prepaid through E-form + (signature of sponsor).
2 -2 Nos. photographs of the sponsored.
3-Original Entry permit of sponsored.
4- Original passport of sponsored.
5-Copy of sponsor passport.
6-Copy and original receipt of financial security (5000) AED if sponsoring parents of first or second degree relatives for humanitarian situation.
7-Original medical test or online (persons over 18 years old) valid.
8- Copy of employment contract or salary certificate salary should not be less than (4000) AED or (3000) AED + accommodation, with profession condition.

Fees Required
1-(370) AED issuing a family Residence visa of a resident fees payable through (E-form), broken down as follow:
(100) AED Residence visa fees against each year (maximum 3 years) for spouse and sons, while relatives of first degree or second degree (humanitarian situation) one year only.
 (50) AED service charges.
(10)AED Datel service fees...
(10) AED knowledge Dirham.
2-(5000) AED refundable guarantee to sponsor  relatives of first degree or second degree (humanitarian situation)
3-(130) AED urgent fees (optional), broken down as follow:
(100) AED Local charges.
(10) AED Administrative fees.
(10) AED Bank charges.
(10) AED knowledge Dirham.
4-(20) AED Zajil delivery service for ordinary applications.
Classification of Fees Required for default issuing new Residence visa, fine is imposed after (60 days) of Residence visa expiry...
The fine is calculated according to the local system based on public prosecutor list as follow:
(15) AED (cash) for each day during the first 6 months (180 days)
(30) AED (cash) for each day during the second 6 months (180 days)
(50) AED (cash) for each day after one year and above.
Fine fees for Ministry system:
(25) AED (cash) for each day during the first 6 months (180 days)
(50) AED (cash) for each day during the second 6 months (180 days)
(100) AED (cash) for each day after one year and above.

Applicant Notices
Residence visa validity given for one year to student male children (over 18 years) in following situation:
#Student inside UAE: submit a continued education certificate issued by a school or university approved by UAE Ministry of Education or Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research or follower Dubai Academic City in Emirate of Dubai (without financial security) is given one renewable year up to age 21 only.
#Student sons inside UAE in non-approved university pay a guarantee of 5000 AED and are given one renewable year up to age 21 only.
#Student sons studying outside UAE in non-approved School, university or institute or non-studying pay a guarantee of 5000 AED and are given one renewable year up to age 21 only.
#Male sons above 18 years old are requested to medical test annually upon renewal, as for relatives of first and second degree residence visa period is one year. Medical test is approved for three years but a copy of the medical test to be submitted upon annual renewal. The service shall be offered at the following sections to the building employees in charge only:
1- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai General Headquarters Branch -Dubai Police.
2-. General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai Municipality Clinic Branch.
3- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai -  Dubai Media City Branch.
4- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai- Dubai Financial Center Branch.
5- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai - Rashid Hospital Branch.

Beneficiary: Resident
Submission places

• General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai,
•  Dubai Industrial City Branch,
•  Dnata Section-Sheikh Zayed Road, 
• Um Suqaim Section, Ladies Section – Residence Department, 
• Al Arabi Center Section, 
• Medical Fitness Section,
•  Dubai Airport Free Zone Area Section,
•  Bin Sougat Center Section, Jebel Ali Section,
•  Hatta Section, 
• Hayatt Regency Section, 
• Dnata- Deira Section, 
• His Highness Dubai Ruler’s Court Section,
•  Emirate Airlines Section, 
• Municipality Clinic Section,
•  Al-Safa Clinic Section, 
• Dubai Technology and Media City Section, 
• Dubai International Financial Center Section,
•  Rashid Hospital Section.

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Findout U.A.E Visa status

Those who are coming for visit U.A.E  and Residents can check the Visa Status through online. The real time website of immigration is now enabled to give the status of Entry permit validity, eDNRD Application Status, eForm Application Status and Residence validity. The service is provided by GDRFA-Dubai through eDNRD website.
Now Click here to verify

Customs changes from 1st April 2016 to passengers visiting India

Passengers coming to India and not carrying dutiable goods will not have to fill up customs declaration form from Friday.Flyers carrying prohibited and dutiable goods will only be filling up such declaration form, which was earlier mandatory for all passengers coming to the country.
The move is part of a new and simplified measure announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while presenting the Budget for 2016-17.
All passengers who come to India and have anything to declare or carrying dutiable or prohibited goods need to fill up the 'Indian Customs Declaration Form', as per the new rules which will come into force from Friday.
All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that new customs rules are followed properly, said Sanjay Mangal, Commissioner of Customs at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
"We have written to all airlines that they should provide Customs Declaration Form to passengers carrying dutiable goods and that they should fill it up on board flights so that they do not have to stand in queue after deboarding," he said.
Foreigners' duty free allowance has also been increased to Rs 15,000 from the existing limit of Rs 8,000, from April 1.
The duty free allowance of two litres of alcoholic liquor or wines, 125 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 125 gms tobacco for the passengers will continue.
The limit to bring duty-free goods worth Rs 6,000 for passengers of Indian origin and coming from China has been taken away. The duty-free allowance for people coming from Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar has been increased to Rs 15,000, more than two times the limit of Rs 6,000 at present.
The increase in allowance will be applicable for journey by air. Those coming to India from land borders will not be able to get any amount of free allowance, the rules said.
The monetary limit for passengers of Indian origin coming from any foreign destination, excluding Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, has also been increased. Now such passengers can bring duty free goods worth Rs 50,000 from tomorrow instead of Rs 45,000 at present.