UAE visa on arrival for Indians with valid America visa or Green Card

Indian passport holders with a valid American visa or a Green Card will be eligible to get UAE visa on arrival at all ports starting May 1, 2017.The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) circulated a letter to authorities to grant the UAE visa to Indians with valid America visa or Green Card following a Cabinet decision in March.

The circular was given to all UAE borders points, including airports and ports, officials at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs confirmed that they started implementing the order from 2017 May 1 onwards.

The decision to have a simplified visa process is aimed at advancing the UAE-India relations in economic, political, and trade. It also contributes to achieving UAE’s vision to be the leading country in attracting global tourism.

The circular confirms, “Citizens of the Republic of India who are holders of normal passports with a six-month, or more, valid green card or visa issued by the United States of America shall be granted entry visas to the UAE from all ports for a period of 14 days, subject to a single renewal for the same period upon payment of applicable fees,” an official statement said earlier on March.

UAE visa on arrival for Indians with valid America visa or Green Card

•  Indian passport holders with valid America visa or Green Card will get UAE visa on arrival and valid for 14 days, extendable for a similar period one time only.
• The validity of the passport must be not less than six months and the fee for an entry permit will be Dh100.
• The fee for one-time extension of the entry permit will be Dh250.
• Currently, citizens of 47 countries apart from the GCC nations, can get the visa on arrival.

Dividend and Pension Scheme for middle-income Keralites proposed

 Millions of expatriates from the southern Indian state of Kerala living across the globe will be able to get an attractive lifelong monthly dividend-cum-pension with a one-time deposit if their government accepts a proposal in this regard.

The proposed ‘Dividend and Pension Scheme’ targeting middle-class Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) aims to offer them an investment vehicle to secure their future, even if they lose their livelihood, a senior official told.

“I have seen tragic lives of many expats who were earning well in the Gulf but later had to live at the mercy of others because they did not save anything for themselves. Even their own children ditched them when they got old. Those experiences prompted me to think about such a scheme,” said P.T. Kunhi Mohammad, chairman of the Kerala Non-resident Keralites Welfare Board, a government agency implementing welfare and pension schemes for an estimated 3.5 million non-resident Keralites across the globe, including over a million in the UAE.

“I have submitted the proposal to the Kerala Chief Minister Pinararyi Vijayan and am expecting a positive response from him,” Mohammad said on phone from Kerala.

A comment from the chief minister’s office was not immediately available.

More than 160,000 non-resident Keralites have already joined a welfare and pension scheme run by the same government agency for low-income employees who have to pay Rs300 (Dh17) per month for at least 10 years. This payment makes the individual concerned eligible for a monthly pension of Rs2,000 (Dh114) per month after the age of 60.

The proposed new scheme for the middle-class NRKs gains relevance as the profile of Keralite migrants to the Gulf has improved over the years from unskilled workers to skilled employees and professionals.

The scheme envisages collecting a one-time deposit of between Rs500,000 (Dh28,607) and Rs5 million (Dh286,091) from NRKs, which could also be paid in six instalments in three years, the chairman said. After an initial three-year lock-in period, the deposit will start yielding a fixed monthly dividend between Rs5,000 (Dh286) and Rs50,000 Dh2,860), depending on the deposit, until the investor’s death, he said.

The scheme will be able to ensure such a high return on the deposit will be locked in during the lifetime of the depositor and his or her nominee. “This means the government gets the deposit for a long time; probably in many cases up to 20 or 40 years! The government can utilise that money for productive purposes including development projects for a long time,” Mohammad said.

“If approved, we expect to attract Rs100 billion deposit from NRKs to the scheme,” he said. If the government wants, it can hand over that money to other official organs such as KIIFB [Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board — a government arm to facilitate the development of both physical and social infrastructure in the state], he added.

Government guarantee will be key

The proposed ‘Dividend and Pension Scheme’ for Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) envisages a lifelong lock-in mechanism for deposits because it is crucial to secure the depositor’s future, a senior official told Gulf News.

“Many expats are able to save a few lakh [hundred thousand] rupees in their bank accounts and similar saving schemes. But they keep on withdrawing it for one or other urgent needs [mostly unproductive],” said P.T. Kunhi Mohammad, chairman of the Kerala Non-resident Keralites Welfare Board.

Expatriates are always flooded with financial demands from family, relatives and friends back home and most of them are receptive to such demands, which in turn keep them under constant financial strain, he explained. Many other expats who save money join businesses run by relatives or friends in the Gulf or back home as dormant partners. “Sometimes they are cheated or the business fails,” Mohammad points out.

Expats returning home for good from the Gulf also lose their money by getting into business ventures back home they never had any experience or expertise operating.

Proposed government guarantees for the deposit will help depositors accept the lifelong lock-in clause on their investments that will help them avoid the undesirable habit of emptying their savings. “It is a win-win situation for both the government and the depositor,” Mohammad explained.

After the death of the depositor, the monthly dividend would continue to go to his or her nominee, probably the depositor’s spouse, until the nominee’s death. After the nominee’s death, the deposit will be handed over to the legal heir, children or whoever they are, he said.

He observed why the scheme made sense for expatriates. “Finally the expat who had a handsome income ends up with nothing. I have seen such tragedies in my 12-year-long expat life in Abu Dhabi [as an administrator] and later as a political activist, filmmaker and TV-show host,” he said.

Mohammad also served as an elected state legislator in Kerala. As a noted filmmaker, he has also been hosting a popular TV show titled ‘Pravasa Lokam’ (the world of migrants) on the Kairali channel since 2000, which has helped trace more than 500 missing migrants in the Gulf.

Scheme could tap billions in NRI remittances with banks

The proposed ‘Dividend and Pension Scheme’ for Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) is an attempt to utilise billions in remittances flowing to Kerala, of which a very small part ends up as deposits in banks.

Still, bank deposits by NRKs reached Rs1.48 trillion (Dh84.84 billion) in December 2016, according to data collected by the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC). This is just 18.5 per cent of the total Rs8 trillion NRI remittances received in the past 14 years, based on the figures provided by the Centre For Development Studies (CDS) in Kerala. More than 80 per cent of the remittances is spent by families of NRKs, mostly for non-productive purposes such as extravagant weddings and on the construction of grand houses, according to social workers. Remittances account for around 35 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Kerala.

P.T. Kunhi Mohammad, chairman of the Kerala Non-Resident Keralites Welfare Board, said that successive central and state governments had never formulated any schemes to utilise remittances from NRKs to secure their own future and support the development of the state.

The proposed ‘Dividend and Pension Scheme’ will serve both these purposes, he said.

However, Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac, in his 2017 budget speech on March 4, had announced a similar plan to raise Rs100 billion from NRKs for the construction of two highways through a chit fund scheme.

“The entire money collected would be invested in the NRI bonds of state-owned KIIFB [Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board] in the name of KSFE [Kerala State Financial Enterprise], which runs chit fund schemes,” the minister had said.

• Dividend and pension scheme — in numbers
• Rupees 500,000 (Dh28,607) — minimum deposit
• Rupees 5 million (Dh286,091.56) — maximum deposit
• Maturity time to start getting dividends — 3 years
• Projected deposits from NRKs in new scheme — Rs100 billion
• Expected lock-in period of deposit — 20 to 40 years
• Bank deposits by NRKs in Kerala — Rs1.48 trillion (Dh84.84 billion)

Motorist aged 65 in Dubai undergo medical screening from September 1st

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is introducing medical testing procedures for motorists aged 65 and above who wish to renew their driver licenses, a senior official said.

They will now be required to undergo medical screening at public and private hospitals and clinics approved by the RTA in Dubai as of September 1 this year.

Jamal Assada, Director of Drivers Licensing at RTA’s Licensing Agency, said: "The introduction of this initiative stems from the keenness of the RTA to achieve the highest traffic safety levels for road users at top-class international standards."

He added that the implementation of the new procedure will start from September 1 this year for motorists aged 65 and above.

"The test is intended to verify if motorists are free from diseases that may impact their driving abilities to the extent of posing risks to road users," he said.

Validity

The validity of the renewed driver license will be 3 years only instead of 10 years, Assada added.

"There will be an online link with the approved hospitals and clinics enabling them access to the online licensing system of the RTA to judge the medical condition of applicants for driver license renewal,” said Assada.

“Introducing the medical fitness as a precondition for the renewal of driver licenses reflects RTA’s commitment to the life of motorists and road users comprising pedestrians and vehicles."

The renewal of driver licenses service will be available through RTA’s Call Centre (8009090), Website and app on smart phones/devices (RTA Dubai).

UAE Ministry launch E-channels for Visa

The Ministry of the Interior on Tuesday launched "E-channels", a new system of smart services that let nationals and residents apply for entry permits and residency visas within 10 minutes.

Under the new system, people don’t need to physically visit different visa centres in the country. Instead, they can register at https://echannels.moi.gov.ae and select the services required. Individuals will need an email id and password to log into the system, said Brigadier Mansour Ahmad Al Daheri, director-general of residency and naturalisation department of Abu Dhabi.

In partnership with Tahaluf Al Emarat Technical Solutions, the ministry has worked on the development of the e-services system that allows typing centres, companies and individuals (citizens, residents and Gulf Cooperation Council nationals) to apply for residency and naturalisation services with ease.

Using "E-channels", GCC citizens and residents can apply for visas, follow up on applications and print visas.Companies can submit applications without having to visit General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs centres.

Under the smart system, Emiratis can apply to sponsor individuals, residents can apply for new visas, or renew or cancel and GCC nationals can apply to sponsor individuals while GCC residents can apply for new visa permit. Visitors can apply for new visa permit.

Brig Al Daheri said that the new system aims to reduce the rush at government centres by 80 per cent by next year. With the help of electronic services and smart phones, customers will be able to complete their transactions from any place in a very simple and accurate manner, he said.

The new system aims to enhance services at all centres and achieve the UAE 2021 vision, Brig Al Daheri said, and connects government entities involved in providing residency and visa services and offers first-time benefits in terms of similar procedures, with the ability to read official documents electronically, using face recognition technology to identify the applicants, handle routine requests as well as auditing, accounting, governance, protection and quality control, all without human intervention as per international standards.

An automated payment facility attached with the system through payment gateway Amwal is linked to the external partners of the ministry who provide the services.

The new system will help with financial transparency and facilitate payments via IBAN details. Residents can also get back their security deposit and transaction fees through the same channel without furnishing extra documents. Even fines can be paid through the same system.

The ministry will link customers, partners and typing centres to streamline the implementation of the new system as well as train employees and supervisors providing user guides at customer service centres. It would also follow-up on feedback and suggestions.

The ministry has also selected a specialised team to support typing centre across the UAE to enable them to obtain access to the new system.

How it works

To use the E-channels service, nationals and residents have to register at https://echannels.moi.gov.ae.

Individuals need an email id and password to log into the system. For example, if you have selected an individual service, you have to simply type in your email id. Immediately, a reply will be sent to you via a link.

 

According to the Ministry of Interior, people can complete their entry and residency permit transactions through Smart Gate for Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Services, or visit typing centres registered with the Smart Gate system for the services of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs, or simply submit the application through https://echannels.moi.gov.ae.

Those who cannot access the system or website can visit typing or service centres to complete the process.

Visa in minutes

According to the estimates of e-transaction experts, the ministry said that a transaction should not take longer than 10 minutes, depending on the speed of data entry by the applicant.

Sheikh Khalifa issues Tax Procedures Law for UAE

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued the landmark Federal Law No. 7 of 2017 for Tax Procedures, which sets the foundations for the planned UAE tax system, regulating the administration and collection of taxes and clearly defining the role of the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).

The Federal National Council (FNC) approved the draft law in March this year and with the presidential approval to the tax law, the country now has a legal framework for taxation, implementation and administration.

“The Tax Procedures Law is a significant milestone towards establishing the UAE’s tax system and diversifying the economy,” said Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and FTA Chairman.

“The Law, issued by Shaikh Khalifa is an all-encompassing legislative framework that lays the groundwork for the UAE’s plan to implement taxes as a means to ensure sustainability and diversify the government’s revenue streams. The increased resources will enable the Government to maintain the momentum of its development and infrastructure for a better future.”

The Law defines a clear set of common procedures and rules to be applied to all tax laws in the UAE, namely, value added tax (VAT) and excise tax laws, and clearly states the respective rights and obligations of the FTA and the taxpayer.

The law covers tax procedures, audits, objections, refunds, collection, and obligations, which include tax registration, tax-return preparation, submissions, payment and voluntary disclosure rules – in addition to tax evasion and general provisions.

When the Tax Procedures Law goes into effect, all UAE-based businesses will be required to keep accurate records for five years.

The law also sets penalties for non-compliance, as well as clear processes for appeals which align with international best practices and establishes a fair and transparent environment for the FTA to carry out its mandate.

“The UAE is committed to meeting the most stringent international standards,” Shaikh Hamdan said.

“We are working to establish an optimal legislative and executive environment to ease the nation into the VAT and excise tax systems. Implementing these taxes gives the UAE further leverage when it comes to international competitiveness and brings us one step closer towards building the future envisioned by our wise leaders, who have called on all those in charge to innovate and strive to spread happiness among citizens and residents.”

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