DUBAI, 27 January 2003 — In a bid to reduce the number of people coming to the UAE on visit visas and seeking jobs, the immigration authorities are collecting a refundable 2,000 dirhams guarantee from expatriates who wish to sponsor their relatives.
Gulf News learned that the new ruling goes into immediate effect and the guarantee must be paid in cash. No bank guarantee will be accepted. The bond money will be refunded once the person leaves the country.
“Expatriates sponsoring their parents or mothers- and fathers-in-law are exempt from paying the fees,” an official source told Gulf News.
The 2,000 dirhams guarantee was first applied last May 3 and lasted for less than a week when the government decided to delay it until a mechanism could be established to collect the fees. “The sudden implementation of the guarantee has shocked visit visa applicants in Dubai,” one applicant at the Dubai visa counter said.
In a further development, UAE nationals must now pay 1,500 dirhams when applying for a housemaid’s visa. The nationals were not charged this fee earlier. The money is again refundable on the departure of the maid. No bank guarantees will be accepted in this case also.
According to immigration law, an expatriate family pays a non-refundable 5,000 dirhams fee annually for sponsoring a housemaid. The move which was imposed in mid 90’s has reduced the number of maids sponsored by foreigners in the country.
Meanwhile, the Naturalization and Residency Departments yesterday started collecting 2,000 dirhams from expatriates who wish to sponsor their relatives on visit visas.
The visa sections at NRD departments throughout the country have also asked UAE nationals to pay 1,500 dirhams while applying for a housemaid’s visa. The move is aimed at rationalizing the employment of housemaids by national families. (GN)
