Same.

There were only one or two odd things that couldn't be done without it. Could open bank accounts, get ATM and credit cards, but no cheque book. Couldn't get a liquor licence, but could get flat leases, utilities and kids into schools.

Came down to our HR person being a numpty, and the PRO a total muppet. And probably had something to do with them not knowing New Zealand is actually a separate country from Australia.

Even better, dont ****in come. You really think an employee has the power to demand their employer process their visa? My visa took 2 months. Some of our employees took 6 months. Thats life when you come to a backwards country and its a choice people make.

I completely agree with all the above but the fact still remains that the employer absolutely has to have the visa process started from the 1st day you start work because if you are caught then it is your fault. Seems completely ridiculous that this is the case but it is and my boyfriend and his work colleague (also english) who had only been working there a week are now being detained pending the final appeal on the 24th. I guess that if you don't know that is the case then why wouldn't you move here, you would automatically assume that the employer would take the wrap for not getting the visas processed promptly.
Of course an employee doesn't have the right to demand the employer gets the visa done straight away but most people wouldn't think they would be jailed pending deportation because of this.

Fingers crossed that everything works out ok but I am pretty sure both will be deported which is not ideal.

If this is the full extent of the situation then I have every sympathy for your boyfriend and the other guy that has been detained.

It does however sound very harsh and likely there was some other agenda - has the company been flagrantly disregarding visas for employees, or abusing the visa process or issuance of visas perhaps?

Either way, it's unfortunate that the recipients of punishment are the employees rather than the employer.

From what I can now transpire from speaking to a few people ( now ex-employees of the company due to what has happened) the company doesn't seem to get Visas sorted out before a person has been with the company for 3 months which is completely outrageous because the people penalised for their complete lack of responsibility is the employees. They begged my boyfriend to join them after he had a good job offer from another company and now look what has happened....

The concerned employers should be named and shamed.

Well; named at least...there is no shaming some of them!

yes, I kind of agree. They'll soon mend their ways if they can't get anyone to work for them... nominal fines don't seem to be effective enough.

It really is shockingly backward for the responsibility for getting the visa to be on the employee, whereas in actual fact, he has no power in the matter.

From experience it would seem that the company must be blacklisted in the immigration and labour and they dont normally put people inside unless this is the case, you will be better with a local lawyer as he will have more pull in the courts, his employer needs to pay the fines imposed and move on if not the chances of them getting visas after this are VERY SLIM as his name will also be on a black list.

Al Tamini local lawyers will be able to help but they dont come cheap.

Yes, I was going to say Al Tamimi. They have a solid reputation, and lots of wasta from what I hear.

http://www.7days.ae/storydetails.php?id=86842&title=New job ends in jail time

is this the same case?

Would assume so. Presumably some bastard in a rival company spilled the beans to the authorities, hence the raid. This should be a warning to those planning on moving here, especially those planning to live with unmarried partners. If somebody takes a dislike to you, the authorities can easily get tipped off.

It is? I always thought Australia was a nickname for the West Island ...

We should actually start a threat listing companies that do things like this so people who are planning to move to the UAE can see what they are getting into.

N.

Yes, this is the same story as 7 days. Court case is Tuesday so am just waiting for that to come around and wait for the verdict.

I am using a local lawyer and he seems to know his stuff and the company are actually paying the lawyers fees so they are taking some responsibility as to what as happened.