LaLaLayla

So my husband got an email from his company today. It says:

To apply for new/renew a visa for dependents, part of the documentation required is the original Tenancy Contract with Tawteeq attestation (Municipality registration document). Staff who are not residents of Abu Dhabi but are holding Abu Dhabi visa will not be able to obtain visa/renew existing visa for their dependents if they are unable to produce this document.

So basically, if you work in AD but live in Dubai, you cannot sponsor your family. Does anybody know anything about this? It doesn't really affect us, but I am sure it will affect others.

magmaggy

Apparently it was only for government employees, but now private companies too. That's my guess.

LaLaLayla

Yes, my husband works for a private company.

Naz

So does this mean an influx of people into Abu Dhabi soon?

LaLaLayla

Almost certainly, yes. I remember when they introduced this rule for governement employees, lots of people had to move to AD.

I just wonder if the infrastructure is there to cope with a massive influx of people...

archie159

I work in a private AD company with several thousand employees, mostly expats. According to my HR Dept (I've just asked them), private companies are not obliged to apply this policy. If your company is doing this it is because they have made that decision themselves. If the Govt is now expecting private companies to do the same, then no-one has told us yet - and we normally stick closely to the rules.

LaLaLayla

The issue is that you are required to provide an AD Tenancy Contract in order to sponsor your family and domestic staff.

archie159

No you are not, not by law at any rate (so I was told today). If you work for a private company, and they are telling you that, then it is their own policy. We have lots of people who have Dubai tenancy contracts, and are still being allowed to renew their family visas.

LaLaLayla

That's very interesting. Is yours a big company, Archie?

mikewot

Haven't several people on this bored just got the cheapest tiniest place possible in AD and used that contract?

archie159

Several hundred in our company, within several thousand in the parent group (who impose the rules) - both private, AD based. They are both pretty pedantic and law-abiding when it comes to HR regulations...

busybee2

as i am in ad i have had people that i know who have had to show their tenancy contract in order to renew dependents visas, but i have renewed ours after theres and we didnt, but they are changing the rules, as since i renewed a visa some 2 months ago, and now just in the process of doing another 1 this month, they are definately asking for different documents, such as fathers original id card which wasnt required for the other son some 2 months ago.

Millhouse

and breathe.

Brains1983

give her/him a break, 6 commas this time amigo!

busybee2

they are building more schools here, they are building more hospitals but i had also heard the rumour that it was now going to be applied to private companies, but who knows we all get different answers here sometimes i am sure that its coming......