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Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Here is my story so far .......
In June of this year my boyfriend started a new position and 3 weeks in to the job the company were raided by the labour office. The company hadn't gotten round to processing the work visas and my boyfriend and his colleague were taken to the detention centre in Satwa for the day. The company paid a 50,000 AED fine per person and they were released on bail until their court date last week. (Obviously the passports were held by the courts). Last wednesday the Judge fined the company (a very very nominal amount) and ruled deportation or they could appeal. They have taken the appeal route and were refused bail so they are now in Al AWEER prison until the appeal hearing on the 24th November. I get to visit on Sat afternoons! I now need to find a local lawyer to take on the case (their company said they would pay for this) and it's still only 50/50 as to whether or not they will be deported (and get a lifetime ban as it is a criminal case)..... Any other similar stories out there ................................. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
That's a rather worrying story but not unusual over here. So what line of work was your boyfriend in? Are you working too? It could have been worse...they could have deported you too for co-habiting out of wedlock. As you are presumably aware, it's a Police state here and you need to be very careful.
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Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
I am working and have been here for 18 months and have all the proper employment Visas etc.... I didn't say that we lived together so I wouldn't be deported for living out of wedlock, which is something as I know the laws here!
The company he started with is in Real Estate and as per his contract and as per the word of the employer they kept putting off getting the visa sorted out and as with hindsight it would have been better if he had just left the company and found something else but you do trust your employers to get things sorted out. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by nicolajd31
(Post 8070047)
I am working and have been here for 18 months and have all the proper employment Visas etc.... I didn't say that we lived together so I wouldn't be deported for living out of wedlock, which is something as I know the laws here!
The company he started with is in Real Estate and as per his contract and as per the word of the employer they kept putting off getting the visa sorted out and as with hindsight it would have been better if he had just left the company and found something else but you do trust your employers to get things sorted out. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Can't the company recommend one? Maybe the Lawyer that got them off with a minimal fine?
Is that conflict of interest? |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by calipso
(Post 8070377)
Can't the company recommend one? Maybe the Lawyer that got them off with a minimal fine?
Is that conflict of interest? P.S. Sorry I was in capitaals, not shouting!! |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by Jim Smith
(Post 8070555)
SURELY THE COMPANY THAT GOT HIM INTO THIS MESS SHOULD STAND UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND HIRE A LAWYER TO DEFEND HIM. NO DOUBT A LOAD OF S...TE COMPANY??
P.S. Sorry I was in capitaals, not shouting!! anyway, I hear these people are good: KUDSI LAW FIRM (they are our corporate law firm and have been here ages) |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by nicolajd31
(Post 8070016)
Here is my story so far .......
In June of this year my boyfriend started a new position and 3 weeks in to the job the company were raided by the labour office. The company hadn't gotten round to processing the work visas and my boyfriend and his colleague were taken to the detention centre in Satwa for the day. The company paid a 50,000 AED fine per person and they were released on bail until their court date last week. (Obviously the passports were held by the courts). Last wednesday the Judge fined the company (a very very nominal amount) and ruled deportation or they could appeal. They have taken the appeal route and were refused bail so they are now in Al AWEER prison until the appeal hearing on the 24th November. I get to visit on Sat afternoons! I now need to find a local lawyer to take on the case (their company said they would pay for this) and it's still only 50/50 as to whether or not they will be deported (and get a lifetime ban as it is a criminal case)..... Any other similar stories out there ................................. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by EmiratesMillhouse
(Post 8070757)
but that ain't gonna happen.
anyway, I hear these people are good: KUDSI LAW FIRM (they are our corporate law firm and have been here ages) |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by soukie
(Post 8070771)
I know the Law Firm you mention - they are in Abu Dhabi and I recommend them for Corporate matters but I don't think they handle this type of case. Also I would advise you to contact a Dubai Firm. Best to check with your Embassy as they usually have a list of Lawyers they recommend.
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Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
The company have said they will pay for a lawyer and you are right after speaking with various Lawyers it would probably end up being a conflict of interest (I shall see if I can get any money up front today) and to boot I have also found out that after the court date last week the company called the employees in to a room one by one and said that they were still going to be slow in sorting out visas (subsequently a few people left) and that if they were going to stay they had to sign a confidentiality agreement to say that they wouldn't discuss the case or what has happened outside of work.
I have whittled down to 2 Lawyers now - one being Al Bahar Associaties and another I am waiting for a call back today. I have been told that I need to have a Local Lawyer that is an Emirate because they are the only ones that can actually speak to the judge rather than just giving over more paperwork. They don't want to take deporatation as both of their lives are here. The main point of my story for anyone that reads this thread is that it is totally imperative that your "new employer" gets your Visa processed on day one of a new job and I don't mean just gathering the paperwork to take down to Tecom or DIFC or non-freezone - otherwise the employee is the one that takes the wrap no matter what..... |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by nicolajd31
(Post 8072313)
The company have said they will pay for a lawyer and you are right after speaking with various Lawyers it would probably end up being a conflict of interest (I shall see if I can get any money up front today) and to boot I have also found out that after the court date last week the company called the employees in to a room one by one and said that they were still going to be slow in sorting out visas (subsequently a few people left) and that if they were going to stay they had to sign a confidentiality agreement to say that they wouldn't discuss the case or what has happened outside of work.
I have whittled down to 2 Lawyers now - one being Al Bahar Associaties and another I am waiting for a call back today. I have been told that I need to have a Local Lawyer that is an Emirate because they are the only ones that can actually speak to the judge rather than just giving over more paperwork. They don't want to take deporatation as both of their lives are here. The main point of my story for anyone that reads this thread is that it is totally imperative that your "new employer" gets your Visa processed on day one of a new job and I don't mean just gathering the paperwork to take down to Tecom or DIFC or non-freezone - otherwise the employee is the one that takes the wrap no matter what..... In my opinion it is just as much the government's problem due to the protracted process you have to go through. If i'd have said to my employer 2 years ago that i wouldn't start until the visa was in place i wouldn't be here. Simple as. Many job opportunities here are immediate starts. Employers won't wait. best of luck with everything. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by CeeBee
(Post 8073281)
I hear what you're saying about getting the visa sorted quickly but it just doesn't work like that over here i'm afraid. I'll bet 90% of the expats here were waiting months for theirs. Mine took 5 months.
In my opinion it is just as much the government's problem due to the protracted process you have to go through. If i'd have said to my employer 2 years ago that i wouldn't start until the visa was in place i wouldn't be here. Simple as. Many job opportunities here are immediate starts. Employers won't wait. best of luck with everything. Mine was done in 3 weeks. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by EmiratesMillhouse
(Post 8074999)
So how did that work, given that you can't open bank accounts, rent, set up the utilities without a visa?
Mine was done in 3 weeks. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by EmiratesMillhouse
(Post 8074999)
So how did that work, given that you can't open bank accounts, rent, set up the utilities without a visa?
Mine was done in 3 weeks.
Originally Posted by Hello.Kitty
(Post 8075665)
The company provides a letter saying that the visa is being processed... it's what let us do everything before getting the official residency visa.
The speed of visa issue depends on the sponsor, the basic competency of the PRO your company has, or is using, their workload and the issuing office workload. This story is very worrying - to me it sounds like someone was covering their back and rather than take the rap for a mistake/messing up, they reverted to the comfotable protection of the law, as written, not generally practiced. I hope it works out for you and your boyfriend. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by weescot
(Post 8078242)
My visa took three months to come through yet I still signed my rental agreement, utulities, back account etc. As Hello Kitty says, you get letters from Employers stating the applictaion has been made and is being processed. This is standard accepted procedure, although i agree it isn't ideal.
The speed of visa issue depends on the sponsor, the basic competency of the PRO your company has, or is using, their workload and the issuing office workload. 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.:blink: |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by nicolajd31
(Post 8072313)
The main point of my story for anyone that reads this thread is that it is totally imperative that your "new employer" gets your Visa processed on day one of a new job and I don't mean just gathering the paperwork to take down to Tecom or DIFC or non-freezone - otherwise the employee is the one that takes the wrap no matter what.....
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Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
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. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by nicolajd31
(Post 8080293)
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. 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. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
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....
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Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by nicolajd31
(Post 8080717)
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....
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Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by lionheart
(Post 8080749)
The concerned employers should be named and shamed.
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Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by lionheart
(Post 8080749)
The concerned employers should be named and shamed.
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. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
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. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by banter64
(Post 8081156)
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. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
http://www.7days.ae/storydetails.php?id=86842&title=New job ends in jail time
is this the same case? |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by Blue Cat
(Post 8106383)
http://www.7days.ae/storydetails.php?id=86842&title=New job ends in jail time
is this the same case? |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by spart
(Post 8078318)
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.:blink:
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Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by lionheart
(Post 8080749)
The concerned employers should be named and shamed.
N. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
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. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by nicolajd31
(Post 8116208)
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. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Of course, I will definitely keep you posted. We still don't know that they will be told on Tuesday as they may have to wait another 2 weeks for the judgement (which I am praying that doesn't happen) apparently the other jails (as in proper jails not the outjail) are so full they are moving people to where David (my partner) is and these are people that have committed serious crimes like murder. :(
Only a couple of days to go though and fingers crossed. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by nicolajd31
(Post 8116325)
Of course, I will definitely keep you posted. We still don't know that they will be told on Tuesday as they may have to wait another 2 weeks for the judgement (which I am praying that doesn't happen) apparently the other jails (as in proper jails not the outjail) are so full they are moving people to where David (my partner) is and these are people that have committed serious crimes like murder. :(
Only a couple of days to go though and fingers crossed. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
It might help to know there are a number of people who are taking up the case of the UAE's immature and unreasonable legal system:
http://www.detainedindubai.org/Detai...i/Welcome.html After reading some of the cases it made me want to leave though! N. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by Norm_uk
(Post 8116437)
It might help to know there are a number of people who are taking up the case of the UAE's immature and unreasonable legal system:
http://www.detainedindubai.org/Detai...i/Welcome.html After reading some of the cases it made me want to leave though! N. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Thanks - I'll have a look.
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Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
The Outjail was not too bad when I had a look around a few years ago. The one you want to avoid is the main Central Jail as these are the druggies etc. The only time you came into contact with them was on first arrival and going to court for appeals etc
Outjail used to be for Imigration problems and anything under a year. Food is shite and the bogs are not too clever. Mike |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
Originally Posted by lionheart
(Post 8116454)
I thought it was a joke at first but the organisation looks real.:thumbup:
N. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
They were Ok with me. I drove after having six or seven pints and a nice Pakistani man tee boned me. Nearly lost my ear and was lucky that he was pissed as well. Twenty stitches in my leg and ear and a day in Rafa police station. then a month later off to court and given two months inside, got it reduced to a month on appeal.
Jail was shit and boreing but doable if you can get enough books. Food was crap but you could get crisps etc. When they told me I was reduced to a month could not show how happy I was as I was in with the real crims in court and they had just been told they had got 10 year and upwards. |
Re: Boyfriend Banged up in Dubai pending Visa Issue - November 2009
You were a selfish idiot to have driven after six or seven pints and therefore not deserving of any sympathy whatsoever. :frown:
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