Imack1811

I'm towards the end of my RP process which is being done through my employers. I'm due to fly back home for a few days early on Thursday morning.

The whole thing is becoming a bit of a nightmare now, it is just dragging on and on...I asked the immigration dept at the Qatar Financial Center yesterday, who are dealing with the application, if it was possible to fly home before the RP was issued, just in case it wasn't received in time. I was told that would be OK as my tourist visa has been transferred to a work visa.

I was away today for my fingerprints etc, and asked again about getting an exit permit and my passport back for tomorrow. This time I've been told that it isn't possible, I need to stay in the country until the RP process has been finished - if I decide to leave the country then I need to start the process all over again when I get back!

I've asked my employers to chase it up - any ideas on how to speed up the process because it's doing my head in and if I'm not back by Friday my wife is going to kill me.

britexpat76

The bit about leaving and having to restart process is correct. There is no way to make it quicker but if you have done the bloods/fingers and given the passport over it should be back to you in 2 days max.

How many times did you hear Insh'allah?

Imack1811

How many times did you hear Insh'allah?[/QUOTE]

Haha, more times than I could count! Felt a bit like being in a real life episode of The Office, staffed entirely by David Brents!

britexpat76

Probably not a bad analogy for Qatar.

mentalist

What is an RP other than a Right Prick? We have Residence Visas over here.

britexpat76

Permit mental one. They permit us to stay here.

Imack1811

And permit us not to leave without their permission

scrubbedexpat141

Are you allowed to work without an RP as long as it is in process?

britexpat76

Yes, they stick everyone on 3 month Business Visa's here, or 9 months with someone I know.

DOHDUBMAN

flares

actually makes the saudi process seem relatively user-friendly

Imack1811

Happy days, now have my RP and multiple exit permits so I can leave tomorrow

Had to pretend that one of my kids was ill though to speed it along!

If there is a god, let's hope he doesn't have a f###ing karma button right now!

Hanky

I was in a similar situation in order to get to the Stone Roses gig in Dubai! Overall - my RP took about 10 days and found Al Dayeen Immigration staff helpful and not too busy.

Best thing is the E-gate, despite my initial scepticism it all seems to work...

Imack1811

My process has taken the best part of 4 weeks from start to finish, was only after speaking to the head boy at immigration that it got pushed through.

Going to get the e-gate next time I'm out, someone told me though that if you chance your arm and go through the 1st/business class gate, no one ever checks to see if you are or not, will try that when I get back

britexpat76

I do that every time dude. I don't queue with the plebs.