thb

Hi,

Got a quick question that I'm hoping someone here will be able to help me with.

My girlfriend is currently in Dubai on a 2 month contract (working on a visitor's visa). The company she works for won't pay her monthly salary into a UK bank account, and she can't open an account with a bank in Dubai as she's not got a resident's visa. Therefore, they have offered to pay her with a cheque and have told her that she can go to any bank in Dubai and they'll cash the cheque there and then over the counter (so long as she's got a copy of her passport with her) and give her the cash straight back. Although this isn't ideal, it means she's got her cash and can then change back the excess (that's assuming she doesn't spend it all) when she comes back to the UK in 6 weeks time.

Can someone confirm that this is the case, as she doesn't really want to be without access to her salary once she gets it.

Thanks in advance

Autonomy

Hello.

www.me.ae - Me Bank, Emirates Bank internet version will give non-residents a bank account. I've got one and they are fine. Not great, but fine. She can open one of these and will have an ATM card and can transfer to the UK.

Also - what you say is correct if you pay the cheque to cash in a branch of the issueing company they will give you the cash there and then - you do need a passport for proof of ID though.

thb

Thanks for that - I'll get her to take a look at the me.ae site.

So, does she need to get her company to issue the cheque to 'cash' or 'bearer' rather than in her name?

IndieG

You can open an account as a non-resident - only a savings account (no cheque book facility) but not a current account. Try RAKBANK - they will have an account opened (including an ATM card) within 1 working day. Ask her to take her original passport with her).

Better than carrying all that cash around.

Cheers

Meow

Doesn't sound as if her company is being very helpful. I don't see why they can't pay money to her UK account, especially if she bears the cost. Personally, I wouldn't work for a company that didn't understand her situation.

As others have said, she can open a savings account, or she could consider opening an offshore account denominated in US dollars as the company may be more amenable to paying her salary to that.

uk4uae

THe cheque can be made in her name and she can go to the issuing bank with proof of ID and they will cash it, please ensure that it is not crossed account payee only.

As for the account opening HSBC also do a non residents account that they could pay her into, she just need a passport copy and a copy of the letter from her employer.

Just a note to mention it is illegal to work on a visit visa. Sorry dont want to alarm you but thought it was worth a mention.