New rules make sponsoring visas for parents in UAE tougher

New rules have made it tougher for Filipinos and other foreign expatriates wanting to bring their families there on residence visas, a UAE news site reported Thursday.

Gulf News cited a UAE federal government source who said new rules no longer allow dependents such as parents and children over 18 to get visas automatically.

The Gulf News report quoted the government source as saying the tightened measures stemmed from "violations and abuse" of the previous visa system.

"Henceforth, such visas will be issued on humanitarian grounds or emergent reasons, said the source who did not want to be named," it said.

But the Gulf News report added the rules for expatriates sponsoring wives and children under 18 remain unchanged.

It added expats earning a minimum of Dh5,000 (P59,455) a month with suitable housing allowance can bring spouses and children under 18 to the UAE on residence visas.

In recent days, several expats applying for permanent visas for their parents - including those earning above Dh20,000 (P237,822) - have been turned away, the report said.

Another affected resident, a Filipino, said his application for sponsoring his widowed mother-in-law was rejected.

“I had documents showing my monthly salary, two bedroom tenancy contract and proof of my mother-in-law’s widowhood,” he said.

This has presented a problem for many residents who said there is no one to take care of their parents back home.

According to the residents, bringing parents to the UAE on visit visas is expensive and not feasible.

Violations

The Gulf News report quoted its source as saying the Ministry of Interior learned of cases where residents violated humanitarian exemption guidelines for parents.

“In some cases, the expats were not even qualified to sponsor their families,” it quoted the source as saying.

Also the report said all visa applications will be now reviewed by a special committee set up by the Ministry of Interior.

Residents who earn less than Dh20,000 will not be able to sponsor these visas.

Expatriates with investor visas who want to bring their parents or children above 18 years as permanent residents in the UAE must be in business there for at least six months.

They must also provide documents from financial institutions showing their net worth. — LBG, GMA News

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