The head of immigration in Dubai on Sunday denied a report that appeared in English media that the salary to apply for new family residence visas in Dubai had been raised to Dh10,000, or Dh9,000 with accommodation.
Major-General Mohammed Al Marri, Director-General of the Directorate General of the Residency and Foreigners Affairs, on Sunday stated that the rules had not changed and remained the same at all the immigration branches across the emirate of Dubai. “There is no change in salary limit for obtaining a family residence visa. There are no restrictions at all, and transactions are being processed smoothly and transparently.”
Updates, restrictions or amendments are never introduced to visa procedures unless announced in an official statement from the Ministry of Interior before being implemented in Dubai and other emirates at the same time, he added, urging media to professionally check the news from official sources.
“The Directorate-General of the Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai sticks to transparency in all the services being provided to its customers,” the statement added.
A section of media published that sponsoring families in Dubai had become dearer for expatriates who must draw a minimum individual monthly salary of Dh10, 000, or Dh9, 000 with accommodation to apply for visas for their spouse and children.
“It is not yet activated. We don't know when they will activate it. Maybe tomorrow or after tomorrow,” he said, acknowledging that it was better to apply soon as there was a proposal to change the rule.
Ajay Kumar, an Indian national whose applications to sponsor his wife and child were rejected on Thursday, said he was not sure if his applications would be entertained again.
Another Indian, whose application was first rejected on Tuesday, said he was lucky to get special approval after he made a request to an official at the immigration centre in the airport the next day.
Conditions for sponsorship
Article No. 31 regarding sponsorship of the wife by an expatriate husband sets the following conditions:
1. The sponsor should have a valid work/ residence visa.
2. He should submit a marriage contract attested as per the rules in his home country and the consulate that represents his country overseas or by the embassy of the country that had issued the marriage contract in the country in addition to attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. The monthly income of the sponsor should not be less than Dh3,000 plus accommodation offered by the employer and Dh4,000 without accommodation.
4. The sponsor should submit a salary certificate attested by the authorities concerned.
5. The same rules are applicable for expatriate women specialist' employees seeking to sponsor their family members.
6. The following categories are exempted from the salary provision and they can sponsor only their family members: Teachers, Mosque imams, Drivers of school, college and university buses.
Heads of families can sponsor unmarried daughters and sons below 18 years or those studying in colleges and universities in the UAE.
Universities and colleges can sponsor their students provided:
1. The student should register for regular study and not affiliation.
2. The sponsoring educational institution should undertake responsibility about the student's sponsorship and his exit from the UAE after finishing his studies. The institution should also inform the authorities when the student finishes studies or leaves the country.
3. Government departments and authorities should directly apply to obtain sponsorship for foreigners who are offered training provided.
a) The department should be a public entity.
b) The trainee should have deputed by an official entity in his home country.
c) The department that offers the training should comply with its responsibility of the departure of the sponsored person after finishing training and cancellation of his residency visa.
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