News Dubai

New measures will curb misuse of visit visas
By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: Preventing the misuse of visit visas is essential in the battle to stop illegal residency, said a senior immigration official.

Speaking to Gulf News, Colonel Nasser Al Awadi Al Minhali, Director of Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residence Department (ADNRD), said the department was set to introduce new measures to curb the misuse of visit visas after it was found that most illegals had entered the country using them.

"A study of illegal residents who left the country during the amnesty period showed that most of them came here on a visit visa and chose not to go back. Some of them overstayed for more than three to four years. It is clear that these people did not come here to visit the place. Some people pay money to procure visit visas and come for work. We cannot allow such practices to continue... so visit visas will be issued with more care from now on", said Al Minhali.

"The person who is bringing someone on a visit should be able to financially support the visitor. We will also consider this factor while issuing visit visas."

Those wishing to bring close relatives such as spouses, children, parents, brothers or sisters on visit visas will be allowed to do so if they have sufficient income to support the visitor.

Bringing friends or others who are not close relatives will not be allowed. However, special cases such as bringing someone for treatment or education will be considered on a case-by-case basis, he said.

"There is a proposal to introduce a refundable security deposit to ensure that the visitor leaves the country at the right time, however this is yet to be approved by the higher authorities."

At present, the immigration department demands a deposit of Dh2,000 when a company requests a visit visa for someone.

Companies who wish to bring people for work should make use of mission visas issued by the labour ministry, he said.

New regulations will hold the sponsor responsible for ensuring the person they bring into the country either leaves on time or legalises their stay.

Imposing penalties on sponsors are also being considered, he added.