Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy | View firm profile
UAE Federal Law Number 6 of 1973 concerning entry and residence of
foreign national as thereafter amended by Federal Law No. 13 of 1996
regarding the Immigration Law (Immigration law) along with several
ministerial decisions governs the rules and regulations pertaining to
the issuance of visas in the country.
UAE Federal Law Number 6 of 1973
concerning entry and residence of foreign national as thereafter amended
by Federal Law No. 13 of 1996 regarding the Immigration Law
(Immigration law) along with several ministerial decisions governs the
rules and regulations pertaining to the issuance of visas in the
country. Accordingly, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
has promulgated a new rule for divorced/widowed women and their
children. The new rule grants divorced or widowed women and their
children to extend their visa for another year without a local sponsor
at the General Directorate and Residency of Foreign Affairs (GDFRA). The
new rule comes with a comprehensive change in the visa regulations in
the country, which benefit the foreign expatriate widows or divorcees to
manage their status in the country. The authority confirms that under
the concerned scheme the visa can only be renewed once.
In accordance with the procedures highlighted by GDFRA, the visa will
be processed within forty-eight (48) hours from the date of submitting
the application to grant widows and divorced women an opportunity to
sponsor their own or children's visa if they do not have male guardians
to support them. In order to avail such benefit, it is pertinent to note
that the visa of the applicants must be under husband/guardian at the
time of either divorce or demise and the concerned visa was not expired.
Procedure for Renewal
The new rule lays down a procedure for submitting an application and
the perquisites to be considered prior to registering for a visa
extension. The applicants must submit an application form provided by
the GDFRA along with an official divorce certificate or a death
certificate as the case may be. The applicants must also submit the
proof of their previous or existing visa such as the copy of their old
visa or any proof for the family. In addition, it is pertinent to note
that a nominal fee has been charged by the authority of AED 100 (UAE
Dirhams one hundred) for extending the visa and another AED 100 (UAE
Dirhams one hundred) for cancelling the existing visa.
Further, the new rule clearly specifies that the visa or residency
period for the children will not exceed as that of the mother. Following
are the conditions to be met prior to submitting a request for visa
extension:
- The women and the children must be under the sponsorship of the
husband during the divorce or death, and such a visa should be valid; - Proof of divorce or death must be submitted;
- A proof of availability of a house is required;
- A certificate of medical fitness should be provided to the authority
for the mother and children above the age of 18 along with their
Emirates ID; - ealth insurance cards, if requested by the authority;
- Tenancy contract in the name of the mother.
Conclusion
The concerned rule or scheme will assist the women who have lost the
sole breadwinner of the family leaving her and the children in the legal
limbo. As opposed to previous situations where divorced or widowed
women do not have an employment visa were obliged to leave the country
immediately post the divorce or death of their guardian, the new reform
will provide additional time-period for the women to manage the
situation and either seek for employment or leave the country. The
concerned reform will allow women to settle until the legal proceedings
with regards to their divorce or death are complete not leaving them in
financial constraints.