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Expats welcome new rule on visa change

DUBAI - While the annulment of the exit rule by the UAE is being widely welcomed, but the expatriate community is unclear about the new rules relating to visa change.

Khaleej Times spoke to a cross-section of people on the new rule as well as their earlier experiences regarding the need to exit and return back to the country on a residence visa.

Nehal Rizvi, a Dubai resident said that the President, His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's decision, cancelling all visa flights is the best thing to have happened in recent times. It is a big relief for expatriates, not having to risk their lives anymore on the so-called 'visa change flights' which operate most outdated and rickety aircraft.

"I can only tell from my experience on one of the Kish airlines flight. The aircraft scheduled for a visa change was a 14-seater, with no seat belts and safety regulations and I felt, I was travelling in a State Transport bus in rural India. I got on board through a small door at the rear of the aircraft with my head bent since there was not enough room for me walk tall. I noticed the badly maintained interiors and its rickety seats.

"The flight to Kish and back to Dubai is my most unforgettable journey and all I recall is praying hard for my safe return to Dubai. It's a big risk one takes for a mere Dh350. I still feel paying a little more and getting the formalities completed without having to travel on outdated aircraft, is a better proposition.

Rafique Hakim, a Dubai-based photographer said that the amendment in the exit rule for visa change is a good move and beneficial for the general public. But I am still unclear about the rule and the fees for people exiting to change a visit visa for a visit visa. Will people changing a visit visa for another visit visa still have to exit the country? Secondly, what will the fees be for such a procedure in case exit is not required?

Rizwan Ahmed, a used car showroom owner said though the new rule is a welcome change, I feel that Dh500 is too much for the labour class. The lower income group could earlier change their visit visa to a residence one by exiting the country on a ticket bought for Dh280 to Dh350. Now they have to pay a lot more for a visa change. The new rule would be beneficial in case the fees is reduced from Dh500 to an affordable price.

Christina Gabayeron, Executive Administration Assistant at a leading hotel said that cancelling of visa flights is a rational decision. Each time I travelled on visa change flights, I used to think its my last day. During one such flight, the plane was rickety, besides being too small to accommodate passengers. Several passengers spent the 45-minute trip standing. I think the new decision will eliminate the hassle and sufferings of many people. I prefer paying money rather than risking my life on board an aircraft that is not designed for human travel.

Mamdouh Mohammed Salem, an employee at a leading company in Dubai said that the amendment is a good decision. I think that the process of travelling to simply change the visa status was a wastage of time. Once I travelled to Oman, the plane wasn't stable and several times it shook vigorously. Once in Oman, we simply entered the arrival hall and exited through the departure hall after stamping our visas.

Ahmed Nagi, a construction worker and a father of six children said that he feels that Dh500 is a huge amount for him to pay for simply changing the visa. Low income people should be taken into consideration as they cannot afford to pay this amount. The new law will save lives, but it will be another burden on people from the low income group.

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