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Indians get Pak visas easy (T&C apply)

Dubai - 'Liberal' is the keyword when it comes to split families

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Nivriti Butalia

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Published: Sun 14 Aug 2016, 6:36 PM

Last updated: Sun 14 Aug 2016, 8:40 PM

Every single Indian in the UAE, who has applied for a visa to Pakistan in the last two years - as part of a split family - has been granted the visa. A visa counselor at the Pakistan Embassy, Abu Dhabi told on the occasion of Pakistan's National Day.
'Liberal' is the keyword said the counselor, when it comes to split families. "Our policy for split families is very, very liberal and forthcoming".
This is not to say that 'no' visas that Indians in UAE have applied for have been denied - they have. But no visas that Indians in UAE applied for as part of split families have been denied. And there are thousands of such applicants, even though the majority is in Dubai.
A split family is a term used in diplomatic circles where one spouse is Indian and the other Pakistani. When it comes to kids and paperwork, the counsellor told KT that (again, in split families, specifically) no Indian passport holder's children had been denied visas in two years. Provided, of course, that the child is a minor (under 14 years) and has consent of both parents.
Apart from split families, for cross-border couples worried about visas, it's advisable that papers are complete and documentation is in perfect order (see box). It is also advisable that Indians state clearly to visa officers that they are going to Pakistan to meet family ("rishta badhanay") for marriage purposes. The more transparency in communication and thoroughness in paperwork, better the chances of getting that visa.
nivriti@khaleejtimes.com

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