Visit visa: People take the risk

Visa agents continue to hawk quick visa-change runs to neighbouring countries to "tourist workers", even as the government states clearly that visitors on visit visas need to stay out of the country for a month before they can come back on a fresh visa.

Federal law

Maj Gen Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director General of the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD), said, "The new UAE Federal visa law is very clear. It says that people who enter the country on a visit visa can’t extend the visa or obtain a new one before leaving the country for one month," clarifying the confusion among people regarding the rules.

"Tourist visas should be for the purpose of tourism and not to seek jobs," he stressed.

Al Merri said the DNRD was working with Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to check the credibility of tourist visa applications, and follow up if travel agencies were abiding by the law.

However, XPRESS came across agents advertising visa-change services, notwithstanding the risk of people going on these runs getting stuck in Iran or Oman for a month.

"Some people still take the risk," said Marge of New Times Travel, an agent boldly advertising such runs outside their shop in Karama.

Jackie from Ghaliyah Travel, also in Karama, said: "We tell them and they know they could get stranded [after the second exit]. But it’s their prerogative."

The new visa rules, in place from July 29, allow tour operators to bring in people on a one-month tourist visa from 205 countries (compared to just 79 in the past), instead of the two-month visit visa issued in the past.

However, many agents report a "drastic drop" in business. "We used to process 40 applications daily. Now we’re down to 10 or less, daily," said a Karama agent.

Last month, more than 3,000 Filipinos on visa-change runs were stranded in Oman and Iran.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tourist visas cost Dh220 and can only be renewed for another 30 days by paying Dh620