Job Discussion Forums

meyanga · Joined: 02 Mar 2008 Posts: 103 Location: Malaysia

Hi

Does anyone know which countries a wife can sponsor a husband's visa? We are currently in Saudi Arabia where it is no problem and my husband works freelance, also with no problems (although it is not strictly legal).

I have been told that in Oman, Kuwait and Qatar a wife can not sponsor her husband - is this correct?

Would it be possible in UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon or Syria? Is working freelance an issue in any of those places?

Thanks

Meyanga

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I'll cut and paste my post where you asked in your other thread on the UAE board.

I know of women who had trouble getting their husbands into Oman, but I know of some who succeeded. I suspect that it may depend on the employer wasta. Kuwait has been mentioned here as a place where you can't bring a husband.

Egypt and Lebanon shouldn't be a problem, but in Syria, both of you would probably be doing visa runs. There are not many jobs in Syria that provide residence visas. Of course, Egypt will likely have a lot of openings now... as I'm sure many teachers will be afraid to return. But, this may be your chance to get into the best employer in the country, AUC. I'm not sure that North Africa or the Levant provide much opportunity for your husband with the high unemployment rates... depends on his field, I suppose.

VS

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

So the UAE and Saudi are pretty straight forward then? Would my husband and I be able to enter the country at the same time? About 4 years ago I was told that I couldn't get my husband a visa for Oman, but they said it was because he was from a third world country.

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:36 am Post subject:

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Cleo... do you know of anyone who sponsored a "third world" passport carrying husband? So often these rules apply for North Americans or Europeans, but not the rest of the world.

VS

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:42 pm Post subject:

Yes, I do know women who've sponsored husbands from countries which might be considered 'third world'. Not many, but I do know of a few. The only woman I know who was unable to sponsor her husband was a British teacher married to a Libyan citizen. However, I think that can be attributed to the then very poor relations between the Kingdom of Humanity and the Great Arab People's Socialist Jumhariya.

smedini · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 178

Hey all;

Hubby and I plan to move with the kiddies to the UAE as soon as we can.

Currently Hub is an Algerian citizen, landed immigrant in Canada. We were told by the UAE embassy in Ottawa that I could be his sponsor and that it probably wouldn't be that difficult, but certainly not as easy as if he were Canadian, which, incidentally, is what we're waiting for.

Having a so-called "third world" passport will make it difficult for us to travel around (Algerians need visas to go just about anywhere), and should anything happen, such as what's going on in North Africa at the moment, we'd want to be sure he'd be treated like every other Canadian citizen if there were need for evacuation or the like.

But I'm sure a gal sponsoring her guy, even if he were from a developing nation, could happen.

IMHO
~smedini