Job Discussion Forums

chezal · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 146

Hi All,

While reading through this forum I saw someone say that a woman won't be able to get a visa for a dependent husband?

Is this true? If so I may have to discount Oman from my job search Sad

Thank you in advance for any answers.

Duffy · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 449 Location: Oman

If a wife works direct for a Ministry such as Higher Ed or MoM then she can sponsor her husband.

However if a wife works for a private company then it is not possible. I know this because it actually happened to me last year. One way of staying together if the husband does come to Oman with his wife, is for him to leave the country. He could go to to say, Dubai, ( I used to do the round trip in 15 hours!!) then return with a 4 week visa (6 OMR except if you are Canadian!). The visa can be renewed at the Immigration office in the ROP for an extra month, but then the husband will have to repeat the process four to six times a year. Very costly and you will also have to find a friendly Omani who has experience with visa renewals.

The wife can apply for a three month family joining visa. The problem with this is that at the end of that period the husband has to leave Oman for three months after which once again, the wife can reapply for another FJ visa, not a very satisfactory arrangement and again, costly.

However, one way around this rule is for the hiring company to sponsor the husband also, providing of course that he has some kind of relevant degree. I do know of a couple that have both been given visas but only the wife actually works. (Bit boring for the husband I would think)

I don't know if any other ME country has this ruling but it can be very frustrating to married couples who want to be together.

Duffy Laughing

chezal · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 146

Thank you for the quick reply Duffy.
So if I was to work in a International school I may qualify to sponsor my husband is that right. I'll have to look into who runs the school.

Do you know if all International schools would fall under the Ministry of Education?

Also from a woman's point of view what is the lifestyle like in Oman. I've lived in a Muslim country before (I'm Muslim by marriage and not really practising) but I hear most Omani's follow a quite strict form of Islam. How does this effect the lifestyle there, in particular for women?

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

You will need to check this question very carefully with your employer. All of the schools will be "under" the Ministry of Education, but this also goes for private schools (not public schools). The key is if you are employed by the school or by the government. Most expat teachers will be hired by the school and not eligible according to what Duffy has said.

While the sect of Islam practiced by the Omanis is very conservative, it is also rather laid back in many ways. IMHO, it was the most comfortable of the Gulf countries to live in as a non-Muslim female. As to the Muslim female expats, they were not pressed to wear hijab or follow local dress codes. They dressed the same as they would have back in Pakistan or Egypt or Tunisia or wherever. At least this was true in Muscat, it may be a bit different if you were out in one of the smaller villages.

VS

Sleepwalker · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 454 Location: Reading the screen

Check very carefully - I have known people go through hoops to get the husband sponsored and all but one failed. That case was justified on the basis of disability.

You'd be better to try the UAE - wives can sponsor there.

moonpie · Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 71

No way will husbands ever be allowed to stay on their wives visa. This is just not done here in Oman. Forget ever being allowed to do this.

Moon

silvery · Joined: 16 Jul 2010 Posts: 27

We don't seem to have a conclusive answer here, do we?

Can anyone confirm or deny the situation for "husband visas" with the Government Technical Colleges jobs?

No point investigating these positions further if it's a definite "no" to male spouses.

Thanks.

Duffy · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 449 Location: Oman

I wrote in my post exactly what happened to me, again the situation is thus.

If the wife is working for the MoHE or MoM direct, then she can sponsor her husband. If she is working for and agent or the private school direct, she cannot do so.

Forget the rubbish post by Moonpie, I have given you fact based on experience.

Duffy Laughing

silvery · Joined: 16 Jul 2010 Posts: 27

Thank you, Duffy.

I don't want to waste my own time but hope not to cause any disharmony here Embarassed

.

It's certainly good for everyone to be made aware of this issue, though . Confused

qahirii · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Posts: 11

i would like to second the assertion that you canNOT sponsor your husband if you work for a private company. a couple my wife and i are friends with are in this exact situation. they have to do a "visa run" to the uae every month or so.

that said, it's not the end of the world. they rather enjoy their trips, as the uae's cheaper and has more to offer. kinda like a monthly trip to nyc from new jersey.

now, i do not know about working directly for the ministry of higher education, so silence from me on that.

i DO know that if your husband doesn't come here with a job, he's unlikely to find one. why not come, send your husband for CELTA (you'll only be apart for 1 month) and let him apply for jobs in Oman or plan your next year as a working couple somewhere else?

Oman's a very likeable place. Omanis are MUCH nicer than other Gulf locals...