Job Discussion Forums

JohnRambo · Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 183

14 years ago, I had DWI/DUI charge (alcohol related), and I can't remove it from my record, because it's from Texas. Would that prevent me from getting employed in the United Arab Emirates. I know what I did back then was horrible, but I can't change that, and I have years of experience, an M.A., and I have worked at 2 universities.

mrpianoman · Joined: 27 Mar 2016 Posts: 171

Don't minor offences get wiped clean off your record in the US then? It wouldn't show up in the UK. Why do they keep minor records for life in the US then? Even serious crimes get wiped clean in the UK after 7 years I think it is. Minor convictions are 'spent' or wiped clean after 6 months! Poor old Americans. I don't think it will stop you getting ajob in the UAE just DUI/Dwi
just tell the employer it was a long time ago and you wouldn't do such a thing again. They will probably offer you the post first before you have to show your criminal record. Do you even need to show a criminal record certificate for a job in the UAE then?

mrpianoman · Joined: 27 Mar 2016 Posts: 171

MOD edit

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

mrpianoman · Joined: 27 Mar 2016 Posts: 171

But do you even need to show a criminal record for the uAE if you're adult teaching? I don't think the UAE embassy process work visas in London, you get your work visa once you get to the UAE I think. I don't know for sure though. Im just speaking for UK teachers, I don't know the requirements for Americans. DUI/DWI (which I had a dwi once) doesn't show up in the UK after 6 months and driving convictions are kept on a separate database in the UK anyway so they don't show up on a criminal record check I don't think. That's not one hundred per cent definite but that's what I believe happens. MY dWI still shows on the DVLA database for example (so if you go for driving jobs in the UK, an employer can see it) but it didn't show on my latest criminal record check.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Pianoman, I'm not sure where you're going with your posts about your personal DWI experiences in the UK, but I'm sure the OP is looking to hear from Americans who recently went through the process of getting a UAE work permit. In other words, whether a criminal background check from the US was required and if so, via which agency (e.g., FBI, state police, etc.).

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

All the checks are done in the UAE as far as I know. I didn't fill in any form which asked me about a record.

I'm in the UAE.

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

In the past and I presume that it is still done, the government did a "security check" and no one really knew what they checked or how. In universities there was no police report provided by the applicant, but we didn't know if they checked one's record in the US or not.

I do know that there were teachers that didn't pass this check and in a couple of cases reported here on Dave's, teachers were informed of not passing at the very last minute before they were to fly out. (in one case I remember it meant that the applicant had given up his apartment and his job in the US) BUT this is in a 20 year time period... so not common.

VS