Job Discussion Forums

[tashidelek]

I have got an offer to teaching in UAE, honestly speaking, i did not resign from my present school. Because i dont know if the work permit will be obtained on time. It is May now, if i got all documents attested, after seending to the school, lets say, Mid-May, is it possible to get work permit before early August? if the time is so limited, i just feel too risky.

anyone knows how long the work visa will be processed?

thanks a lot

[helenl]

If the school wants you badly enough, it's plenty of time. Most well run schools have a Mandoop (fixer) on staff who is conversant with the red tape and well schooled in getting around it when need be. In other words, he has wasta with someone in the immigration department who can expedite your visa application.

BTW you don't get a permanent work/residency visa until you land in UAE and get your blood test and chest xray done in UAE. Standard operating procedure.

[adorabilly]

Tashi.

Most people are right now doing the same thing you are doing. Many of them are just getting their documents attested.

so yes it will be there and completed by august.

What is most unnerving to most westerners is that once they send you your contract, you won't hear from many of the HR folks until the first week of august.

[tashidelek]

Thank you Adora! That makes me feel much better. A few years ago, I used to wait for the Indian work permit for 6 months, such painful! UAE seems to be faster, hope the HR staff will do an efficient job.

[adorabilly]

Tashi.

Most people were given offers of employment in april, middle of april and they are jumping through the hoops to get the attestation done and returned.

That can take up to a month, or can be done in about 2 weeks, depending on how long it takes the mail.

You will arrive on a tourist visa, but they will be processing your visa the whole time you are here, and if it is a reputable school, you should have a residency visa in about 4 to 6 weeks after you arrive.

that is how they do it here.

[tashidelek]

I didn�t expect such a clear answer, thank you so much Adora! It doesn�t sound like a teacher forum, more like an immigration forum, I don�t think the embassy people can explain clearer than you. In this case, if am holding a tourist visa to enter the country, will they question me about my one-way ticket? I don�t look like teacher, and most of the people don�t believe that am a teacher, so I worried that the people at the airport will think I lie to them. Heheheheh�

[ap4058]

Have a copy of yourt documents with you to show that you are a teacher. The way I understand it you enter on a tourist visa, once in the country it will be transfered in a redident visa, takes about 6-8 weeks after you had your medical.