Travel agencies and tourism companies in the capital will face fines and closure if they are found selling tourist or visit visas for a fee to visitors who arrive in the country in search of jobs, said Brigadier Nassir El Awadi El Menhali, Director of Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residency Department (ADNRD).
“To let any visitor enter the country to work or live illegally is a violation and crime. Hence, companies which bring visitors and allow them to search for jobs would face stiff penalties, including cancellation of their licences,” said Brig El Menhali.
As for the individuals, the department arrested in January an employee of Al Ain Naturalisation and Residency Department and two other men who were trading in visas.
The ADNRD is yet to fine the erring agencies, Brig El Menhali said, adding that in case of violations, the department shall not refund guarantee money furnished by the company.
“In addition to the normal visa fee, the department usually collects bank guarantees from tourism agencies for group visas. But if the visitors (tourists) abscond, the tourism agencies will not get refund of their guarantees,” Brig El Menhali added. He pointed out that the department would soon fix the guarantee amount.
In the case of individuals, a new guarantee amount ranging between Dh2,000 and Dh5,000 would be charged for issuance of a visit visa for their family members — parents, brothers and sisters.
He stressed that the problem of illegals had surfaced as a result of the leniency shown to the sponsors, firms and tourism agencies.
For more control and monitoring, Brig El Menhali said: “We are working on improving the system to facilitate the services rendered to the public, and to foil unfair practices by the some agencies and individuals.
“The ADNRD is looking forward to allowing the applicants to receive their visas online,” he added.
“To let any visitor enter the country to work or live illegally is a violation and crime. Hence, companies which bring visitors and allow them to search for jobs would face stiff penalties, including cancellation of their licences,” said Brig El Menhali.
As for the individuals, the department arrested in January an employee of Al Ain Naturalisation and Residency Department and two other men who were trading in visas.
The ADNRD is yet to fine the erring agencies, Brig El Menhali said, adding that in case of violations, the department shall not refund guarantee money furnished by the company.
“In addition to the normal visa fee, the department usually collects bank guarantees from tourism agencies for group visas. But if the visitors (tourists) abscond, the tourism agencies will not get refund of their guarantees,” Brig El Menhali added. He pointed out that the department would soon fix the guarantee amount.
In the case of individuals, a new guarantee amount ranging between Dh2,000 and Dh5,000 would be charged for issuance of a visit visa for their family members — parents, brothers and sisters.
He stressed that the problem of illegals had surfaced as a result of the leniency shown to the sponsors, firms and tourism agencies.
For more control and monitoring, Brig El Menhali said: “We are working on improving the system to facilitate the services rendered to the public, and to foil unfair practices by the some agencies and individuals.
“The ADNRD is looking forward to allowing the applicants to receive their visas online,” he added.
/Khaleej Times/
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