More expatriates now allowed to sponsor families

Dubai: Some categories of expatriate workers who had previously been barred from sponsoring their children and family members can now do so by depositing Dh5,000 per person, a senior Ministry of Interior official has said.

Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary for Naturalisation, Residency and Ports Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, told Gulf News on Monday that 57 categories of workers previously barred from sponsoring family members' residence visas would now be able to do so.

"Previously, some professions such as drivers, bakers, tailors and cooks were not allowed to sponsor their family members, regardless of how much money they earned. Now we have solved their issues by allowing them to sponsor their families if they pay the required deposit," Major General Al Menhali said.

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He said the decision applied mostly to low-skilled and semi-skilled workers.

The affected categories include welders, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, plumbers, mechanics, laundry workers, car washers, grocers, sales people, butchers and construction workers.

Some of the 57 categories of profession who were previously barred from sponsoring their family members are:

* Cooks (Arabic cuisine cook, continental cuisine cook, falafel maker, sweets maker, pastry maker, assistant cook)
* Certain skilled categories like welder, blacksmith, goldsmith, plumber, tile worker, painter (automobile painter), engine worker, assistant mechanic
* Laundry worker, car washer, grave digger, grocer, salesman, waiters, office boys, butcher
* Makeup artist, hairdresser, barber, tailor, decoration jobs
* Drivers (pick up driver and private drivers)
* Trainers like falcon trainer and private tutor.
* Guards
* Labourer (construction workers)
* In addition to these some other professions of unskilled or semiskilled workers are among the categories.

Courtesy : Gulf News Dated 28 Sep. 2010