Report on easier visa rules for families 'untrue'

ABU DHABI // Government officials denied reports yesterday that expatriates from 57 lower-income work categories would be allowed to sponsor their families for residence visas. 

The ban on those categories remains in place, said Major Gen Nasser al Minhali, assistant undersecretary of the residency and ports affairs at the Ministry of Interior. 

It was reported yesterday that workers from semi-skilled categories such as cooks, drivers, electricians and labourers could now bring each member of their family to come live with them by paying a Dh5,000 deposit per family member. These categories of workers were banned from visa sponsorship in January 2009 because their salaries did not meet the requirements of the UAE's naturalisation and residency laws.

The categories also include make-up artists, salesmen, grocers, guards, bakers, car washers, gravediggers, tailors, waiters and falcon trainers.

 hdajani@thenational.ae 

sbhattacharya@thenational.ae