Families in the UAE have expressed relief over new regulations that allow them to sponsor male children till the age of 25.
The UAE's new Visa rule will ostensibly support them to save money and avoid visa complications, whether they should be visiting as students or tourists.
Unmarried daughters are not affected by the new law because they can continue to stay on their parents' sponsorship indefinitely.The modification was among the new visa rules issued by the UAE Cabinet.
Earlier, parents could only sponsor their sons until the age of 18, after which they could renew for a further three years if they were enrolled in a university. Students often had to pay for a university's visa sponsorship if they wanted to study in the UAE, whereas those studying abroad could return on visit visas to see their families.
Vinay Java, an Indian parent living in Sharjah, has said that the new rule allowed his 19-year-old son Rishabh to properly plan for his future, including studying abroad.
"When my son turned 21, he would have to obtain his own visa, which was a major concern for us." But the latest announcement is a huge relief, and we know he'll be able to continue his education without us worrying about how he'll enter the UAE," he said. "Generally, for kids his age, the visa is a major source of concern because they are stressed about having to obtain a visit visa." It's giving me a headache."
Rishabh qualifies for a 14-day visa on arrival to the UAE because he is an Indian citizen with a US visa in his passport. However, that is insufficient time for him to spend the entire summer with his parents.
Dr. Faizal Malik, a family in Dubai, has a 19-year-old son studying in the United Kingdom.
Despite the fact that his son Rayyan is a UK citizen and can obtain a UAE visit visa on arrival, Dr. Faizal stated that the UAE was his home and that he preferred to be on a UAE residency visa so that he could obtain health insurance.
"Getting him on a UAE residency visa offers a lot of comfort, especially given the uncertainty caused by Covid-19," Dr. Malik said.
"If he has a UAE residency visa, he can live as long as he wants and does not have to charge for a visa every time he visits." The new visa law, according to Dr. Malik, pro vice-chancellor of Amity University in Dubai, will have a "massive effect" on parents and students because it provides flexibility.
"Students will no longer need to look for a student visa once they graduate, and they will be eligible to join a university without tension," he said.
"Parents will save money and avoid the hassle of obtaining student visas." It's a win-win situation for all three parties involved – parents, students, and the university."