Friday, Nov 21, 2008

Gulf News

Ajman: Expatriates here are being asked to provide a sworn affidavit from Ajman Court if they wish to sponsor their parents for a visit to or residency in the emirate, Gulf News has learnt.

An official from the Ajman Naturalisation and Residency Department said those who wish to sponsor one of their parents or both must show the court a letter from his or her consulate.

The official said the letter should be produced before the Ajman Naturalisation and Residency Department, which will then ask the sponsor to attest the letter from Ajman Court and to obtain a sworn affidavit.

A typed form, which costs Dh350, is needed for the purpose.

Expatriates must also show up at Ajman Court with two Muslim witnesses to prove that the sponsored is their father or mother. The witnesses must be Muslims, irrespective of the religion of the sponsor and those sponsored.

"I was asked by the residency department to get a sworn affidavit from Ajman Court to prove that the sponsored is my mother," said Ahmad from India.

"My mother's name is in my passport and I obtained an authorised letter from my consulate that this woman is my mother," he said.

Even then, Ahmad said, he was asked by the Ajman Naturalisation and Residency Department to get the letter signed by the court and also to obtain a sworn affidavit from the court.

While obtaining a letter from the sponsor's consulate to prove the identity of the father or the mother of a sponsor is a must at all residency departments in other emirates, attestation of the letter and obtaining a sworn affidavit are required only in Ajman.

According to the new visa law introduced this year, expatriates can sponsor their blood relatives only for visit visa, but they cannot sponsor friends.

Waleed from Egypt said the name of one's father and mother are clearly mentioned in one's passport. "Since the names of our parents are mentioned in our passports, why do we need to produce additional documents to prove that they are our parents," he asked.

He said an authorised letter from the embassy or consulate should be enough for authentication of identity.

Have you faced any difficulty while trying to apply for a visa for your parents? What happened? Were you clear about the documents required?

© Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.

 

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