By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter
Some employers in the country are reportedly finding it difficult to retain workers in view of the “difficulties” they face while trying to obtain family visas.
There are reports of some “dejected” personnel preparing to quit their jobs as their applications for family visas have been rejected more than once over a year. The employers, on their part, say there is a lot of “uncertainty” in some GCC states, including Qatar, over the issue of family visas.
It has come to light that even after completing the necessary formalities, there have been instances of professionals in various fields failing to obtain family visas over the past few months.
One such applicant told Gulf Times that when he decided to move to Qatar following unfavourable developments in a neighbouring country - where he had lived for over a decade - he was confident that he would be able to bring his wife and two children here. “However, after the rejection of my family visa application for the second time in less than six months, I understood how difficult and confusing the procedures were,” he wrote on a popular social community portal recently.
In view of the growing opportunities in Qatar, and especially since it won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, many qualified professionals have moved to the country in search of greener pastures. But many of them are reportedly finding it difficult to bring their families here. “I have been eligible for family visa status from Day One as my salary and other allowances far exceed the minimum levels required. But my application was rejected twice before and, finally, I was granted the family visa a month ago,” said a media professional.
The representative of a major employer said while a large number of professionals responded to their job advertisements abroad, the company could not guarantee family status to any candidate owing to the “uncertainty” over the issue. “As a result, only a few of those recruited have actually arrived to take up jobs,” he added.
While some employers help new recruits obtain family visas, they, too, say it is not possible to give any assurances in this regard at present. At the same time, it has been found that there are instances of workers with lower salaries managing to get family visas without much difficulty.
Some community members have sought the intervention of diplomatic missions over the issue, but the latter have said granting family visas is an internal matter and the prerogative of the local government.
