Hepatitis C & Qatar Residence
Salaam Everybody!
My name is Jay, american & belgian currently based in Paris and traveling throughout Europe.
I grew up between Miami, Amsterdam, London and Geneva and after 10 years of european lifestyle I feel I'd like very much to live in an arabic country not only for cultural and language challenge but because I seek a bit of adventure in my life.
I was born with Hepatitis C and was notified at age 15 when they barely knew what it was. I've always had a healthy life and never had any medical problem, in fact I don't need to undertake the medical treatment for Hepatitis C so far as my Fibrotest & Fibroscan show very little fibrosis meaning that it'd be worse for my health to undertake the treatment before the vaccine comes to the market. I don't drink alcohol or use any hardcore recreational drug.
However, I've been recently looking for jobs in the Middle East mainly in Bahrain, Qatar & UAE. I applied to work as a flight attendant for Emirates Airlines, received a private invitation and passed the interview. On the requirements section of the website they mentioned you must be willing to undertake an HIV Test among a drug screening and nothing related to Hepatitis.
A friend of mine working for Louis Vuitton in Dubai was recently deported from the country as he was infected by HIV in the country by either a national or a resident, am not sure, which I found shocking and which led me to do some google search when I found that Hepatitis C along with Syphillis where added to deportable illness since july 2008. For the first time in my life I knew how it feels to be discriminated.
As a result I declined the offer of Emirates and I'm currently wondering to apply for Qatar Airways or Gulf Air.
But I wonder if it useless as well... I've had Hep C for 25 years (all my life) transmitted by my mother at birth, my sister however is negative and my ex partner whom I had unprotected sexual relationships is negative as well. Hep C is transmitted blood to blood.
I did my research on the National Website of Qatar's Health Department but it's not very clear. It seems that Hepatitis is only an issue if you happen to work in medical, para-medical or food fields which could be related to a flight attendant but I'm not sure.
So if my profile seems to be undesirable or considered a high target by the authorities of Qatar I'd rather know in advance before I find myself again in such an energy and time investment like it was in Dubai so I pass all the tests and at the end I turn to be a handicap and feel frustrated.
I'd appreciate any accurate information as well as I'd be happy to meet qataris traveling to Paris as I find the country beautiful and the people quite warm.
Kind Regards,
Jay Bloom.
Ooops, Jay, I am sorry I mis-read your post concerning sexuality! But I can tell you absolutely and unconditionally that your name and/or beliefs (or lack thereof) will be no problem! Well, as I say, they will test for Hep C and I am hoping that someone can chime in here to see if it will be a disqualifier. Also, if someone can tell you the basic new-hire salary of a F/A for QR. I suspect it is shockingly low to someone who has worked in the US. My understanding is that you would not have sufficient ID 90s to commute, but I like Doha and as you say it would be a grand adventure for two years to see the world from a DOH base.
Again, apologies.
Mandi
Morning Mandi,
Thanks for your reply, I appreciate. Well, I have no intention to use recreational drugs in Qatar or the Middle East, of course I tried them in the past in my early 20's, I mean I used to live in London where is virtually mandatory if you want to have a social life but it's never been my cup of tea as you say, I also don't drink alcohol and I'm not gay, did I give that impression? Of course I have many gay friends though, I grew up in Netherlands mainly and possess a belgian passport due to my father where same-sex marriages are legal as well as adoption and very much socially accepted. Not my case though. I'm heterosexual.
I've been to the Middle East many times and I'm aware on the pluses and minuses and yet I'd like to have a 2 year experience, learn arabic and have a different perspective of life perhaps... I already lived for 1 year and a half in Tokyo and 1 year in Sao Paulo, now my eyes lie upon Middle East.
So my concern is not drugs as I haven't done any for the last 4 years and my London clubbing days are thing of the past, no alcohol, I'm HIV-, I'm not interested in casual sex nor dating.... I was just hoping a flight attendant or someone who works inside Qatar Airways would be kind enough to tell me if they test you for Hepatitis C and also if along with UAE is a reason for deportation.
My other concern perhaps is that I have I quite notorious german-jewish last name, Bloomberg and although am agnostic and have no religion (I'm rather spiritual and passionate by other perople's beliefs) , I was wondering if this could be an issue as well.
As you often find in the Gulf, Qatar especially, this is one of those grey areas. We can give you definite answers but I'm not sure if they will be true, applicable or current. Yes, all persons who are applying for residency permits are screened for HIV and hepatitis. HIV positive persons are denied residency permits and sent home. I understand that health care and food workers may not be Hep positive but I don't know about flight attendants. I do know that any recreational drugs and same-sex behavior is definitely illegal here, i. e. no partners. If you are sensitive to being discriminated against in those areas, this might not be your cup of tea.
Mandi