Visa for my girlfriend to visit me for the summer
Dear All,
I am in desperate need of some useful info. I am a male Bristih Expat who has recently moved to Doha working for a large Oil Company. My question is, how can I bring my gf into Doha for the summer (July to Sept). Being a single young Polish woman, she is finding it difficult to obtain a Visa. Her nationality doesn't fall into the 33 countries listed as one who can attain a visa on arrival. My company is refusing to help. But I do know that there are some agents in Doha who can help with this kind of thing...but I have no idea where they are???? i realise that I could solve the whole problem by simpoly marrying her....but I don't want this situation to be the deciding factor. Any useful tips would be greatly appreciated.
My arabic friend tried calling the court today, he said that the court still didn't allow it and that I needed some evidence of Christianity. Strange though, because in the UK my birth cert and passport do not state religions...though to be honest, i am not sure whether my friend was asking the right questions..he is a young Qatari graduate sitting next to me. Though, they said that it might possible at the Lebanese embassy.
You could try calling the court directly. their switchboard number is 4452222. If they dont speak any english, you may have to get an arabic colleague to call them for you.
Who can I ask? Do you have any contacts or phone numbers?
thanks for the confidence in me, but im really not sure, you may need to ask about the hindu thing. Saying youre christian doesnt necessarily mean you need a christian name.
Thanks Giasi..you are a fountain of all knowledge it seems....converting did scare me, like you say, it could lead to other problems. In actual fact I am not religious at all, I believe a higher belief, on that basis, could I seriously go there and say I am a Christian. My name is very Hindu in appearance, but surely I could say that I converted many years ago?
No you dont have to be muslim to be married in sharia court. Nevertheless, i think being hindu may be a problem as essentially islamic law does not recognise any other religions except christianity and judaism. You may have to check that. Converting to islam needs you to go through a process in the sharia court where you have to take an oath and you will be issued with some sort of legal document. However, i wouldnt recommend doing this just for the sake of it as technically you are swearing an oath under false pretences and that is an area where you dont want to go. I believe if you go there and say you are a christian, you will not need to produce any document.
Thanks Fahad. The concern I have with a 14 day Visa is that she will not be able to renew it. Secondly, on the application, she cannot put my residence as a place of stay. She would need to stay in a hotel for the full duration (which can be expensive) especially as I have a Villa already.
Fahad/Giaisi - Do I need to be Muslim to get married in the Sharia Court? We are both not Muslim. She is Christian and I am Hindu. I don't mind converting for the sake of it...what do i need to do?
The other concern I have, since we are both of different colours, I believe, unless we are not married...things might be difficult for us over here.
Any thoughts????
hey art ...well i know this might be hard but she can make it through any close embassy in a close country germany, netherlands, ukrain (she can also coordinate iva email and DHL the passport to them and they will send it back
i hope that helps
Wow...thanks for all the good advice. After work, i drove to Doha roundabout...interesting part of town i must say. Anyway, wondered into a number of hotels. Nobody would offer me a 14 day visa without her staying/paying for the full duration. I was thinking about Giasi's idea of getting married at the Safia (not sure what is or where it is). Thinking of taking the risk to have the freedom to be with my loved-one. What do you guys think of me getting a hotel to sponsor a tourist visa, then getting married at this Safi place???? Any risks involved (apart from getting married of course!!)...but can she really get this elusive Visa. Fahad - there is no Qatar embassy in Poland. I have also learnt that renewing a 14-day visa is very difficult. Any more ideas. If solve this..i'll invite you all for a drink-up (either alcohol or juice) at one cool hotel one evening after work
Also what other people forget if you apply for a 2-5 year visit visa you only have to fly out every three months saves money!!!! just apply for it before you get here!!!
well my friend i tried calling immigration to understand exactly the situation ..
an easier way for her to come her (without you marrying her) is for her to go the Qatari Embassy in Poland or in britain or whereever she is right now and take the visa from there and that should be an easier process :)
thanks and i hope that helps... tell us what happens ... TC
Fahad
Im afraid everyone is right. The only way she can get in is on a 14 day tourist visa and she has to be booked into the hotel too. (maybe the hotel will waive this for a fee ;) ). As DG said, marrying her is the only solution. That way you can sponsor her. Marriage is straightforward in the sharia court. It takes an hour or so (as long as u have all the relevant paperwork) and if youre worried about it, it has no legality in the uk or poland (unless u have it attested in those embassies)
Hi Art,
I do know that some of the one to two star hotels can bring in people on tourist visas who are not on the visa arrival list. Not sure about single females though but good luck in trying places like Gulf Paradise, Mercure, Doha Palace hotel..
I hate to tell you this Art but the only way you are going to get her in here is to marry her. If she can't get a tourist and she can't get a work or family, than she can't get in the country. :(
Art,
You started at the wrong place..Go to Dhow or Boat round about in the heart of Old or Souk Doha..Look around for Hotels..and check with them..you may get lucky...
tried the e-goverment website, unfortunately it calls for sponsors in Doha. I understand that i cannot be sponsor..it must be a relative, hotel or work. My work isn't interested, not much luck with one hotel so far, plus she has no relatives here. Getting pretty desperate now! 3 years without her will be a nightmare esp in Doha.
Thanks for the info. But I tried the Ramada for one and they were not interested. Also I the fact she wants to come for the summer (July-Sept) makes like difficult as a 14 day tourist visa will not last that long. Plus she is Polish and Poles are not listed as one of the 33 countries. Anymore ideas???
the qatar e-Government website can help you it lists all the different visas you can get and also you can apply online for them hope this helps
Try approaching some local Hotel to issue Tourist Visa for her. You might have to pay more than the actual Visa fee since she's not going to stay in the Hotel.