New residency visa requirements?
Has anyone heard about new residency visa requirements? I was all set to get my visa, but there was a hold up due to the need for a "security" background check to be done. My company did the background check, had to take it to the US State Dept, and then have it authorized by the Qatar embassy in the States. Is this a new law? I am wondering because I am sponsoring my husband's visa as soon as I get mine. Do I need to get him a background check? If so, where/how can I do it?
A new regulation has very recently been introduced in Qatar, which means that new expats staff need to be in possession of a "certificate of good conduct", which is to be stamped by the Qatar Embassy in that country.
I will travel on 01st August, and this information was given to me only 3 weeks ago. You need it now, else you can go back again after 4 weeks.
No certificate, no permit visa.
Otto
There has always been (to my knowledge) a requirement for a police clearance letter from your base country.
The police in the UK do not issue such documentation. In the past, anyone applying for this from the UK police received a letter stating that they do not issue such documents. This seemed to satisfy the Qatari authorities
I am unaware of there being such a residency requirement.
However, I know that anyone applying for a residence permit or is in the process of getting a work visa is subjected to a background check.
This is done discreetly with the applicant none the wiser.
Having said that I have heard that the authorities here now require proof of a clean criminal record which is perhaps what you have been doing. It is the first instance, I know of, of a white-collar worker having to go through this process. It is being applied more to blue-collar laborers.