Latest news with #workvisa
Khaleej Times
19 hours ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Can a Dubai visa holder enrol child in school in another emirate?
Question: I'm a single mother and have recently received a job offer in Dubai, where my work visa will be issued. Since I'll be working during the day, I plan to enroll my son in a school in Ras Al Khaimah, where my sister lives. Is it legally allowed for my son to attend school in Ras Al Khaimah while I hold a Dubai-issued visa? Please advise. Answer: Yes, it is legally permissible for your son to attend school in Ras Al Khaimah while you hold a Dubai-issued residence visa, as long as you meet the required salary and housing conditions set by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) or the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Under Under Article 9 of Federal Decree Law No. 29 of 2021 on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners, expatriate residents in the UAE are allowed to sponsor their immediate family members — such as children. 'A foreigner who has obtained a residence permit in the state may bring in his family members, in accordance with the terms and conditions set by the Executive Regulation of this Law by Decree.' Importantly, residence visas issued in any emirate are valid throughout all seven emirates of the UAE. This means that even if your visa is issued in Dubai, your son may legally reside in Ras Al Khaimah and attend school there without violating any immigration regulations. Since your sister will be caring for your son during your working hours, the school may ask for a written authorisation naming her as a temporary guardian. This would typically allow her to handle responsibilities such as school pickups, parent-teacher meetings, and emergency decisions. While UAE law does not require formal guardianship in such cases, schools may request this kind of documentation in line with their internal policies. This is typically managed under the school's administrative guidelines. School admissions are regulated by the UAE Ministry of Education in coordination with local education authorities. In this case this falls under the jurisdiction of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge. In summary, as long as you obtain the necessary approvals and follow the school's guidelines, you may sponsor your son under your Dubai visa and enroll him in a school in Ras Al Khaimah where your sister can assist with his daily care.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
The Taliban registers 1,800 unemployed Afghan refugees for jobs in Qatar
Men wait in line to register for a Qatar work visa for unemployed Afghans expelled from neighbouring countries, outside a registration center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai) ISLAMABAD — The Taliban on Wednesday registered 1,800 unemployed Afghans expelled from neighboring countries for the chance to work in Qatar in the latest round of a labor agreement with the Gulf nation, a Labor Ministry spokesman said. The program is aimed at easing unemployment in Afghanistan, and the Taliban has said talks are also underway to send labor to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey, and Russia. Last month, 3,100 Afghans were registered for jobs in Qatar, including in the food and hospitality industries. Wednesday's one-day registration period was open only to Afghans expelled from Iran and Pakistan, and took place in four major cities. At least two million Afghans have left Iran and Pakistan this year after both governments launched separate campaigns to expel foreigners they said were living there illegally. They deny targeting Afghans, but most of those forcibly returned are Afghan. People with refugee certificates were able to visit registration centers in Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, and Nangarhar for the chance to work in Qatar, Labor Ministry spokesman Samiullah Ibrahimi said. 'These work visas cover 22 different job categories, and the 1,800 visas available are for these jobless Afghan returnees,' he said. Dozens of men waited in long lines outside a registration center in Kabul. Poyan Ahmadi, who left Iran, said he wanted the Taliban government to talk to other countries. 'Here in Afghanistan, there is no work, and there is a shortage of job opportunities.' The Associated Press
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Free movement by the back door? EU citizens will be able to work in UK for up to three years as Starmer bows to Brussels ‘youth mobility' demands
European Union citizens could be allowed to work in Britain for up to three years under a reciprocal 'youth mobility scheme', a senior minister has indicated. Nick Thomas-Symonds said he aimed to model the scheme on those the UK already has with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. These allow those aged 18-30 to live and work her for two years, with a possible year extension, but have a cap on the number allowed it. The EU Relations Minister had been battling Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who reportedly wanted the scheme to have a 12-month limit, as those here for longer feature in migration statistics. The length of the scheme Mr Thomas-Symonds is looking to confirm with Brussels is likely to raise fears that it is a way of re-introducing freedom of movement for thousands of foreign workers. The UK's mobility agreement with Australia is capped at 45,00, although only 9,750 visas were issued in 2024. But the EU has pushed for a much higher cap. Speaking to the Times Mr Thomas-Symonds said he planned to 'deliver the smart, controlled, balanced scheme that I agreed on in the common understanding', which would be longer than 12 months. 'There's 13 of them that already exist, and it's in that context that we will be negotiating with the EU but the idea or suggestion that this is somehow freedom of movement is completely wrong,' he said. 'Nobody says we have freedom of movement with Andorra or Uruguay, with whom we already have youth mobility schemes.' In May EU official last night suggested it would want the scheme to be similar in scale to the one Britain has with Australia. However, given the EU's population is 450million, compared to Australia's 26million, it raises the prospect of allowing in 500,000 from the continent. The Brussels official told the Times at the time: 'Are Australians better than Europeans? If the same model applies, then the numbers would have to be much higher or it would be hurtful. 'What is the British problem with our young people, our children?' D owning Street has insisted there are a series of 'red lines' for those continuing discussions. These include EU migrants not being able to bring dependents or claim benefits under the proposed scheme, while they must pay to use the NHS. No10 also stressed there would be a cap on the number of youth visas that would be issued to EU nationals.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Push to double international student revenue spurs hope, concern
Photo: Supplied Immigration experts are divided on whether the government's plan to double the country's economic contribution from international students is feasible. Education Minister Erica Stanford unveiled a proposal to boost tertiary education's annual economic contribution to $7.2 billion by 2034 on Monday. From November, eligible student visa holders will be permitted to work up to 25 hours per week, an increase from the current 20-hour limit. What's more, the right to work will be extended to all tertiary students participating in approved exchange programs. The government will also consider introducing a work visa of up to six months to allow international graduates who do not qualify for post-study work time to secure a job under the Accredited Employer Work Visa pathway. Under the new proposal, international students who change their education provider or lower their level of study will need to apply for a new student visa, not just a variation of conditions. Some immigration advisers welcomed the changes, saying the new policy could drive significant growth in international student enrolments. Others, however, expressed doubt about the policy's feasibility, raising concern that it could increase the risk of student exploitation. Photo: RNZ / Ziming Li Sonny Lam, an immigration lawyer at Queen City Law, said international education was one of New Zealand's major exports and should be strategically leveraged. He expressed optimism the new policy would attract more international students and generate job opportunities across the New Zealand economy. "I would refer to history," Lam said. "In the late '90s, we had an education boom. In the early 2000s, we had another education boom. "Both of these times have resulted in the creation of more jobs, both for locals and for students," he said. "When you have more students coming in, there will naturally need to be more businesses to provide for," he said. "International students tend to bring money with them, which is going to have a net positive effect on the job market." Malkiat Singh, a senior immigration adviser and founder of Carmento, described the additional five work hours for eligible student visa holders as a positive shift that could expand part-time employment opportunities for students. "If you did an eight-hour shift as a part-time job previously, the challenge was people were getting lesser opportunities because if they do three shifts, they exceed 20 hours," Singh said. "With 25 hours, the government may allow more people to accept more variety of jobs in which they can do three full shifts or three full days of work." Photo: Supplied Singh said New Zealand had traditionally relied on international students as a supplementary workforce, often because they filled minimum wage roles that local workers were reluctant to undertake. "It appears that the government is trying to see how they can help business owners by creating an additional influx of International student workforce," he said. Singh said currently only international students who had completed a bachelor's degree or higher - or those with qualifications on a designated list - were eligible to apply for a post-study work visa upon graduation. He said education institutions - particularly polytechnics offering courses below a bachelor's degree level - stand to benefit the most if the government introduced a six-month work visa for international graduates who did not currently qualify for post-study work rights. The proposed visa would provide these graduates additional time to seek employment through the Accredited Employer Work Visa pathway. "Polytechnics could see a big surge in application numbers for lower-level courses," he said. "This is likely to increase New Zealand appeal as a destination country for international students, because six months is still a lot better than no work week at all." Peter Luo, an immigration adviser at Express Immigration, holds a contrasting view. He said that while the policy may lead to increased enrolments, it is likely to appeal more to international students seeking financial independence than those prioritizing high-quality education. "For example, some students work overnight shifts at petrol stations, send money home and then struggle to stay awake in class, compromising their academic success," Luo said. Photo: RNZ / Ziming Li Luo said about 90 percent of his international student clients were Chinese, and their ultimate goal was to secure a job after graduation and apply for permanent residency. However, a persistent mismatch between graduates' qualifications and industry needs - combined with current Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) settings - made it difficult for many to achieve that goal. "Skilled Migrant Category policies act as a compass for international students," he said. "However, the current threshold is set too high." "Under this policy, only around 3,000 individuals qualify annually, despite New Zealand's historical need for approximately 30,000 SMC migrants per year." "This disparity creates a significant gap in workforce planning and poses long-term challenges for economic sustainability," he added. Adon Kumar, an employment advocate who has been working with the ethnic community for more than a decade, agreed. He welcomed the government's decision to increase the permitted working hours for international students. However, he was not optimistic that policy alone would lead to a significant increase in enrolment. "Most international students come here, get the qualification and still can't find jobs, or they end up being exploited," he said. Kumar said that gaining residency in New Zealand represented a kind of utopia for many international students, particularly those hoping to bring their families for a better lifestyle and access to education. "It's a huge challenge, despite being given extra hours that they can work," he said. "The problem is they can't find a job," he said. "Even if they can find the job, it's not relevant [to what they studied in tertiary education]." He said the disconnect between classroom learning and industry needs, combined with a highly competitive job market and ongoing exploitation, might lead some international students to reconsider New Zealand as a destination for study. Photo: RNZ / Ziming Li According to Education New Zealand, international student enrolments have continued to rise steadily since 2023. "We are seeing international student enrolments steadily rising to pre-pandemic levels," said Amanda Malu, chief executive of Education New Zealand. Malu said there were 83,425 international students enrolled in 2024, approximately 72 percent of the 115,705 enrolments recorded in 2019. China and India remained the top two source markets, accounting for 34 percent and 14 percent of enrolments respectively, she said. She said research commissioned by Education New Zealand in 2023 found at least 62 percent of international students who completed their education between 2009 and 2019 left the country within a year of completing their studies. For those who remained, most transitioned into employment. The research showed that 87 percent of international students were employed two years after completing their studies, with 79 percent working in full-time roles. A spokesperson for Education Minister Erica Stanford said it was ultimately up to international students to decide what they studied and which pathways they pursued toward residency, noting that residency outcomes were not the primary driver behind policy changes. The spokesperson said the government had taken a considered approach to strike the right balance between increasing student numbers, maintaining the quality of education and managing broader impacts on New Zealanders.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Why poets deserve their place on Britain's list of ‘skilled workers' for visa applications
So get this: poets are on the Home Office's list of skilled workers, making them eligible for a UK work visa. How do you feel about that? Are you scoffing at the very idea? Reform's Lee Anderson is most certainly scoffing. It's scoff central over at Red Wall HQ. He's almost as apoplectic about the poets as he is about the inclusion and diversity managers who have also made the list. Not that 30p Lee is anti-literature, no, far from it, it's just that we don't need no foreign poets. No, not here in 'the land of literary giants like Shakespeare and PG Wodehouse,' he declares, adding that as 'a nation with the richest literary tradition in the world, the UK does not need to import poets.' I doubt Lee Anderson could actually name any of my contemporary poets, but I did enjoy his use of the word 'import.' It left me with a vision of hundreds of poets crammed into a container ship in big frilly shirts and with quills clutched in their fists, bearing down on the South Coast. Then, once safely through the UK's soft-touch immigration controls, they're loaded onto lorries and distributed to bustling market towns, where they're met by the red-faced inhabitants who stumble blinking from their homes, garden fork raised in one hand and a copy of Right Ho, Jeeves in the other. Perhaps, as a British poet, I should be thanking 30p Lee for this red-toothed protectionism. Foreign poets, coming over here, taking all our line breaks! I'd better be careful, after all if the imported diversity and inclusion managers get together with the imported poets, white, straight cis male scribblers like me are truly screwed. And besides, 'what we urgently need,' this bluff voice of reason continues, 'are doctors, builders, and entrepreneurs – people who will contribute directly to our economy and public services.' Which all sounds very reasonable, doesn't it? What do you want? A doctor to operate on your dying child or a poet to write something YOU CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND about autumn? This is how 30p Lee's politics work – they tell us we are in crisis so we have to choose. Choice at the barrel of a gun. But life isn't black and white, life isn't made up of binary choices. Life is complicated and nuanced, knotty and multifaceted, like the best poetry. Poetry is complex, it reaches deep into our psyche, touches what it is to be human. Poetry and other forms of slow, thoughtful writing are a much needed antidote to the shrill political soapboxing of people like Lee Anderson, and indeed snarky think pieces like this one. And let's just put to bed this idea that the arts don't contribute to our economy. The UK's creative industries are worth £125bn, and even we humble poets play our part. Poetry book sales topped £14.4m in 2023, the highest since records began. And whilst it's fun to dismiss poets as either floppy haired Byrons or modern day versions of Rik Mayall's People's Poet, we are in truth grafters. This is my job. I support my family, I pay my mortgage with poetry. I write a new show every year and take it to tens of thousands of people in hundreds of arts centres, theatres and major festivals like Glastonbury and Latitude. And yes, I sometimes get a work visa and tour overseas. It's all part of the great exchange of poets and writers that has always taken place. Writers travel to experience the world, to meet people, to swap ideas, to celebrate our different cultural experiences and the things that unite us as human beings. In the UK we are lucky to welcome poets to these shores each year to electrify us with their words and ideas, enrich our culture, and yes, contribute to our economy. Of course poets are skilled workers, and they belong on that Home Office list. Poets have spent years honing their craft, thinking deeply about human nature. The best poetry can profoundly change us. We reach for poems when we can't find our own words, we rely on them at funerals, weddings, and times of deep crisis to say what we feel but somehow can't articulate. In this way poets advocate for all of us, as much as any politician.
