Answer to “So I got an offer letter – what will happen now?”

“So I got an offer letter – what will happen now?  ” – This is what will happen..

Hello there beautiful people, I was going through posts and noticed that there is an equal number of aspiring people who are planning to come to UAE, or are already on the job hunt and are having a multitude of questions. Being someone who first came on a visit visa, did the job hunt and then landed a job, had some nasty experiences with employees down the line (which I will save for another post ), I had so many things to ask and was having a really limited number of resources. So I thought of writing a post. This is written in a practical way because certain things don’t happen as they are ideally expected to happen.

For general information, please go through the UAE guide in the following link,

Also, Anyone who wants to know the job market and the stuff which happens before securing job, I highly recommend going through this thread penned by Mr Saud. Click on this link  and there are 2 posts by him in that... read both- They give an amazingly perfect picture on what is this job hunt and job market in Dubai is all about)
Anyways, assuming you are on the lookout for getting an idea in a tone that you will feel as if you are speaking to someone on how the machine grinds after you get the letter, here's a rough idea...

Yes you attend interview and then yes you will get an offer letter. Even though many think that's the end of the run- this is just the beginning of what you need to do. Ideally, once you get the offer letter, they will tell you to bring 5-6 passport sized photos, and depending on the job position and the visa caliber, you might be told to bring your graduation certificate (which should be attested as well).

Then they will apply for work permit.

Once they apply for the work permit, it will pass through CID, immigration department and here and there to see whether you have been a good boy in the past. Once they get all the checks done, you will get a work permit. Nowadays you normally get it as an "e-visa". And since you are still on visit or tourist visa, you aren’t allowed to work in that visa.

So, you will be told to "exit " the country, - This exit the country step works in two ways,

1.) It might be you going to Oman, and coming back, going over to kish island and coming back or you directly going back to home country and coming back...This will be decided by the company. And you will directly come on that e visa.

2.) Instead of sending you exiting, now there is a new procedure where your company will do a "status change". They will get that e-visa and your original passport, go to the immigration authority and get your status changed. (Ask the company whether they do that) and I personally know a couple of people who go that status change done but they were all were working here. It’s best you ask the company whether it’s done for visit / tourist visas as well.

Once you somehow end up on employee visa, you are required to do a medical test. That cost is by the company. On certain occasions, they will tell you to do it from your money and bring the receipt and they will refund it to you). You will be directed to the respective health authority where you will go , do a couple of tests and get a receipt..You’ll get the results sheet in 2 days..You collect that and provided you pass that, your company will get that sheet and also get you to apply for "Emirates ID" - This normally is born by personally by you (some companies will pay for that you also...But most of the time, you will have to personally pay for it.

You will have to go in to a "typing center" with your original passport and your visa print, and then they will charge 350.00 from you, get them to type the application for you, and then they will tell you to go into an "emirates id authority" where you will take what the typing center prepared for you, and they will get your finger+palm prints scanned, and your face photographed.

THEN,

You take that emirates ID paper back to the company, then they will take that paper, your passport, and that medical test report that I’ve mentioned before and apply for a medical insurance card (It is mandatory that all employees be given this).

Once this medical insurance card is applied and you receive that, then the new company will apply for what its called the “residence visa” remember your visa was still only a printout? Now the new company will take your medical test report saying you are fit and also a healthy girl or a boy, and that you are already being given a medical insurance, and that you are also recorded as a person (Emirates ID) and get your residency stamped on your passport. It’s an orange color sticker kind of a thing thing which will have visa issued date, expiring date, your visa filed number, and photo and a couple of other info. Then you are all good to go.
Normally this medical test, Emirates ID, medical insurance and stamping of the visa will take roughly a week or two. And its imperative that you remember – That visa printout is valid only for 25-30 days. If the above stuff hasn’t done by that time, each day that passes will be counted as overstaying and you’ll end up black listed, and on certain cases banned forever.  And normally this fine is born by the company. But if they fire you before that you’ll end up going home and being black listed permanently here. (In fact I actually was speaking to a person just 2 days back on how he got a job and then they didn’t stamp the residency visa..and he didn’t know any of these things, and after 4-5 months he was fired without any reason and when he went to the airport, he was told all this and then also is permanently banned from coming back now because he has overstayed a overwhelming number of days.

Hope this will help anyone to figure out what goes AFTER you land a job. And now that you know what should be done, just complete these primary requirements and then you are sorted once and for all. You have all the right to chase behind any or either of these things which the company should be doing. And some companies will tell you they are “also giving a medical insurance” – they just should. They are trying to be funny to get you to lower your salary expectations...trust me on that.

So when and if some new company tells you that they’re giving medical- compulsory insurance for employees.
Please feel free add anything that I might have missed or PM me for any other stuff which will involve names etc.   

Best,
Raju