Wife abused in UAE and not able to return to Ethiopia

[beejay 125]

What is a no objection certificate?

It is a letter that can be issued by a current employer that allows her to seek employment from another company without a ban. I was thinking if she was able to get it she could look for another company to employ her while she waited for her interview. Another option would be if she knows anyone that could sponsor her... a local or someone she knows with a company who would be willing to sponsor her until she gets her visa.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

If the case is still at NVC you can call them about sending your case to Abu Dhabi. It should be easier and quicker than if your case was already at Addis Ababa. Was her residence listed as UAE? Did you include a copy of her residence visa in your initial petition?

No, her residence is listed as Ethiopian. She told me she only has working visa, not residence permit.

[beejay 125]

No, her residence is listed as Ethiopian. She told me she only has working visa, not residence permit.

The working visa functions as the residence permit.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

If you are so close to interview, then yes, request file to be moved to UAE now.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

The working visa functions as the residence permit.

I meant she only has Ethiopian passport with UAE working visa, not UAE resident permit.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

If you are so close to interview, then yes, request file to be moved to UAE now.

My biggest problem is that all our relationship evidence and birth certificate and marriage certificate is in Ethiopia, not UAE. But I do have original marriage certificate and copies of emails and wedding photos with me in America. In UAE, she only has Ethiopian passport, and pictures of wedding.

[beejay 125]

Laws have been changing since I have been there and it looks like if she is able to prove she did not receive her salary for 2 months she would be able to transfer sponsorship to a new job without a no objection certificate. For this to be beneficial to you she would need to have a new job offer (preferably one that knew about her circumstance of leaving in a few months so it would probably have to be someone she knew) so that she could continue her legal residence until her interview. I also don't know how easy that process would be but you some have options...

"As per the new labour law a No Objection Certificate is not required, as long as the questioner can prove to the Ministry of Labour that he did not receive his salary for more than two months.

- Questions answered by Advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Bahar Advocates and Legal Consultants."

http://gulfnews.com/uaessentials/ask-the-law/don-t-waive-labour-rights-for-a-transfer-1.789047

[beejay 125]

I meant she only has Ethiopian passport with UAE working visa, not UAE resident permit.

Yes, that UAE visa in her Ethiopian passport is her permission to live and work in UAE and will suffice as proving her legal residence in UAE to NVC.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

Yes, that UAE visa in her Ethiopian passport is her permission to live and work in UAE and will suffice as proving her legal residence in UAE to NVC.

Since 1 week ago, when she had a meeting with the big boss of the company, she told them she was married to an American. They all stopped the abuse, suddenly saying things like "why you not say you married an American" and "no problem, you work until you get plane ticket, then we cancel it". Though they are liars, the lied before about letting her leave the country...waiting until the very day they were to stamp her passport, when they told her to come to the headquaters office and be angry with her for trying to leave the first time before Ramadan. But we believe that now they know she is married to an American, they will pretend to be peaceful, letting her work until process finish, if we can change embassies.

So if we can transfer her case, she can still work at that company until then. The biggest problem is IV Package, all her papers are in Ethiopia, not UAE. But I do have, in America, original marriage certificate and wedding photos and all emails of our relationship.

Edited August 31, 2012 by Freedom 4 Married

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

The biggest problem is we not started the IV Package, all her offical and relationship papers are in Ethiopia, not UAE. But I do have, in America, original marriage certificate and wedding photos and all emails of our relationship.

She only has with her in UAE, her passport. She said they are now letting her keep her passport with her, not before when they were keeping her passport inside the headquarters office.

Edited August 31, 2012 by Freedom 4 Married

[beejay 125]

Since 1 week ago, when she had a meeting with the big boss of the company, she told them she was married to an American. They all stopped the abuse, suddenly saying things like "why you not say you married an American" and "no problem, you work until you get plane ticket, then we cancel it". Though they are liars, the lied before about letting her leave the country...waiting until the very day they were to stamp her passport, when they told her to come to the headquaters office and be angry with her for trying to leave the first time before Ramadan. But we believe that now they know she is married to an American, they will pretend to be peaceful, letting her work until process finish, if we can change embassies.

So if we can transfer her case, she can still work at that company until then. The biggest problem is IV Package, all her papers are in Ethiopia, not UAE. But I do have, in America, original marriage certificate and wedding photos and all emails of our relationship.

The fact that she actually has her passport in hand is great and one of the bigger hurdles that you have already accomplished. I would make sure she keeps it and does not give it back to them. Having an American or European on your side often does change the perspective of those companies. Different rules for different nationalities over there.

So it sounds like she will be ok to continue to work for them and I think that will be the best possible situation to have her interview there. Call NVC about having your case sent to Abu Dhabi instead of Addis Ababa. Again tell them she has legal residence there through her work visa, you may need to send a copy of the visa in her passport.

You have the marriage certificate for the IV packet. See if you can get someone to send your wife's birth certificate to you from Ethiopia or have her contact her nearest consulate to see if they can help her to obtain a copy. Looking at the reciprocity table My link it appears that she can't get the Ethiopian police clearance if she is not currently residing there so that should be ok. She will need her clearance from the emirate she is living or has lived in for the IV packet. Are there any other places she has lived?

The photos can be sent or emailed to her and she can print them out herself along with the emails for the interview. There are tons of photo and internet places she can go to to accomplish this.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

The fact that she actually has her passport in hand is great and one of the bigger hurdles that you have already accomplished. I would make sure she keeps it and does not give it back to them. Having an American or European on your side often does change the perspective of those companies. Different rules for different nationalities over there.

So it sounds like she will be ok to continue to work for them and I think that will be the best possible situation to have her interview there. Call NVC about having your case sent to Abu Dhabi instead of Addis Ababa. Again tell them she has legal residence there through her work visa, you may need to send a copy of the visa in her passport.

You have the marriage certificate for the IV packet. See if you can get someone to send your wife's birth certificate to you from Ethiopia or have her contact her nearest consulate to see if they can help her to obtain a copy. Looking at the reciprocity table My link it appears that she can't get the Ethiopian police clearance if she is not currently residing there so that should be ok. She will need her clearance from the emirate she is living or has lived in for the IV packet. Are there any other places she has lived?

The photos can be sent or emailed to her and she can print them out herself along with the emails for the interview. There are tons of photo and internet places she can go to to accomplish this.

UAE is the only place she has lived, besides Ethiopia.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

My current plan is to call and email the NVC, the US consulate in Abu Dhabi, the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, the UAE embassy in Washington. If worst situation, I start emailing and callingthe United Nations High Commissoner for Refugees. And the Canadian Consulate for asylum.

My worry is I will keep getting lazy or tired operators that not help us. But is there another number, besides 603 334 0700, for the NVC that I could call that would better understand our situation? And other organizations/offices' phone numbers/emails besides those I mentioned in the first sentence of this reply?

Edited August 31, 2012 by Freedom 4 Married

[beejay 125]

UAE is the only place she has lived, besides Ethiopia.

So if I were you I would:

1. Call NVC to get the consulate switched to Abu Dhabi - comply with whatever documentation they may need from you

2. Start trying to figure out how to get a certified copy of your wife's birth certificate - it sounds like she has a copy, it is just in Ethiopia so I would try and arrange for someone to send you the document.

- also have her call her nearest consulate to see if they have any way to help her get another certified copy of her birth certificate

- If you are not able to get a certified copy after trying to get it you could try asking NVC to waive the requirement until she has her interview. This may or may not work but if you can show that you tried and were unable to get the copy because of current circumstances in Ethiopia right now it may work.

3. Have her get her police clearance from the emirates she has lived in so that you can complete that portion and send in the IV packet.

[beejay 125]

My current plan is to call and email the NVC, the US consulate in Abu Dhabi, the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, the UAE embassy in Washington. If worst situation, I start emailing and callingthe United Nations High Commissoner for Refugees. And the Canadian Consulate for asylum.

My worry is I will keep getting lazy or tired operators that not help us. But is there another number, besides 603 334 0700, for the NVC that I could call that would better understand our situation? And other organizations/offices' phone numbers/emails besides those I already mentioned?

Because neither Abu Dhabi or Addis Ababa have your case yet it should be as simple as calling NVC and requesting the change. I would start with that number and if you are not getting the answers you want ask to speak to a supervisor. You are not the first person to need to change consulates and because her work permit serves as her legal residence in UAE it shouldn't be a problem.

Good luck.