Wife abused in UAE and not able to return to Ethiopia

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

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.

Thank you very much!

Sadly, the NVC number is busy signals/saying the "number has been disconnected". I will try every hour. Probaly because it is a long weekend because of federal holiday, monday Labor Day. So, maybe, I will not get information until tuesday, but before then I can ask her to start asking the US and Ethiopian embassies in UAE, because the work starts again sunday at the embassies there.

I will keep this topic updated every day until this problem is solved, so anyone, including myself, can be helped by it.

Edited August 31, 2012 by Freedom 4 Married

[centrinouk 5]

Thank you very much!

Sadly, the NVC number is busy signals/saying the "number has been disconnected". I will try every hour. Probably because it is a long weekend because of federal holiday, monday Labor Day. So, maybe, I will not get information until Tuesday, but before then I can ask her to start asking the US and Ethiopian embassies in UAE, because the work starts again Sunday at the embassies there.

I will keep this topic updated every day until this problem is solved, so anyone, including myself, can be helped by it.

You've mentioned earlier before that your marriage was in America with her.

I was living in U.A.E before that horrible country for 2 years and they are discriminative and racist unfortunately.

I am so sorry to hear your bad new you and your wife and yes I was a Network Engineer and I have configured Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed new palace and residence network and I know the Royal Family (AL NAHYAN) in Abu Dhabi they are dictators and this country is full of suppression.

Anyway, If you married her in America that means she might be having a U.S Visit Visa for 5-10 years issued multi entry.

So , If she still has a U.S visa she can just fly to you and you can change the case easily to any of the field offices.

I hope your wife has a long term multi entry visa 3 , 5 or 10 years visa.

Thanks for the madame from Philippines she sounds like she lived in U.A.E for several years.

But those laws are changed I just left U.A.E last December.

Now the work visa rules are getting a 2 years only work visa instead of 3 years also as Federal rules you must be with your sponsor for 2 years and you cannot leave him unless he violate the department of labor laws.

The NOC (No Objection Certificate) it's a cancelled and revoked not available anymore since May 2011.

If you left your employer at anytime before 2 years you will be automatically banned from U.A.E for a period 6-12 months.

You can leave your job at anytime if your salary is above 10,000 AED or 15,000 AED or you will be promoted to a manager somewhere else.

Now it's assumed as 2 years contract and not renewable. If you finished 2 years with the company you have to sign a brand new contract and be issued a brand new visa not renewal.

Like in America you make a lease rental for apartment some landlords make it 1 year lease or 6 months.

If you left at anytime within the 6 months or 1 year then you will not be refunded your deposit but if you gonna leave after 6 months or 1 year it's assumed that your rental is month to month agreement so in U.A.E in the old laws was like that when the visa was 3 years but now with the new laws there is no month to month agreement anymore.

If you need any further help please don't hesitate to contact me on my personal message and I can give you my contact number and email address if you want.

I am so upset and sympathetic for you and your wife.

[Mr America 1]

Sorry to hear your situation and hope theres a viable solution out of this. However, not sure about where the news is about a crisis in Ethiopia where all the airports are closed and war is looming? Just did a search for news articles about it, couldnt find, and did a search for flights from Dubai/Abu Dhabi to Addis Adaba and its letting me select and book direct flights for even tomorrow.

However the scenerio works out, best of luck!

[beejay 125]

Now the work visa rules are getting a 2 years only work visa instead of 3 years also as Federal rules you must be with your sponsor for 2 years and you cannot leave him unless he violate the department of labor laws.

The NOC (No Objection Certificate) it's a cancelled and revoked not available anymore since May 2011.

If you left your employer at anytime before 2 years you will be automatically banned from U.A.E for a period 6-12 months.

You can leave your job at anytime if your salary is above 10,000 AED or 15,000 AED or you will be promoted to a manager somewhere else.

<snip>

Thanks for the update centrinouk. I knew changes were coming and I've been wondering what they looked like. It sounds like a few things have improved and other things have gotten worse. Labourers are still getting the short end of the stick with that salary requirement. So, if you make less than that and you want to leave your job before 2 years you are automatically banned? Even if your employer is willing you cannot get an NOC? Is the ministry of labour keeping up their end up the bargain with allowing employees to leave if their employers are in violation of labour laws?

Thanks again for your post. I'm sorry for your experience in UAE, it's not an easy place to be when you have no power or control and nationalism/racism are endemic to the system. Hope you have moved onto a better place.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

Anyway, If you married her in America that means she might be having a U.S Visit Visa for 5-10 years issued multi entry.

But those laws are changed I just left U.A.E last December.

If you left your employer at anytime before 2 years you will be automatically banned from U.A.E for a period 6-12 months.

If you need any further help please don't hesitate to contact me on my personal message and I can give you my contact number and email address if you want.

I am so upset and sympathetic for you and your wife.

I apologize, I not wrote my marriage history before I wrote the topic, but I will definitely write it when I have the time. We were married in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 30, 2011. She has never been to America, but she started working in UAE when she was 14 years old, 10 years ago, (She now is 24 years old. Myself 24, also). Anyway, she has more time been in UAE than Ethiopia, only going for visits and changing work visas for different companies/families in UAE.

She still need to create IV Packagen (birth/police/biography papers), then send the IV Package but we are already approved the AOS Package. My worry is what happens when she gets her visa, and she only been at that company for less than 1 year.

We okay with being banned, but will the US Government allow the UAE to arrest her, and not come to America?

What happens if the company steals her passport again?

I will soon need to know how people escaped there.

Thank you and everyone, greatly, for your help and experience.

Edited September 1, 2012 by Freedom 4 Married

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

Sorry to hear your situation and hope theres a viable solution out of this. However, not sure about where the news is about a crisis in Ethiopia where all the airports are closed and war is looming? Just did a search for news articles about it, couldnt find, and did a search for flights from Dubai/Abu Dhabi to Addis Adaba and its letting me select and book direct flights for even tomorrow.

However the scenerio works out, best of luck!

That is confusing, also. Because of very few news reports (probaly because of news media's attention with US elections and hurricane), we are not sure of what is happening there. Hopefully, it was just fear and media and/or government scaring the public, until after the Prime Minister's funeral tomorrow (sunday).

We know...UAE airlines companies were telling that the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport had been closed for 1 week after Ethiopian Prime Minister's death, that was confirmed by news article and my wife's sister and my friend that was stuck over there because of it...Their news agencies telling people that the military was preparing for an insurrection, though ambassadors in other contries were saying everything was going to be normal transition to Deputy Prime Minister...most government offices were closed for 2 weeks after the PM's death.

I not been able to find much coverage, but I also was surprised by the less amount of news that was coming out of Ethiopia directly. There was emergency session of their parliament, airport closings, and the military was preparing for insurrection, and offices closed.

Now, some are saying everything normal, others saying everything worse, others just guessing. But I not want my wife sit in a warzone, just for a few pieces of paper, waiting for government offices that may be closed now or in futre because they have more important thigns to prepare for. Even if it is all rumors, they still closed the airport and the offices we needed to process her papers. UAE maybe slower, but it is by very small ammount safer and less corrupt.

Though my wife is in danger and been victim of the abuses by that UAE company, she is better protected and has the ability to go to police and embassies and asylum/refugee agencies. Many of those are not in Ethiopia, and those few that are, are even more corrupted than those in UAE.

Your telling us good luck truthfully does give us the extra energy needed to run through this and finally be reunited again.

Edited September 1, 2012 by Freedom 4 Married

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

Sorry to hear your situation and hope theres a viable solution out of this. However, not sure about where the news is about a crisis in Ethiopia where all the airports are closed and war is looming? Just did a search for news articles about it, couldnt find, and did a search for flights from Dubai/Abu Dhabi to Addis Adaba and its letting me select and book direct flights for even tomorrow.

However the scenerio works out, best of luck!

I found I could still buy online tickets the same day the UAE airlines companies were telling Ethiopians coming to their office that the airport was closed.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

When my wife and I talked today, we both decided to change consulates from Ethiopia to UAE. The good is that she knows the offices in UAE better than Ethiopia, and the phone network and mailing is better. Today I will send the email requesting the change of consuates.

I wish I could be as happy as she is hearing that she can continue working while waiting for interview (not worry about waiting in Ethiopia), but I remember too much of what has happened to her before. Though, now the company has changed by learning she is married and, importantly, married to an American. She is everyday trying to comfort me that she has been through abuse and bribery/embezzelment/ransom problems before.

Edited September 1, 2012 by Freedom 4 Married

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

I have an NVC Case Number, but I not sent yet the IV Packet.

I sent an inquiry request to Abu Dhabi Immigration Visa Unit for requesting change of interview. But I now read on the state gov website, that the NVC not schedule interview until after approval of both AOS and IV Packets.

Yesterday, NVC operator said the only thing needed to change consulates was to email NVC the change of address.

How much delay will this cause?

[beejay 125]

I have an NVC Case Number, but I not sent yet the IV Packet.

I sent an inquiry request to Abu Dhabi Immigration Visa Unit for requesting change of interview. But I now read on the state gov website, that the NVC not schedule interview until after approval of both AOS and IV Packets.

Yesterday, NVC operator said the only thing needed to change consulates was to email NVC the change of address.

How much delay will this cause?

Because you 'caught' your packet at NVC it is the best time to change consulates. Neither Abu Dhabi nor Addis Ababa have your packet yet so it won't do you any good to call them. The operator is right, tell NVC you want to change consulates, if you do it now it won't cause you a delay. The interview won't be scheduled and your packet won't be sent on to the consulate until you have completed both AOS and IV packets. You said you had her birth certificate already to go in Ethiopia so start figuring out who you can contact in Ethiopia to send you her birth certificate.

Ethiopia does seem like a bit of an unknown right now because of the death of their prime minister so I think it is a smart decision to go through Abu Dhabi. It sounds like your wife is in a better situation now because of the perception of her status and will be fine to continue working until she has her interview.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

Because you 'caught' your packet at NVC it is the best time to change consulates. Neither Abu Dhabi nor Addis Ababa have your packet yet so it won't do you any good to call them. The operator is right, tell NVC you want to change consulates, if you do it now it won't cause you a delay. The interview won't be scheduled and your packet won't be sent on to the consulate until you have completed both AOS and IV packets. You said you had her birth certificate already to go in Ethiopia so start figuring out who you can contact in Ethiopia to send you her birth certificate.

Ethiopia does seem like a bit of an unknown right now because of the death of their prime minister so I think it is a smart decision to go through Abu Dhabi. It sounds like your wife is in a better situation now because of the perception of her status and will be fine to continue working until she has her interview.

I will definitely email and call the NVC as soon as I get the correct spelling of her address in UAE. The company provides her accommodation (described as multiple stories/floors with elevator/lift, and other roommates). There area has a lot of foreigner workers and Christian population.

1...How to accurately write the address? Abu Dhabu Embassy lists their address as title of department, embassy, PO Box Number, city, country. But I know in USA the apartment complexes have different ways (not always similar to house addresses) of writing the address.

2... Anyone know if what is described has a name of the district. I mean in Saudi Arabia, I hear they divide the cities into Christian/Muslim/Foreigner districts. Is the same in Abu Dhabi?

Edited September 2, 2012 by Freedom 4 Married

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

I will definitely email and call the NVC as soon as I get the correct spelling of her address in UAE. The company provides her accommodation (described as multiple stories/floors with elevator/lift, and other roommates). There area has a lot of foreigner workers and Christian population.

1...How to accurately write the address? Abu Dhabu Embassy lists their address as title of department, embassy, PO Box Number, city, country. But I know in USA the apartment complexes have different ways (not always similar to house addresses) of writing the address.

2... Anyone know if what is described has a name of the district. I mean in Saudi Arabia, I hear they divide the cities into Christian/Muslim/Foreigner districts. Is the same in Abu Dhabi? And is there a name for the building/complex accommodation they put her in?

[beejay 125]

I will definitely email and call the NVC as soon as I get the correct spelling of her address in UAE. The company provides her accommodation (described as multiple stories/floors with elevator/lift, and other roommates). There area has a lot of foreigner workers and Christian population.

1...How to accurately write the address? Abu Dhabu Embassy lists their address as title of department, embassy, PO Box Number, city, country. But I know in USA the apartment complexes have different ways (not always similar to house addresses) of writing the address.

2... Anyone know if what is described has a name of the district. I mean in Saudi Arabia, I hear they divide the cities into Christian/Muslim/Foreigner districts. Is the same in Abu Dhabi?

Just fit it as best you can. We had our interview in Abu Dhabi and did apartment complex name, unit number then name of area of city, emirate then UAE. Some people use their employers P.O. box as a mailing address in UAE but I assume you made yourself the agent so I wouldn't even bother with that. When she gets her visa she will have to go and pick it up they won't send it to her, so I wouldn't stress too much about the address.

[Freedom 4 Married 0]

We had our interview in Abu Dhabi and did apartment complex name, unit number then name of area of city, emirate then UAE. Some people use their employers P.O. box as a mailing address in UAE but I assume you made yourself the agent so I wouldn't even bother with that. When she gets her visa she will have to go and pick it up they won't send it to her, so I wouldn't stress too much about the address.

I am her agent, we are processing through IR-1/CR-1. After the NVC approves the IV Packet, but before the interview, will Abu Dhabi mail anything to me in America, or her in UAE?

[beejay 125]

I am her agent, we are processing through IR-1/CR-1. After the NVC approves the IV Packet, but before the interview, will Abu Dhabi mail anything to me in America, or her in UAE?

I don't know if the process has changed but we never received anything by mail. As her agent any documents you need will either be mailed or more likely emailed to you. You can also look for information on the embassy website which will have locations where she can do her medical.

Have you been able to change her consulate yet? Did you make arrangements for the birth certificate to be sent to you?