13a Visa Application in the UAE

[PaulB]

I have been reading a few of the threads on people's experience of applying for a 13a visa. I am working in the UAE (Abu Dhabi) and as I intend to retire in 3 years, and knowing "Filipino Time" I decided I would start my application last Aug 2015.

I obtained all the requirements and gathered all of my documents which left only the medical to do. This was going well until the stool sample! I had popped out of work to go and do the medical so dressed in my suit, hottest time of the year, I am faced with a trip to a non Air conditioned toilet where low and behold no stool wanted to see the light of day!

Faced with this issue and as the temperature was rising and sweat rolling I decided to WhatsAP my wife, who has some nursing experience, to see if there was some secret technique to get stool out and into this small skinny tube. The reply I got to my message was to "Eat Ice Cream"! I am sure I mentioned I was sat on a toilet in the medical centre so where the hell was I supposed to get Ice Cream!! So once I made my point clear she came back with " Sorry drink coffee then"!!! Funny that I did not see a coffee machine in my cubicle either!

 

After another 20 minutes I got another message from my wife informing me that you actually can take the tube away and do the sample and then return it. At this point I gave up and went back to my office, soaked in sweat, without a coffee or ice-cream!!!

 

I have subsequently submitted the required sample and visa is under application. I now find out I am the first person to apply for a 13a visa in Abu Dhabi so I do not expect the visa for at least another year.

 

I thought I would share this story so people know to eat ice cream or drink a cup of coffee before you go for your medical!

[Gratefuled]

This is very funny. I'm gonna wait for some responses and suggestions on your stool sample problem. I have some but I think they want firm stool samples and from LBM

[intrepid]

5 hours ago, PaulB said:

I have subsequently submitted the required sample and visa is under application. I now find out I am the first person to apply for a 13a visa in Abu Dhabi so I do not expect the visa for at least another year.

Well, even though I was applying in the USA I thought the same thing and it would take a long time to receive.  However, from my experience it seems the only thing they do there at the embassy is review the application, insert a temp visa in your passport, return your application in a sealed envelope and have you hand carry it to the main immigration office in Manila within 7 days of arrival in country.  The process takes only days for the initial in USA and again my guess may be the same for you.  Hopefully it does not come too soon and expire before you are ready to leave.  It will only be valid for one year initially.