The organisation accuse Middle East regimes of being complicit in creating working conditions it likens to slavery. According to a spokesperson:

“Employers have near-total control over migrants. Without the ability to change jobs, and sometimes to leave the country, workers can get trapped in exploitative situations in which they are forced to work without wages, get beaten, or face other abuses”

The “Kafala” system of sponsorship is commonplace in the GCC countries, where up to 12 million foreign workers are empoyed.

Critics say that the sponsorship program is a double edged sword. It makes it easy for foreign workers to take up jobs in the Gulf, but simultaneously binds them to their employers in situations that are often very inequitable. In Kuwait, for example icriminal charges can be brought against workers who leave their jobs, and in Saudi Arabia and Qatar workers have to seek an exit visa with the permission of their employees in order to leave the country.

The Gulf states are, of course, no strangers to criticism. But with their continued economic might and the reliance of the world on petrochemicals from the region, it is difficult for other countries to effectively push for change.

If you’re thinking of adding to the number, then it is best to get to grips with the visa requirements beforehand as they are often quite complex and demanding.

If you are from some countries, you can get a visa on arrival at Dubai airport. These countries are as follows:

• GCC Nationals: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
• Greece
• Finland
• Spain
• Monaco
• Vatican City
• Iceland
• Andorra
• San Mario
• Liechtenstein.
• France
• Italy
• Germany
• Holland
• Belgium
• Luxemburg
• Switzerland
• Austria
• Sweden
• Norway
• Denmark
• Portugal
• Ireland
• United Kingdom
• USA and Canada
• Australia and New Zealand
• Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong

The government of Dubai updates the list from time to time so get in touch with the UAE embassy or visit the official website of the Dubai government for up to date information.

If you come from outside of those countries then you will need a sponsor in order to acquire a Dubai visa.

Eligible Sponsors

• Anyone who is a Dubai residence visa holder with an income of more than AED 4000 a month
• Your travel agent or the hotel where you are staying
• Any company that is based in Dubai

The sponsor must submit the relevant paperwork and pay the fee on your behalf. A
visit visa for Dubai last 55 days from the date you arrive and can be renewed for 1further month if needed.

Without a Sponsor

Without a sponsor it can be very difficult to acquire a legitimate visa in order to work in or visit Dubai, but there are some potential options.

If you fly into Dubai on Emirates airlines, you can make a visa application without a sponsor. The airline have set up Visa Processing Centres in various countries, so getting in touch with the airline is the best place to start.

Also Dubai’s visa restrictions are relaxed a little during some of the many festivals that occur in the principality, such as the Dubai Shopping Festival

U.S. Visa Application
An H1B visa requires sponsorship by a US based employer. Foreign nationals cannot apply by themselves for this type of visa, a US employer must petition for their entry. The application date can be as long as six months before the actual start of employment based on the US fiscal year.

H1B Requirements
The H1B visa is designed for workers in specialty occupations or professions that entail expertise or specialised knowledge. The minimum requirement is normally a job-relevant tertiary education, equivalent to a 4-year US Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of a three-year course plus three years of relevant work experience. Undergraduates can qualify for a H1B visa if they have at least 12 years of relevant work experience. Professional practitioners are required to pass the licensure exams mandated by the government.

Duration of Stay
H1B holders can work in the USA for a maximum of three years during their first term. This visa can then be renewed for up to two years and for one further year thereafter. When the six-year maximum residency ends, H1B workers must leave the USA and wait for one year before applying for another visa.

Rights of H1B Workers
Should an H1B worker be dismissed prior to the expiration of his visa, the sponsoring employer is liable for the expenses he incurs in returning to his previous foreign residence.

You can normally get visas through your travel agents, but don’t rely on them to get it sorted, we would ask them about visa requirements when your booking.

We have heard story’s about family’s getting to the airport and not having visas for say Cuba, sometimes the visas can be issued at the airport.

We have found a Travel blog which covers a couple of popular destinations, such as Belfast, Cairo and Amman.

The most common types of South African visa are listed below.

Work Visa
This visa is often granted to foreign professionals when there is a skill shortage in the South African market. Information technology, engineering, accountancy and finance are some of the most highly sought-after positions in South Africa.

Spouse and Life Partner Visa
A South African relative or permanent resident must sponsor this visa.

Retirement Visa
South Africa is a popular destination among retirees, owing to the anti-discrimination provisions of its constitution and the climate. A retirement visa grants temporary or permanent residency and is available to anyone who is financially capable of supporting themselves. To qualify, South African visa applicants must have a pension account or annuity amounting to at least R20,000 per month. Unlike a work permit, a retirement visa does not require employer sponsorship, though retirement visa holders enjoy the right to work in South Africa if they wish to.

Business Visa
This type of visa offers temporary residence to businessmen. Its closest foreign counterparts are the UK investor visa and the US EB-5 visa. To qualify for a business visa, applicants must have a minimum investment of R2.5million. Visa applicants must also submit a comprehensive business plan and must be employed in the planned venture. Proof of entrepreneurial skills and business experience are also required.

In June, President Bema announced that in three months, “USCIS will launch a vastly improved website that will, for the first time ever, allow applicants to get updates on the status of their applications via e-mail and text message and online…This is going to save [families] huge amounts of time standing in line, waiting around, making phone calls, being put on hold. It’s an example of some things that we can do administratively even as we’re working through difficult issues surrounding comprehensive immigration. We’re going to leverage cutting-edge technology to reduce the unnecessary paperwork, backlogs and the lack of transparency that’s caused so many people so much heartache.”

Anyone who has ever tried to navigate through the confusing pages of the old immigration website, is sure to be hopeful that these improvements will finally help in the processing of their applications.

The number of H-1B “specialty worker” visas has been updated by the USCIS for the fiscal year 2010. According to the service, on 26th June 2009, an estimated 44,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions and 20,000 advanced degree cap exemption petitions, the annual cap is 65,000, were received.

Go Matilda, which is an Australia based immigration agency, said the Business Skills project is about to reach its quota of 7,000 approved visas in the migration year 2008 to 2009. Applicants who have not been included in this period’s allocation will have to wait for the next migration year, which runs from 2009 to 2010. The immigration service will only then grant onshore and offshore business visas.

The country’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship also has other concerns apart from the basic processing of business visas within the migration year. They are also worried that there might already be too many businesses starting, which, even though they might meet the basic qualification criteria, do not generate enough new jobs once they are established.

Australian immigration officials would appreciate the patience of applicants in waiting for the results of their visa application. If any changes were to be made, announcements of the revised requirements would be declared before July. The reduced number of skills visas will only last until the economic crisis has ended. Once Australia’s economy has bounced back from the global recession, larger numbers of skilled workers will be in demand in the country.

The type of visa required depends on the country of residence of the traveller. Some countries are required to have their citizens obtain a direct air transit visa when visiting the United Kingdom.

Visitor visas enable their holders to stay in the country for six months. This includes business trips and medical treatment.

There is a points system in place to obtain a UK visa. The most talented applicants are considered for Tier 1 and British companies may sponsor foreign workers.

Anyone with capital, who wishes to invest in the country, can apply for an Entrepreneur Visa while those with talents or innovative ideas might apply for an Investor Visa. To obtain an Entrepreneur Visa, there must be proof of sufficient funds to start a business, invest in or buy an existing one. The holder is barred from seeking employment in other companies.

The government issues UK visas for professional training and education. There are several types of student visas, including the Post Study Work Programme and the Youth Mobility Scheme, which allows only a short stay.

Anyone who has been living legally in the country can apply to become nationals of the United Kingdom. They receive numerous benefits, including the right to work or reside in other EU countries.

In the case of the Intra Company Transfer, the company must meet several conditions. First, it should have a recognised presence both in the UK and in South Africa. Third, both must be part of the same international group. If these three conditions have been satisfied, the candidate for Intra Company Transfer may then be considered for transfer from the UK office to the South African subsidiary or division.

As far as Secondment work permits are concerned, the applicant cannot move to South Africa to work. Secondments only allow candidates to visit the company’s South African office or branch and as part of their job description, to provide services, but not transfer there. A typical example of the type of services that could be carried out on a Secondment working permit is the installation of equipment, software or similar. The work being done is strictly observed, in order to ensure that only essential and specialised services are being provided. It is clear that only very skilled and experienced workers will be able to claim a Secondment working permit.

Before these work permits are issued, South African officials will consider further criteria in order to ensure that a candidate is fit to be issued with one. Of course, the individual must be able to carry out the job, but another major criterion is that the candidate should have worked for the company for period of at least six months.

The US business visa or B1 visa, allows a foreign national to enter the country on short-term business activities, such as attending conferences, but actually carrying out work is not permitted. A B1 visa usually allows a candidate to enter the USA for up to six months, but the total validity period of this visa is anywhere from one to 10years, in most cases.

The B2 travel visa, allows a foreigner to travel around the USA, temporarily, for tourism purposes and to visit friends and family.

The L1 or H1B visa is issued to people who wish to live and work in the country for a longer period of time.

For anyone wishing to establish a business in the country, an E1 or E2 visa must be applied for. These two visas have five-year validity and holders of E1 and E2 visas have the opportunity to pursue a US Green Card.

Anyone intending to relocate in the USA permanently should go down the employment-based routes for US Green Cards by first applying for EB-1 and EB-2 visas.

The EB-3, EB-4 and EB-5 visas permit qualified individuals to apply for permanent residency in the country through employment opportunities.

An individual may also apply for a Green Card through specific categories of family relationship, such as a sibling, spouse, parent or fiancé.

The annual US “Green Card Lottery” is aimed at giving candidates from under-represented countries the opportunity of obtaining a Green Card and of living and working in the country.