Security clearance and visa procedures

oxnew wrote:

Actually, I don't know, the HR is taking care of everything. I am now waiting for the work entry visa which I believe is the last step before I enter uae. What about yours!? Which university are you gonna work for? I am gonna be in UAEU in al ain.

If you're waiting for the work visa now, that means your security clearance was approved. I've been waiting for the security clearance for over 4 months now. The university I've been offered a position at is in Abu Dhabi. I've been reluctant to mention the name of the institution because I'm not sure if that'll influence my chances of getting approved.

The UAE authorities may conduct forum monitoring for potential expats as part of their clearance procedures. On the other hand, they may not OR it may not matter. I, and every potential Abu Dhabi expat I've come across, don't know what these checks are comprised of. The university doesn't know either. They just wait for the government to send them a response of approval or rejection.

Star_Psy wrote:

Hi,

I'm currently waiting on the Abu Dhabi security clearance for a teaching position at a university. It's been over 4 months now.

Anyway, there is a specific security check process that all of the expats at this university have to go through in order to receive a final offer and be subsequently processed for a visa. The only thing the potential expat has to do is get a bunch of documents attested - which includes degrees - and scan them over to the university.

The university in turn submits them to the government for processing. There is no timeframe for approval. The university is in the dark about this process as well. Approval could take a couple weeks to almost half a year. From the posts of others on other forums this, unfortunately, seems pretty normal.

Here are two links:

Abu Dhabi Security Clearance Forum: Thread 1

Abu Dhabi Security Clearance Forum: Thread 2


Here are the steps that I had to follow in their respective order:

1. Get a copy of the document notarized.
2. Have the Secretary of State of Michigan validate the notarization.
3. Have the US Department of State validate the Michigan State validation.
4. Have the UAE Embassy in the US validate the US Department of State's validation.

I also had to attest my marriage docs in their country of origin, which is Bangladesh. This is what my relatives had to do for me over there, in order:

1. Notarize the document.
2. Get it attested by the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. Get it stamped by the UAE Embassy in Bangladesh.

Did you receive your approval yet???

Well, it took you longer maybe cuz you are taking your dependent  and, moreover, they are not originated from the states... I am going there alone, maybe that's why...

par26 wrote:

Hi i m waiting for my security clearance in Abu Dhabi i got job offer there ,in the beginning hr told me that it took 4-6 weeks but now almost 3 months.......nd i m still waiting for that....any one one have any idea about time limit......

As of today, it has been 9 months for me with no end in sight.

Star_Psy wrote:

par26 wrote:

Hi i m waiting for my security clearance in Abu Dhabi i got job offer there ,in the beginning hr told me that it took 4-6 weeks but now almost 3 months.......nd i m still waiting for that....any one one have any idea about time limit......

As of today, it has been 9 months for me with no end in sight.

Nine months and you are still patient waiting for this? I don't know about the offer, but you will know after you come here, not a friendly country at all... The way people work is shiiiit,,,,, consider carefully whether it worthwhile to come to a country like this....

shabb wrote:

I have been waiting for an offer from a University in Abu Dhabi for over 5 months now. Professor in the university said the security check is in process.  When I recently contacted the HR they said the hiring process has been stopped at the admin level. Professor said that the hiring will resume after a while. I am really wondering if the hiring process is really going to take a start again. They did not give me the reason why the process has been stopped neither they said I have been rejected for the position.

Can someone help me??

Hi Shabb,

I've been waiting 10 and 1/2 months for my security check. I have been offered a position at a university in Abu Dhabi as well.

Everyone who works in a government or semi-government institution has to have a security check before being given a formal contract. There is no rhyme or reason that anyone can figure out in relation to the security check. It is arbitrary and mysterious. Some people have received clearance in a couple of days. Most people have to wait for 4 months on average. There is also no one that can help you. You just have to wait. Additionally, established expatriates in the UAE have to go through this as well if they change their place of employment to a government/semi-government institution. Some of them have been denied.

Denials are most often never given explanations.

Sorry for the bad news. I hope yours goes through soon.

**Update**

Another factor that may be at play is Emiratization. The UAE government wants a fully UAE national workforce. This is causing issues for potential expats as well.  It's possible the UAE government is using the security check as a stalling method to force the employer to find an Emirati. This may also be a possible reason why the administration at your university has stopped the hiring process.

Here's a link that'll fill you in on Emiratization.

Abu Dhabi Education Council: Emiratization adec.ac.ae/en/Education/KeyInitiatives/Pages/Emiratization.aspx

**Update**

It's important to note that potential employees of a government/semi-government entity always go through the employer's HR department for the security check. It's HR that submits everything to the government. In reality, people who say the process is simple aren't involved in the process at all. If an HR representative says the process is simple that individual is lying. All HR can do is submit the application with relevant documents.

Unless you have a relative working for the UAE government in the department that handles the security check (which isn't likely) there is no way you'd be able to find out anything about the process, status of an application, or reason for approval or denial.