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How can I extend my visa after termination and cancellation to find another job?

Hi,

I have been terminated from employment and my employer said that they will keep my visa until 7 November to give me time to find a new job. If I don’t find a new job by then, they will cancel the visa anyway.

It is unlikely I will secure a job by the 7 November deadline. I understand you have a 30-day grace period to change your status after visa cancellation. My plan is to change to a tourist visa.

My question is, if I want to go back home (U.K.) for a while (say 20 November to 4 Jan) and continue applying for jobs from England, what do I need to do regarding my visa?

If I exit the country on 20 Nov (within the 30-day grace period) is that sufficient?

I’ll still have my apartment, bank account, etc. here. To formerly ‘exit’ after residence visa cancellation, do these also need to be exited/closed?

Or is it as simple as I need to exit within 30 days of 7 Nov. so I can fly out mid-November and when I come back in Jan I just get a tourist visa?

Rashid Saif Advocates & Legal Consultancy
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5 Oct 2022, 09:27

We have new laws effective from 3rd Oct' 22. There will be 6 months grace period for canceled residency visas and also jobseekers tourist visas.

Kindly call or email us.

5 Oct 2022, 09:40

Thank you for your response, Rashid. Are you able to share a link to an article confirming the 6 month grace period?

I remember when the new visa rules were announced earlier this year that there was a grace period extension from 30 to 180 days.

However, in recent articles, I haven’t seen any confirmation of this being implemented from 3 October.

I’ve seen the job exploration visa, longer tourist visa, etc, but not the 6 months grace period.

5 Oct 2022, 10:06

https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/2022/09/05/new-uae-visa-scheme-to-begin-on-october-3/

You can still reconfirm the same by visiting the nearest AMER center.

Kindly call or email us.

5 Oct 2022, 11:46

Hi Rashid,

One more question. If I have six months grace period, that will take me from 7 November to 7 May.

If I exit the country in that time, i.e. go to the U.K. from November to January, when I come back in Jan, will I be on a 60-day tourist visa or still have the grace period until May?

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Laila Hamza Al Mulla Advocates and Legal Consultants
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13 Oct 2022, 10:22

It is easy, you can leave within one month after the cancelation, but if your job is based on a bachelor's degree, you have six months to stay here to find another job.

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Mohamed Bakheet Advocates & Legal Consultants
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21 Oct 2022, 18:48

It's simple, you need to get out within 30 days of November 7 so you can travel in mid-November.

And when you come back in January, you get a tourist visa.

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