Emad Eddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) affirmed that the one-year residency granted to foreigners whose countries suffer from wars, disasters or unrest may also include the family members, outside or inside the country.

The competent public department may grant a foreigner a renewable residence permit for a period of one year, in humanitarian cases, provided that a guarantor or a host is available, the ICP clarified.

The ICP has set 4 conditions for issuing a one-year, renewable residence permit for foreigners whose countries suffer from wars, disasters or unrest, including the necessity that the foreigner holds the nationality of the country suffering from wars, disasters or unrest, and the head of the ICP, in this case decides whether or not to issue the visa. The second term stipulates that the foreigner must be inside the UAE, has adequate financial solvency, and a proper housing.

The ICP also identified several cases to prevent a foreigner from entering the country, including if he was caught on board a ship trying to enter the country illegally, or if he did not have an entry visa or residence permit.

The foreigner would be deported also if the period of the licence granted to him according to an entry visa or residence permit expired and he did  not renew it within the prescribed period, and if his entry visa or residence permit was canceled and he did not leave the country within the prescribed period, ICP added.

The ICP pointed out that if a foreigner who would be deported has projects in the country, he will be given a grace period of no more than 3 months, to settle them after submitting an acceptable guarantee.

The ICP can deport his family members on his own charge, at the expenses of the guaranteeing body, or at the expenses of the employer but if this was not possible, they would be deported at the expense of the ICP.

It also indicated that a foreigner is deported from the country if a judicial ruling of deportation is issued against him, and he may be deported administratively even if he has a residence permit, or if the security authorities believe that his deportation is for the good of the public interest, public security or public morals.

A foreigner who was previously deported from the country can not return to it unless he obtains approval from the head of the ICP, according to the authority.