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’Early decision’ expected on UAE entry of Indians on all visa categories: Envoy

The announcement from the ambassador comes as a respite for scores of UAE expatriates who are still stranded in India.

An ’early decision’ is expected on allowing all categories of valid visa holders to travel from India to the UAE, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE has said.

Pavan Kapoor announced on his Twitter handle on Wednesday: "Since the UAE has recently started issuing new visas, we have recommended to authorities in India to consider allowing Indians with valid visas to travel to the UAE. We are hopeful for an early decision."

Consul-General of India in Dubai Dr Aman Puri said once revised, those with families in the UAE and those with new residency visas that have not yet been stamped into the passports will be allowed to travel into the UAE. However, the exception does not extend to those planning to travel for the purpose of ’seeking jobs’, said Dr Puri.

The announcement from the ambassador comes as a respite for scores of UAE expatriates who are still stranded in India. Many desperately await to reunite with their loved ones and return to their jobs in the UAE.

On Monday, the ambassador announced the temporary India-UAE travel corridor, which began on July 12, will be extended till August 31.

However, the agreement is limited only to those having valid residence visas stamped in their passports. The passengers also need to acquire pre-travel approvals from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA), and a valid Covid-19 negative PCR test result from government-approved laboratories.

As Khaleej Times has reported earlier, parents of students stranded in India without residence visas, newborn babies, newly married couples who are yet to take residency visas, and a few with confirmed job offers are among those who are requesting entry into the UAE on visit visas. Several varsity students stranded in India have been travelling all the way to the US to return to the UAE using their B1/B2 tourist visas.