Common Mistakes to Avoid When Checking Your UAE Visa Status Online

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a popular location for travelers to settle abroad and business travelers from around the world. Whether you are visiting for work, traveling, or for residency reasons, verifying your UAE visa status on the internet is essential to make sure you've got legitimate travel permission. But many commit mistakes in the process of checking visa status, which can cause excessive stress, delay, or even misinformation.

To assist you in avoiding these mstakes, we've created a list of typical mistakes you should beware of when looking up your UAE visa status on the internet and the best way to ensure that you have a pleasant process.

1. Entering Incorrect Passport Details

The most frequently-made error people commit is not entering the correct passport details while checking the UAE visa information. This online application requires exact details, and even a tiny error could result in the wrong information or fail to find your visa's details.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Make sure you double-check the passport's number prior to entering it into the system.
• Check that your name matches the name that appears on the passport.
• Beware of adding spaces and special characters, which are not necessary.

2. Using the Wrong Website for Visa Status Check

Unknowingly, many people use third-party websites or fake websites that advertise to provide UAE visa check online. However, they may give incorrect details or may be frauds.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

1. Make use of official government sites to check your UAE visa status:
• Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP): https://icp.gov.ae
• General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)—Dubai: https://://gdrfad.gov.ae
• Do not enter personal information on untrusted websites to guard yourself against identity theft or fraud.

3. Not Checking the Visa Validity and Expiry Date Properly

Sometimes, travelers assume that they have a valid visa but fail to check the date of expiration. This could lead to penalties for overstay as well as legal problems within the UAE.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Always confirm the validity date of your visa while reviewing your status on a visa.
• Create a reminder or an alert for you to extend your visa before the time runs out.
• If you are the multi-entry visa, make sure you are in compliance with the permitted duration of every stay.

4. Selecting the Wrong Visa Type

The UAE offers a variety of visas.These include travel visas for tourists, visas to work, residence visas, and transit visas. If you pick the wrong type of visa when making a check on your visa status, you could receive wrong details or an error message.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Find the specific type of visa that you have applied for prior to making sure you know the status.
• Find the type of visa you need with the issuer authority (ICP for all visas and GDRFA in Dubai for visas issued by the GDRFA).

5. Checking Visa Status Too Soon After Application

When applying for the UAE visa, people often do mistake of not checking their status fast. Visa processing can take time, so checking too soon could reveal an "No Record Found" error.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Make sure you wait for at least two to five days prior to verifying your visa status (for tourist visas as well as permits for work, processing times could be different).
• Be sure to check your emails for any updates from the visa processing agent or the employer before confirming your status on the internet.

6. Ignoring System Maintenance or Technical Issues

Sometimes websites of the government go through regular maintenance or experience technical difficulties that temporarily hinder visitors from accessing services for visa status.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• If your website isn't functioning, you can wait for a couple of hours before trying again.
• Be sure to check for official announcements on social media and the UAE official portals about website issues.

7. Not Using a Stable Internet Connection

An unreliable internet connection could create problems while checking your UAE visa status online. This can lead to a failed search or an inaccurate result.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Make sure that you are connected to a steady internet connection prior to accessing the portal for visa checks.
• Do not use a Wi-Fi network that is accessible to the public that could create security threats.

8. Overlooking Visa Cancellation Status

If you're switching jobs or leaving the UAE, it is important to confirm the status of your visa cancellation in order to avoid legal problems. A lot of people believe that they have been fired by their employers and lose their visa only to learn the next day that they're still legally registered as UAE residents.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Always check the status of the cancellation of your visa prior to completing any arrangements for employment or travel.
• Request your company or the PRO (Public Relations Officers) to provide a Visa cancellation confirmation.
• Utilize the UAE Visa Status Check tool to make sure that your visa has been marked as cancelled.

9. Not Keeping a Copy of Your Visa Details

Most people don't take a print or copy of the details of their visa when they check their visa status on the internet. This could cause problems when they need to prove their status as a visa holder to check their immigration status or for reasons for travel.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• Take the screen shot or photocopy of your visa's status page to be used for reference in the future.
• Keep an online copy of this document to your email or phone for quick access.

10. Ignoring Differences Between Emirate-Specific Visa Checks

Processing of visas and checks on status for the UAE are different in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other Emirates. Certain applicants incorrectly verify their visas using the wrong portal for their Emirate, which can lead to confusion.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

• If you have a visa issued by the GDRFA in Dubai, access the GDRFA website.
• If you have a visa that was issued in other Emirates, use ICP's website.

• Make sure you verify the authority that issued your visa prior to making any decisions.

Conclusion

Verifying the status of your UAE immigration status on the internet is an easy but crucial step for travelers or residents as well as workers. Always go to official government sites, verify information before making a submission, and keep records of the information you have submitted for your visa. An extra bit of caution could prevent you from costs, legal issues, or even travel delays to the UAE.