A. As per the UAE law, to avoid automatic cancellation of the residence visa, one has to re-enter the country within six months from the departure date. As your wife will not be entering the country for more than six months, she may need a new permit to re-enter.

If the delay in returning is due to reasons such as health, then you may approach the Naturalisation and Residency Department with the supporting documents for waiving the six months’ time limit. Students studying outside and having UAE residence visas are also given extension if proof is submitted to the authorities.

If the department concerned is satisfied with the reasons you cite, it may allow your wife to re-enter the country on the existing visa.

Q. I work with a small trading establishment here. I complete my duties around 2pm.

Is it legally right to work with another company on a freelance base if that firm is not a competitor of my current company and working there does not affect my performance?

A. You need permission from the Labour Department to work on a part-time basis after your official working hours. For this, you may submit an application along with your present sponsor’s no-objection certificate (NoC) to the department.

K.K. Sarachandra Bose is a Partner/ Corporate, Commercial and Contract Lawyer at Dar Al Adalah Advocates and Legal Consultants. Readers may e-mail their questions to: HYPERLINK “mailto:ktedit@emirates.net.ae” ktedit@emirates.net.ae or send them to (Legal View), Khaleej Times, Dubai
P.O Box 11243.

Compiled by Ahmed Shaaban