A former UAE resident applying for permanent residence in Canada said he fears his future may be in jeopardy because he has been unable to obtain a good conduct certificate from the UAE
Haseeb Sarwar Khan told Gulf News that he was informed by a UAE official that he must renew his visa and Emirates ID card first before he can receive a certificate.
However, Khan left the UAE after he cancelled his UAE visa in March last year and married a Canadian woman in October 2015.
His wife is now living in Canada and has applied to sponsor her husband in her home country while awaiting the good conduct certificate.
Khan, meanwhile, said he is living in his home country of Pakistan and cannot leave until he straightens out the certificate delay.
"It is not possible for me to come to the UAE because I have a job in my home country now, and they have not allowed me holidays, while I hire a consultant firm to get a police certificate on my behalf," Khan said. "As I was resident of Sharjah, UAE, they applied in Sharjah HQ but they said I need a valid visa, and Emirates ID for obtaining a police character certificate."
Khan said he logged on to the Ministry of Interior website and spoke in an online chat with a ministry official who also told him that in order to obtain a police clearance certificate, he must renew a valid Emirates ID card.
Khan said he talked to "one of the representatives and she said the same that according to law I need to renew my Emirates ID to obtain police certificate with valid visa."
Unable to return to UAE, Khan said he cannot move forward with his Canadian immigration process.
The consultancy firm he hired to help obtain his conduct certificate has also written to him noting that they were informed by a UAE official that they cannot proceed unless Khan renews his Emirates ID card and visa.
Sharjah Police officials told Gulf News that Khan does not need an existing visa or Emirates ID card and the number from the cancelled visa should be sufficient.
Sharjah Police told Gulf News that all one-time residents of UAE who have cancelled their visa and ID card have the right to obtain clearance certificate through the Ministry of Interior's criminal security administration department.
People can contact the administration though the ministry website or email them. The person should provide the department with his old ID number. The department will use the old number of the ID card or visa to check on the person in order to issue a clearance certificate.
Canada requirement:
In Canada, meanwhile, a spokesperson at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told Gulf News that all immigrants applying for permanent residence must produce a good conduct certificate from a country in which they have lived.
The clearance document satisifies Canadian officials that any incoming residents to the country will not pose a criminal problem for society.
"All immigrants to Canada must meet the requirements for permanent residence in Canada, as set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). The onus is on the applicant to satisfy the visa officers that they meet the requirements for a permanent resident visa," the spokesperson said.
Requirements include documentation that applicants "do not have a criminal record; do not pose a threat to Canada's security."
"When someone applies to become a permanent resident, they must get a police certificate. The IRCC uses police certificates to find out if they have a criminal record. Police certificates help visa officers make sure the applicant is not a security risk to Canada."
By Aghaddir Ali
