I’ve been in Dubai April 2008. In October 2008, I got a special visa from Global Village. After I finished the special visa last April 2009, I did not renew or get a new visa therefore I haven’t had a visa for almost 3 years. My wife is here and she’s working and has a residence visa. I plan to surrender (I don’t know if it is the right term) to immigration this coming September as my wife is going for her annual vacation. My question is, if I surrender to immigration, do I still have an immigration ban here in Dubai? I want to come back and join my wife here as she will be working here for another 5-years. How many months or years will the immigration ban be, or could it be permanent? Thanks for your help!

You will have to purchase an exit ticket and visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (main Immigration department) showing your ticket and original passport.

You will be asked to provide the reason why you have overstayed in the UAE for approx. 3 years. Depending on the Authority’s decision, a life time or temporary ban will be imposed on you. You will certainly need to pay an overstay fine, which will be calculated by the officer during the same visit to the Authority.