₦airaland Forum

Champagnemami:
Your employer takes your passport to prepare your visa. When he's done, he holds on to it cos he has spent money securing your stay, money you have not worked for. To secure his investment, he holds on to your passport so that you wont run after one month. The day you tire, you walk up to him and tell him you no do again, this is usually after a year. He then returns your passport, cancels your visa, and the system gives you 28 days to either renew or leave the country

In other words YOUR EMPLOYER OWNS YOU!!

soleexx:
Can you date someone from ur home country
And can you apply for permanent residence after 2 years

You can date any nationality but cohabitation is prohibited in UAE

You can only apply for another 2 years residency or 10 years investors visa if you qualify for it

Champagnemami:
I graduated some 7 years ago. I studied English education. Got done with the clarion call, and with as much fierceness and vigor I could muster, faced the labor market.

I started with Abuja. People had told me knocking on company gates could be more favorable than submitting applications on line. The rational was that sometimes there was just a single opening and the company would not bother to announce online. And so with my credentials and CV, I began my door to door job search.

It was that time of the year when the sun in Abuja was as extreme as the ice in Alaska, but I didn't relent When I remember those times, I keep asking myself if some few nuts were unscrewed in my head. I was living with my sis and her family at the time. She kept asking me to slow down but I no gree o . Maybe i thought if I suffered more, the blessing would come faster. And just like that it continued for the next 3 years - every year I would relocate to a different city in search of greener pastures. None of such moves yielded any tangible result. at some point of course I stopped the door to door.

My family could see the misery I was in and reached out. There were two options- go to the UK for a masters, or train to become a nurse. Care job is my 'hatest' job. So deep down I knew it was going to be a masters degree but after the degree then what? Return to Nigeria to face the same labor market?? Though this prospect seemed like a step up, it still wasn't a solution.

The powers that be, the ones footing the bills insisted I went for a nursing course since it was more lucrative. At a point i wanted to say I no do again but my Sis in d UK suggested I come see first and then I'll understand why nursing was it. And so I packed my kaya, headed for the UK.

One day, I had just finished from a campus tour at middle sex university and was just chilling in a cafe. I overhead some people talking about working in the middle east. There was this agency who was locally interviewing for the position of teachers in Dubai and how a CACHE certificate provided an edge. I was able to grab the name of the agency and looked them up online. By the next day, I had registered for a cache course

I have friends in Dubai who are doing very well indeed. One in construction as an architect and not a labourer, a few are teachers and a couple are accountants. No one took their passports off them and they travel regularly. I also know a maid though who is slaving and can't travel so it does seem to depend on one's skills set.

I'll call you a product of hard work. Some expect to reap what they don't sow.

Champagnemami

Is it easier to get a nursing job over there?

midnighter:
I heard that the reason for this is because

They calculate your salary using what you would have gotten if you were back in your home country to incentivize you To go there

What somebody would be paid in america, and what it would take to get that person to work in the gulf, is not the same as that of Nigeria

Yeah you're somehow right, since 80% of people here are expatriates, they believe you send more money back home

janettee:
Isn't it modern day slavery if your passport is seized by your employer?

But slavery is alive and kicking especially in the Middle East. Dubai even has slaves disguised as housemaids online on auction. Philipino, other Asian and African women. I kid you not.

Champagnemami:
The working days in the UAE are Sunday to Thursday. I'm sure this makes sense to y'all. This is a strict Muslim state where the government is influenced by religion. Friday and Saturday are weekends and church is Friday.

The UAE recognises just about two Christian groups: catholic and orthodox. They have assigned particular areas to churches. I have a feeling the government even built the cathedrals but I'm not sure. Of course you get other Nigerian churches like Christ embassy and winners but these ones dont have their own buildings but meet in rented halls and quietly/codedly so- no banners, no posters, no jingles, all quiet.
So on this day, sometime last year, I'd gone for service like every other Friday, and outside my own hall, I met this Nigerian guy who'd come to worship in the nearby catholic church and we got talking.

Well long story short, dude was working in a carwash and earning 2k dirhams, approximately 200k Naira. When his contract ended, his company refused to renew contract/visa. Since then he's not been able to land another job and has been on a 5months overstay. To get by, he cleans rented apartments for peanuts, for people who do not remember to ask for emirates ID. His biggest regret was not saving enough while working and wished he sent less money home. Dude wasn't looking good at all, he looked all parched and thirsty like someone who was in a desert other the 'sesky' Dubai. Right there, i thanked God for helping me find stability in this place and wished him well.

[b]Fast forward to sometime ds year, i ran into same nigga again. This time levels don change o. Dude was looking all fresh and sleek as he alighted from a ford explorer. The passenger beside him was a white lady. I must have stared at him with mouth agape cos he just smiled, signalled that i give him a minute and then went with the lady into the church. He came out a couple of minutes later and gave me gist.

He and white lady were now living together, he's now on a resident visa, he's been trying to take her to naija to meet his family but he no no se naija visa no be beans, they've decided to get married here and meet his family later. He now knows he's serving a living God. American visa toh sure . Lol I later learnt from someone that that day he spoke to me was the first time he was leaving the lady's side since they met. All the while he's been her bodyguard- taking great care to protect his interest b4 all these gold digging naija brethrens would snatch his God-given treasure. Where were they when he was all broke, jobless and homeless??

Lol...I'm sure by now d nigga is married and on a journey to claiming the blue passport[/b].

I used to be quite pissed with Nigerians and blacks that do these. But I no more get mad at them.
Frankly, if you survive using legal means- and, of course, this includes marrying someone legally in order to have a legal resident status- I have no qualms with that. A good majority of Nigerians abroad would prefer going back to Nigeria- hence the travel boom that happened during GEJ tenure. However in 2015, certain tribalist Nigerians believed that (s)electing a dictator with the ability to economically catapault Nigerians into the Stone Ages was preferable; Nigerians have been leaving in their droves in their quest to survive and live a better life. If we know the number of Drs leaving Nigeria, for example, Nigerians will declare a health emergency.

Hence if a 9ja man decides to legally marry a white woman for papers, I think he has not done anything wrong. He isnt to blame. Blame the system. I only worry for the Nigerian ladies who will have an eligible man been taken up by a white lady. Poor political decisions destroys economy and slowly displaces the social dynamics of a people.

queengift:
please continue with your story dear, ignore this people derailing ur thread.

Me sef i am tired.

Champagnemami:
The working days in the UAE are Sunday to Thursday. I'm sure this makes sense to y'all. This is a strict Muslim state where the government is influenced by religion. Friday and Saturday are weekends and church is Friday.

The UAE recognises just about two Christian groups: catholic and orthodox. They have assigned particular areas to churches. I have a feeling the government even built the cathedrals but I'm not sure. Of course you get other Nigerian churches like Christ embassy and winners but these ones dont have their own buildings but meet in rented halls and quietly/codedly so- no banners, no posters, no jingles, all quiet.
So on this day, sometime last year, I'd gone for service like every other Friday, and outside my own hall, I met this Nigerian guy who'd come to worship in the nearby catholic church and we got talking.

Well long story short, dude was working in a carwash and earning 2k dirhams, approximately 200k Naira. When his contract ended, his company refused to renew contract/visa. Since then he's not been able to land another job and has been on a 5months overstay. To get by, he cleans rented apartments for peanuts, for people who do not remember to ask for emirates ID. His biggest regret was not saving enough while working and wished he sent less money home. Dude wasn't looking good at all, he looked all parched and thirsty like someone who was in a desert other the 'sesky' Dubai. Right there, i thanked God for helping me find stability in this place and wished him well.

Fast forward to sometime ds year, i ran into same nigga again. This time levels don change o. Dude was looking all fresh and sleek as he alighted from a ford explorer. The passenger beside him was a white lady. I must have stared at him with mouth agape cos he just smiled, signalled that i give him a minute and then went with the lady into the church. He came out a couple of minutes later and gave me gist.

He and white lady were now living together, he's now on a resident visa, he's been trying to take her to naija to meet his family but he no no se naija visa no be beans, they've decided to get married here and meet his family later. He now knows he's serving a living God. American visa toh sure . Lol I later learnt from someone that that day he spoke to me was the first time he was leaving the lady's side since they met. All the while he's been her bodyguard- taking great care to protect his interest b4 all these gold digging naija brethrens would snatch his God-given treasure. Where were they when he was all broke, jobless and homeless??

Lol...I'm sure by now d nigga is married and on a journey to claiming the blue passport.

O boy!!!no dulling.very smart

Jaynom:
In other words YOUR EMPLOYER OWNS YOU!!

If you process your residency yourself, no one owns you.

Meanwhile not all employers withhold employees passport, my passport has been with me since I came here till date

drakeli:
Going to hustle in Dubai comes with a lot of challenges. Be careful about where you house yourself. UAE is a land of bedbugs

After three months of unsuccessful frantic effort to land a job in UAE, I returned to Nigeria with a load of bed bugs and their eggs hiding in every sewing edges of my suitcase without me knowing. Can you imagine bringing bedbugs on a plane with you? I declared a total war on my bedbug infested suitcase the very day I landed. The room where I stayed for the whole three months was an overcrowded room with a lot of double decker beds like a hostel with all their mattresses laden with bed bugs hiding in them.

Although my visit to Dubai was never a waste because it eventually served as a travel experience for me in getting my US visa.

Be warned!!!

This your bedbug story really cracked me up.

Thanks. Keep them coming.

My year 2020.

#imustescape #shithole

drakeli:
Going to hustle in Dubai comes with a lot of challenges. Be careful about where you house yourself. UAE is a land of bedbugs

After three months of unsuccessful frantic effort to land a job in UAE, I returned to Nigeria with a load of bed bugs and their eggs hiding in every sewing edges of my suitcase without me knowing. Can you imagine bringing bedbugs on a plane with you? I declared a total war on my bedbug infested suitcase the very day I landed. The room where I stayed for the whole three months was an overcrowded room with a lot of double decker beds like a hostel with all their mattresses laden with bed bugs hiding in them.

Although my visit to Dubai was never a waste because it eventually served as a travel experience for me in getting my US visa.

Be warned!!!

how can one get a US visa

midnighter:
Is it that bad Or are our reservations mostly cultural

Remember that our northern comrades like going and staying there

If you have a qualification like nurse, teacher or you sell goods would it be worse than any other place?

Hey midnighter

Have lived in Abu Dhabi for over 5 solid years, for me it was a good experience where I learn alot, it's much better to put your self in-line with a direct employment process if you are to travel from Nigeria, rather than opting in for the 90days visit visa, however, be ready to face challenges as you embark on that journey of self development and on your own mentality ..

martinmiller:
Have lived in Abu Dhabi for over 5 solid years, for me it was a good experience where I learn alot, it's much better to put your self in-line with a direct employment process if you are to travel from Nigeria, rather than opting in for the 90days visit visa, however, be ready to face challenges as you embark on that journey of self development and on your own mentality ..

can u please enlighten me about driving job in Abu Dhabi

yes!!!! this is kinda post i lur to see on frontpage on logging in, not posts on bumbum, bress, regina daniel, buhari, sowore (as if na me send am), snake etc

God bless our moderators.

budaatum:
Funny thing is most Nigerians would not clean Nigerian roads for any amount but won't mind cleaning streets in Dubai. Same as we wouldn't clean ass in Nigeria but don't mind cleaning ass in US and UK.

I guess the pay for cleaning ass and roads in US, UK and UAE might be more than cleaning ass and roads in Nigeria, and the supposed indignity of it too might be a barrier. But between clean ass and starvation, a rock and survival.

I hawked eggs and canned coke at the toll-gate in Lagos to fund going UK and scrubbed toilets to go uni when I got there and now semi-retirement is bliss.

How many years ago was this? I mean when you were Hawking eggs at tollgate.

francesawesome:
sister I am also a graduate of English Education but I'm in Nigeria. Sis which way?

College of education is the way

francesawesome:
sister I am also a graduate of English Education but I'm in Nigeria. Sis which way?

Reply my email so that we can talk about this.

budaatum:
I have friends in Dubai who are doing very well indeed. One in construction as an architect and not a labourer, a few are teachers and a couple are accountants. No one took their passports off them and they travel regularly. I also know a maid though who is slaving and can't travel so it does seem to depend on one's skills set.

I'll call you a product of hard work. Some expect to reap what they don't sow.

You are right. I have lived in the UAE with my partner for a while and it doesn't happen in all cases.
Also, I think it depends on the nationality of your employer. Most Indians and Pakistanis do that to the blacks. Its disheartening, many blacks do menial jobs in certain areas of Dubai but not everywhere there.

I remember when I used to love UAE, na God say make I research wella about them

I'd rather hustle in Nigeria

Nothing as good as save your money go and see life, chop life and come back to come and start the hustle again. A country where they scan your passport any where you go, looking for what i don't know. Ordinary to visit someone residence opposite Dubai mall security asked for passport before entry. How would some one live with expired papers in such environment?

can u please enlighten me about driving job in Abu Dhabi




Here In Abu Dhabi and thesame at Dubai you can convert your Nigerian Drivers licence to that of Emirates but it then boils down to the company under which your are employed or register with, have got good friend who drive's at making a living and just don't forget that it comes with its challenges, look each fields come with its challenges that just a fact of life . cheers

Jaynom:
College of education is the way

Hmm, i guess not that way she's talking abt

budaatum:
How true is it?

very true

drakeli:
Going to hustle in Dubai comes with a lot of challenges. Be careful about where you house yourself. UAE is a land of bedbugs

After three months of unsuccessful frantic effort to land a job in UAE, I returned to Nigeria with a load of bed bugs and their eggs hiding in every sewing edges of my suitcase without me knowing. Can you imagine bringing bedbugs on a plane with you? I declared a total war on my bedbug infested suitcase the very day I landed. The room where I stayed for the whole three months was an overcrowded room with a lot of double decker beds like a hostel with all their mattresses laden with bed bugs hiding in them.

Although my visit to Dubai was never a waste because it eventually served as a travel experience for me in getting my US visa.

Be warned!!!

Lol don't be mean .... Dubai is not bug infested. Maybe it was the hostel where you stayed.
I remember the first apartment we stayed in all Nahda was a shared apartment and we had Indian neighbours. Omg! I ran for my life. Not racist but let me say they were very unhygenic.
I was happy when I stayed at the Marina though, no worries.
Personally, if I wanted to work there I'd go with the work visa, not 90days.

Following

I graduated from a state uni in Nigeria in 2014, served 2015, searched for job from 2015-2017, yet non came except teaching job of 12k per month, I decided to borrow to travel to Dubai, I landed in Dubai on July 2017, got job after 3days of my arrival, I work at an ice factory with 1500aed which is 150k per month. My company did my 2yrs visa for free, gave me accommodation, electricity, water and medical. I only spend on feeding. They were with my passport, Jan this year was my 1yr 6mnths, they booked my vacation flight to Nigeria to and fro, plus 100k pocket money, I spent 2mnths in Nigeria. I returned march, I cancelled from my work place around June, I runned a course called Sira for 5days were I obtained my security and safety certificate and I got a security job that pays me 250k per month now. UAE favoured me abeg. Am greatful to God.

Champagnemami:
Dude,
I still stand my ground, there's slavery everywhere. Its now up to you to decide whether or not you wanna put up with it.

In naija theres been cases of people who work in factories owned by Lebanese/Indians/Chinese. They get locked overnight in these factories and there's a fire outbreak and there's no exit.
There are people in naija who work 18hours in a day for peanuts. These ones have a choice but they still do these jobs. When they manage to leave, other people take it

The UAE is not Oman or Saudi Arabia or any other extreme middle east state. Its not even Nigeria. Over here. workers right are protected here but people just choose to settle for less

I personally would never turn in my passport to any employer

Pls continue ur story

truthsayer009:
Congrats, i would say you are a hustler & it's good to know women like you. I also studied at Middlesex for BSC. Most of my colleagues came back to Nigeria with no jobs & are even earning as low as 50k in 2014.

I have since then been advising people not to travel to UK for studies as its a proper waste of time.

I only feel since you studied nursing and its more lucrative and stable career path than teaching. I could be wrong tho.

What about now that Boris Johnson has started allowing foreigners to stay after schooling ?