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Frequently Asked Questions - Page 2

Frequently Asked Questions - Page 2

1. Can I obtain a no objection letter for the UAE government?

2. As a U.S. citizen, how do I petition for a husband/father/brother to become a U.S. citizen? 

3. I am a US Citizen, how do I follow-up on my family’s visa application (a U.S. immigrant and non-immigrant) or appointment? 

4. Can I get certified copies of U.S. birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates? 

5. What are the documents I need to get married in the UAE? 

6. I applied for a social security number but didn’t receive it, what should I do? 

7. How do I apply for Social Security Benefits? 

8. Do I have to have a social security number to apply for a passport?  

9. I want to apply for a job with the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi.  What should I do? 

10. Can I have fingerprints taken at the Embassy? 

11. Do you make Al Ain Consular visits? 

12. How do I obtain a UAE residence visa? 

13. Can I get help with a civil case or labor dispute? 

14. I would like to renounce my US citizenship.  What is the procedure? 

1. Can I obtain a no objection letter for the UAE government

The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi does not provide letters of no objection, including but not limited to no objection to sponsor a family member’s UAE residence visa and no objection to U.S. citizens traveling to other countries.

2. As a U.S. citizen, how do I petition for a husband/father/brother to become a U.S. citizen? 

Immigrant visa petitions must be filed through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Please see their website for more information.

Additional information regarding immigrant visas may be found on the U.S. Department of State’s website.  

3. I am a US Citizen, how do I follow-up on my family’s visa application (a U.S. immigrant and non-immigrant) or appointment? 

The American Citizen Services unit does not provide immigrant or non-immigrant visa services or information. For U.S. immigrant visa or green card questions, please visit the Immigrant Visa Unit’s website.  For U.S. non-immigrant visa questions, please visit the Non-immigrant Visa Unit’s website.

4. Can I get certified copies of U.S. birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates? 

You must obtain these kinds of documents from the issuing authority. You should contact the vital records department in the U.S. state in which your document (birth, marriage, divorce, or death certificate) was issued to obtain a certified copy of these documents. You may find a list of all the U.S. states’ Vital Records departments at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm.

5. What are the documents I need to get married in the UAE? 

  • Single and Free to Marry Affidavit  

You may sign an affidavit in front of a notary indicating that you are “single and free to marry”. The service is considered a notary service – please see our notary web page for fees and to make an appointment for notary services.

Please be sure to bring your U.S. passport for the single and free to marry affidavit. 

  • Marriage In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi  

Official guidance regarding marriage by expatriates can be found on the Abu Dhabi government website.   UAE laws and regulations are subject to change, please verify any information before acting upon it.  

  • Marriage In the Emirate of Dubai

You may find information regarding getting married in Dubai through the U.S. Consulate in Dubai’s website.   

6. I applied for a social security number but didn’t receive it, what should I do? 

The U.S. Embassy receives social security card applications on behalf of the Social Security Adminsitration (SSA) and is not involved in the processing of the applications or generation of social security cards. Once an application is received, it is forwarded to the SSA for processing. We are unable to provide a response as to what has happened to social security card, however we recommend that if social security card applicants have not received their cards within 6-8 months, an applicant reapply again.  

There is no cost to reapply.You may find the application for a social security card as well a list of necessary documents to include in your application on our website.  If you still haven’t received the social security card after 8 months, you may also contact the Federal Benefits Unit in Jerusalem, where the closest SSA representatives are posted.

If you are traveling to the United States any time soon, perhaps you might consider applying from within the country, as social security cards are processed much faster there – ususally within a couple of weeks. Locations at which you may apply from within the United States as well as additional information about this process may be found directly on the Social Security Adminsitration’s website.

7. How do I apply for Social Security Benefits? 

Before contacting the Embassy, please review the Social Security Administration’s website for information on how to apply for benefits online, in most cases you can apply for benefits from the comfort of you home.  Should you have any questions, or are directed to process your application through the Embassy, please contact us by e-mail for assistance.  If you reside in the UAE outside the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, you should contact the U.S. Consulate General in Dubai.

8. Do I have to have a social security number to apply for a passport? 

Federal law requires that a U.S. passport applicant provide a social security number on the passport application if the applicant has one.  Applicants who fail to provide a valid social security number are subject to a 500 USD penalty enforced by the IRS.  Please visit our Federal Benefits Unit page for information on how to apply for a social security number.

9. I want to apply for a job with the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi.  What should I do? 

To find information about applying for a job with the Embassy, please visit http://abudhabi.usembassy.gov/jo.html

10. Can I have fingerprints taken at the Embassy? 

The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi does not provide fingerprinting services to private U.S. Citizens. It is our understanding that you may be able to obtain fingerprinting at the locations below, however, you should check with individual police stations to see if they still offer the service. 

If you have a UAE National Identity Card: 

Abu Dhabi Police Dept.

Shabia Police station

Al Najdaa street no. 6

Near American Academy

Timing: 7:30 am to 12:00 pm

02-512-6030 

If you are new and/or do not hold a UAE National Identity Card: 

Port Police Station

Port Zayed

Timing: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

02-512-9909 

You may still be able to take fingerprints at: 

Al Jimmi Police Station

Al Ain, UAE

03-762-0556 

Please be sure to take your UAE ID and passport. 

If authentication of the fingerprints is required for use in the U.S., then you will have to take the fingerprint card to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to have the official signature on the fingerprint cards authenticated.  Bring the document signed by the MFA to the U.S. Embassy for final authentication.  Again, this depends on what is requested or required from the U.S. 

For further details, please visit www.FBI.gov

11. Do you make Al Ain Consular visits? 

The Consular Section has historically made periodic visits to Al Ain to provide American Citizen Services. Future such visits will be announced through our State Department message system.

If you have enrolled with the State Department STEP Program, you should receive a message notifying you of the details of our next trip. All messages are also posted on our website.  

12. How do I obtain a UAE residence visa? 

The US Embassy is unable to respond to questions relating to UAE visa sponsorship. Those questions should be directed to the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs, which is the proper authority for UAE residence visa issuance. 

13. Can I get help with a civil case or labor dispute?

The U.S. Embassy does not generally get involved in civil legal proceedings.  Please consult with an UAE attorney with regards to your situation.    For labor disputes, you may also contact the Ministry of Labor to file a formal complaint against the employer.  The Ministry can be reached at the following address:

Ministry of Labor

Dispute Section

Public Relations Office

Mazyd Mall

Musfah, Abu Dhabi

Telephone: +971-2-507-4404 or +971-2-507-4408            

Toll-free 02-800-665

Fax: 971-2-266-8967

Website: www.mol.gov.ae 

For more information, please review the Department of State’s website regard arrest and detention of an American citizen abroad and judicial assistance

14. I would like to renounce my US citizenship.  What is the procedure?

Deciding to renounce your citizenship is a very serious decision.  We recommend that you first review the information on the Department of State’s website under Loss of Citizenship and Nationality before you take the first step.  If you wish to proceed, please email us to schedule an appointment.  Depending on the situation, you may be asked to come into the Embassy multiple times to complete the processing of your renounciation application. Please note that there is a charge of $450 USD for renounciations.