Giving birth without a Visa | ExpatWoman.com
 

Giving birth without a Visa

2
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2013 - 16:05

Hi all,
It's been ages since I have been on here but really hoping somebody can shed some light.
I am currently living in Qatar but hubby is considering a job offer in Abu Dhabi, I am currently 4 1/2 month pregnant and have been trying to find out if it is possible to give birth in Abu Dhabi without my Visa being processed yet.
I know there will be time to get it before my baby is due but I will not be able to do the chest x-ray, plus, I have only recently had my Qatar visa come through and so have already done the skin TB test and so will not be able to do another one, hence no Visa until after I have delivered.
I already realise that my maternity medical cover will not kick in until usually 9 or 12 months after I have been in the country and so would be paying for the antenatal care delivery ourselves, just really need to find out if the visa issue will be a problem.
Any clues would be welcome.
Thanks in Advance :-)

16
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2013 - 16:10
Hi Everyone, I'm new in AD, just arrived 2 days ago. I relocated for my husband's work. I'm 7 months pregnant and currently have a 30 day Tourist Visa. We tried to apply straightaway for the 90 day Tourist Visa, which we'd read in the Resident's Guide can be converted into a Resident's Visa without the need to exit the country. It turns out that my application was rejected as I'm a British citizen, so apparently protocol to apply for the standard 30 day Tourist Visa, then exit the country to activate my application for Resident's Visa (per my husband's sponsorship through his Resident's Visa). Anyway, this morning I emailed someone at The Corniche Hospital who had advised how I should register at the hospital once we arrived here by opening a file and then making an appointment. One of the criteria for opening a file is to produce the original and copy of both you and your husband's passport pic page and Resident's Visa stamp. We thought we'd have the right visas pretty much straightaway and there would be no issue. The person responded to me this morning stating that I would need to produce the Resident's visa before making an appointment at the hospital. So, you at 4 1/2 months should have this in plenty of time. If you want to verify any info, I would email the Corniche Hospital directly from their website. They did provide the info pretty clearly of how and what is required and always respond quickly in my experience. I have been in email exchange with a person called Almas. Anyway, good luck if your husband decides to take the job. And all the best for the rest of your pregnancy.
11
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 August 2013 - 16:24
It's certainly not an issue in Dubai as long as you are legally married and legally in the country - ie visit/tourist visa, whatever. Did it myself so I'm 100% sure. Hey Kooky, you mentioned you did it yourself? As in deliver on a tourist visa. I am due in Feb and I will be on a tourist visa then and i am obviously legally married, but my husband will also be on a tourist visa. This is no issue? Thanks so much.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 25 April 2013 - 22:49
you wont need to do the xray when pregnant so dont worry.
141
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 April 2013 - 08:21
As far as I know, Riajoaquin is correct. I did mine last year and it was just a blood test as I told them I was pregnant when I got to the test centre, had to go back 2 months after the baby was born to do the x-ray (no skin tests here). I think the whole visa procedure took 3-4 weeks. I transferred on to my husband's visa/insurance when I was already pregnant and there was no issue, I was fully covered for all medical costs including maternity cover as soon as we got the insurance card - so it's worth checking!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 24 April 2013 - 21:09
It's certainly not an issue in Dubai as long as you are legally married and legally in the country - ie visit/tourist visa, whatever. Did it myself so I'm 100% sure.
2
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2013 - 21:07
*info* silly predictive text!!
2
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2013 - 21:06
Thanks for the replies ladies. Just to clarify, our medical cover here in Qatar is provided by my husbands company and we would get new medical cover through his new company which would be valid from the day we arrive, however as is the same as our current cover, most insurance policies state that you must have been with them for usually 9 or 12 months before any maternity cover would be applicable....we are already fully aware of this and are prepared to pay the costs ourselves, , (a big hit I know!!) so the insurance shouldn't be a problem, it is just the visa I am worried about. If it is true what riajoaquin says then there shouldn't be an issue either, I just presumed the rules would be the same in the UAE as in Qatar, where in the case of being pregnant in place if doing the x-ray to rule out TB they do a skin test...which I have done once already on the past few weeks and so would not be able to repeat as it can only be done once every year I think, but if it is just a blood test then no probe. I think as busy bee suggests the best way to find out would be to actually call the corniche hospital. Thanks again ladies for the quick replies, just want to get all of the NFC before my husband makes a decision. :-)
4747
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 24 April 2013 - 17:58
Just a word of warning, be careful and make sure your current insurance will cover you in Abu Dhabi as well for the delivery and things.Abu Dhabi has very different rules for health insurance so best check in advance. Last thing you'd want is when you're ready to give birth in Abu Dhabi just to find out your current insurance doesn't cover Abu Dhabi or something! not all companies provide medical insurance with maternity etc. so you would need to check, but otherwise find out the costings as its not cheap nowadays or pay as you go. some company schemes cover pre-existing conditions etc. i would say that you would need to have a visa to deliver (check with corniche hospital).
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2013 - 17:15
Just a word of warning, be careful and make sure your current insurance will cover you in Abu Dhabi as well for the delivery and things.Abu Dhabi has very different rules for health insurance so best check in advance. Last thing you'd want is when you're ready to give birth in Abu Dhabi just to find out your current insurance doesn't cover Abu Dhabi or something!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2013 - 16:41
If you are pregnant you will be waived from the x-ray test, just blood collection. I have had it on all my pregnancies. <em>edited by riajoaquin on 24/04/2013</em>