A few weeks ago, in the legal clinic column, you had mentioned that Visa 14 can be renewed after the expiry of three months. But we checked at Hawally and Farwaniya Immigration Depts and in both places they said that no such information is available with them so they declined to give any time extension beyond the three-month period.

With Visa 14, even the Othman Inspection refused to renew the car registration. What can be done to renew the registration?

Our company has served us a three-month termination notice. How many hours per day are we supposed to work, because our company is expecting us to work full time during the notice period.

Name withheld
Answer: Please do not mix up answers given in different contexts. We have explained Article 14 (temporary residence) visas for those on visit, for those whose residence has expired, Article 14 for those whose visas can’t be stamped for certain reasons, Article 14 for people whose residence has expired but are in the process of transferring their residence and so on.

So every  situation is different. This Article 14 residence is not linked to the 3-month notice given by the company. What the officials were most probably implying that they can give Article 14 visas for a maximum of three months, one month at a time.

Secondly, you can’t carry out any official transaction – like registration of vehicles – while you are on temporary residence. You have to wait until you get proper residence.

Lastly, when you are given a 3-month notice the company has to give you one full day or 8 hours with pay a week to look for a job but on the other days you have to work your full 8 hours every day during the notice period.

In this connection please see Article 44 (C) which says as follows:

“In the event where the notification of termination is issued by the employer, the worker shall have the right to be absent one day or 8 hours per week in order to search for other work. He shall also be entitled to his remuneration for the day or hours of absence.

“The worker shall decide on the day or hours of absence and shall notify the employer at least one day prior to such absence.”