Manama Travel Forum

Hi,
I hope somebody can inform me about the procedures on this issue. My boyfriend will go to Manama/ Bahrain in January 2008 and work there as a diplomat for 2 years. I would like to join him. The thing is, we are a couple, but not married. He is American and I'm German. Please let me know, what we can do in order to be able to live there together for the next 2 years. And how do I get a work permit? All his visa and work permit issues are already taken care of through the embassy. But the actual problem is, that nobody here officially knows that we are a couple and until he leaves nobody is supposed to know that either. I guess I'll have to wait until my boyfriend gets there and once he settles down he can arrange for me to follow him??? Will it be very difficult for him to get me there? Can I try it on my own maybe?
Any advises or information on this is really appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance.

If you get married or (maybe) engaged the embassy will/may be able to work something out. But if your relationship is to remain secret, there unfortunately is no way you get a visa to go live in Bahrain.
Unless you happen to be in the oil business or similar and get a job in Bahrain on your own.

George, thank you so much for your answer!
Unfortunately the relationship has to remain secret at least for as long as we are both still in Germany. After my boyfriend leaves, people can find out. That would be ok. But not before then! Is there any way around the marriage or engagement. I don't want to push any issues on him, you know. Couldn't I go there for let's say a member of household or anything like that??

Your main problem is convincing the State Departement that you are his dependant. They're going to want to see signs of a long term commitment on his part before they pull strings to get you a visa.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "member of household", but you won't be able to go as his maid or the like, since those are employed and paid for by the embassy. Unfortunately there's no way around the marriage/engagment bit....

Well, we have been a couple for almost two years now. Isn't that long enough for a long-time commitment? I think so. Members of household are people that you want to bring along, but at the same time they are no immediate family members. They don't profit from the diplomatic status, but are in some way supported by the embassy. Well, thanks anyways for your opinion!

Yes. If your boyfriend goes up to the embassy and explains to them that he's your long time partner/engaged to you, then they usually will be able to work something out. But if he wants to keep the relationship secret, as it seems from what you have written, then there is no way you can come to Bahrain on a long term basis.

No, no. I thought I had explained it already. As soon as he leaves Berlin and goes to Manama, he can tell the embassy in Manama, that he wants to bring a partner. I guess that'll work.

Do you currently live in Manama? How is it there?

I don't live in Manama, but I go there quite often, maybe 3-4 times a year. I personally find Bahrain rather boring and like other Gulf states more, but thats just my personal opinion. You may like it, as its by far the most liberal of the Gulf states and quite a few western foreigners live there.

I see. Then how do you knwo what the procedures are? :o)

What you say about Manama doesn't sound too bad. But of course I am a little bit concerned about the surrounding countries that are currently in a state of war. I know, crime and terrorist attacks can happen anywhere in the world, but in Manama you're kind of like right in the middle of it.

> Then how do you know what the procedures are?
The procedures for getting a diplomatic visa are pretty similar in most countries. And that's what you'll need if you want to come to Bahrain.

Essentially you either need to be employed by the embassy or be a dependant (i.e. member of immediate family) of a diplomat. The (friendly) host country will usually give the embassy/foreign ministry quite some leeway on who to qualify as a dependant and will almost never question their judgement. I.e. If the embassy accepts you, so will the Bahrainis. Your boyfriend will know how and if he can convince them and will arrange the visa for you. Whether or not a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship is enough for the US State Department is unknown to me, but your boyfriend -will- know. I'm rather surprised he hasn't talked this issue through with you in more detail.

Don't worry too much on the terrorist front. I think the chances of getting run over by one of Bahrains crazy drivers are much higher than being caught up in one of those very rare bomb explosions in the Gulf.

Well, you know we didn't really have a chance yet to talk about everything in detail, because our live/ relationship here is very complicated. But this morning we finally talked. So what we are going to do is, as soon has he gets there and gets his diplomatic visa, he is going to announce me to the embassy as his partner and get the visa for me. Do you happen to know how long that'll take? Is it a fast thing that takes only a couple of days or will it take longer, like 1 or 2 months. And once I have the long-term visa, is it easy to get a work permit too? I don't intend to work for the embassy there, but maybe wanna do things like babysitting etc. Do you think that is possible?

Is driving in Manama so bad? I mean, I have a driver's license and consider myself a good driver, but what's driving over there like? Do they drive on the right or left side of the road? What else is Manama like? You said there is supermarkets. Are there also malls? Are there things to do for a housewife? (like taking language courses, cooking courses, drawing courses or anything like that)

And what's the weather there like??

I'd expect the visa for your boyfriend to take about 2-3 weeks to be issued, but it could be as much as 4-5.
I'm afraid it's exceedlingly unlikely that you'll be able to work in Bahraim. The dependant visa doesn't allow it (after all, you're -dependant- on him). You could try and find a job and employer that is willing to get you a work visa once you're there, but you'd need special skills. You can always do babysitting once or twice a night if other expats hire you, but you won't be able to have a fully fledged babysitting business.

> Is driving in Manama so bad?
By European standards : yes. By ME standards, it's average. Driving is on the right side of the road.

Manama has ample supermarkets and shopping malls, although shopping is not as good as it is in Dubai.

>Are there things to do for a housewife? (like taking language courses, cooking >courses, drawing courses or anything like that)

Ask all the other bored housewives once your there. There are several foreigners clubs that you can join, which will provide the activities you mentioned. Ask your boyfriend to get one of the spouse information packs the State Department provides, once he registers you with the embassy. It will contain that kind of information.
If you get really bored : Air Arabia has very cheap flights to and from Dubai, where leisure activities are more plenitiful.

The weather in winter is nice and warm. In summer it is horribly hot and humid, to the point where you can't even leave the house.

Wow, 2-3 or 4-5 weeks sounds pretty long to me. I didn't expect it to take that long. Well, I think we'll not find out until he gets there. I guess the same goes for the possibility to work. But thanks for the guess!

Driving is on the right side of the road. So it's like in Germany then, not like in Britain? What is so bad then? Is it the condition of the roads or do they drive too fast or do they not pay attention to the rules? What is actually the dangerous thing about driving?

You are being very helpful here. Thank you for that!! I only ask so many questions because I don't know what to expect from the other country. I guess that's normal when you give up your live at home. I mean, I'm living by myself now, but it's still different. I think it's always tough to close one door in order to be able to open another one. That's the way it goes!

> Wow, 2-3 or 4-5 weeks sounds pretty long to me. I didn't expect it to take that long.

Well, this is the Middle East. Things take much longer here. People have unlimited amounts of time and everything will, so god willing, be attended to some day. Preferably tomorrow, not today.

> What is so bad then? Is it the condition of the roads or do they drive too fast or do they not pay attention to the rules?

Yup. People drive too fast, don't stop at zebra crossings, run red lights and change lanes suddenly without indicating. Especially at night. Bahrain is a lot better than places like Egypt or Iran, but compared to Europe it takes a while to get used to the driving. You should get used to it after a while. Woman may drive in Bahrain (as opposed to Saudi Arabia), although its faily uncommon to see women driving. Talk to other woman living there and then decide if you want to drive or not.

If you have a German (ie EU) passport, you will be granted a visa on arrival at Bahrain airport for BD5. This visa allows you to stay for 1-3 months. So, at the end of this, you go to Dubai for the day, return and you get another one. I did this for 15 months when I was between sponsorship. Brits get 3 months each time, I'm not sure about Germans but it will be at least a month. Just tell them when you arrive that you're staying with family. They never check.

Check out this site:
http://www.bahraintourism.com/visa.htm

Sam - unfortunately everybody except British citizens only gets 2 weeks - so you suggestion unfortunately is impractical.

Hmmm...very long discussion. Think i am a bit late to jump in. But what i feel is that sambahrain is right. Your best bet is to take a visa on arrival so you can be with him. then go to the US embassy and try to sort out things. he is on Diplomat visa so sure the Embassy will help him to sort it out for you. At least you are not gonna wait and miss him:).

The visit visa is for a 2 weeks but can be renewed.

Cheers !

Hey there George,

sorry I haven't been online for a while. In the meantime a lot of things have changed. My boyfriend's assignment to Manama has been cancelled last week. It's now probably gonna be Jamaica or South America. But you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. So we have to wait and see.

Thanks a lot for all your support here in the forum!! It really helped me when I was scared of the new country. I wish you all the best for your life and hope that someone is going to be there for you as well when you need a helping hand.

Take care!

Oh, I just saw that there were other remarks as well during the last few days.
Thanks guys! Thank you a lot for trying to help me!!