What are possible reasons for someone to have been blacklisted/banned from Qatar?

canabr10
By canabr10

I am a Westerner who has been in Qatar for about 6 months on and off in the last year. My wife has had a couple short term contracts there and I have been seeking professional work so we have not received a residence permit yet.

I was recently turned away at the Doha airport by immigration saying I am "blacklisted" when trying to enter with my wife who was to start a longer term contract. They gave no reason or explanation. I have not had a sponsor that could file a complaint against me and I have not broken any laws in Qatar (other than a speeding ticket I paid online) or ever had a criminal record of the sort! I have had a couple of companies give me offers and apply for visas for me but they came back unprocessed because I was a few credits short of my bachelors degree and they were senior positions. Apparently the state immigration department felt I didn't meet the academic requirements although they do not give a specific reason, just that the work visas were "unprocessed".

Any possible reasons or advice would be much appreciated from someone who knows anything about being "blacklisted". Thanks, this is quite alarming and frustrating as others have said they probably won't give me a reason and reversing it is next to impossible.

By worldexplorer• 24 Jul 2008 23:01
worldexplorer

Yeah, I don't think being white and Christian protects you from being mistakenly put on the terrorist watch list. A white, christian CNN reporter was on it and just removed 2 days ago after making a big stink about it on live TV and endless requests to have his name removed. He now has to fly with a note from the government that says he's been cleared. There are children and even someone from homeland security on it by mistake as well. It's a real problem that has actually been in the news alot just this week.

By SamyaUK• 24 Jul 2008 09:02
SamyaUK

Im gonna PM u the number of my boyfriend who works in immigration, tell him your a friend of Samya and he will tell u exactly why u have been blacklisted.. to me this sounds impossible.. i have been here is do7a 2 years on a tourist visa, ive been involved in fights outside clubs where police came and nothing ever happend to me... They must have made a mistake but do call him and check!

By worldexplorer• 24 Jul 2008 08:58
worldexplorer

It's very strange because, most westerners can get a tourist visa at the airport and renew it every month. If you are from a western country you don't need a sponsor to enter the country, so they must have found a pretty serious reason to deny you. Is it possible you are on a watch list? Many people here in the US have been placed on the watch list by mistake so that might be something you would want to look into. Regardless, they should have given you a reason for turning you away.

By canabr10• 24 Jul 2008 08:55
canabr10

Don't think that is the case. I am a white Christian westerner that has never done more than get a speeding ticket here or there :-)

By realsomeone• 24 Jul 2008 08:51
realsomeone

maybe you are in the US Terror list.

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