During his recent appearance on Talk 100.3 FM, JSB founder Gaurav Keswani covered real questions from Dubai residents and listeners. The kind of questions that keep people up at night when they’re considering a Golden Visa. 

These weren’t hypothetical scenarios or textbook queries. They were genuine concerns from people seriously contemplating long-term residency in the UAE.

Here’s what listeners asked and exactly how Gaurav answered them.

Question 1: “Can My 25-Year-Old Son Get a Golden Visa Under My Sponsorship?”

The Concern:

Many parents assume their adult children are too old to qualify as dependents on their Golden Visa sponsorship. Age becomes the barrier—a perceived non-negotiable cutoff point.

What the listener said:

“My dependent is about 25 years old. Is it possible for him to get the Golden Visa?”

Gaurav’s Answer:

“I can certainly say yes, you can get across. However, they have to be dependent on you. It is not like we are just declaring them as a dependent. They have to declare that they are single and that they are completely dependent on the primary applicant. Then they can certainly apply as a dependent.“

What This Means:

Age alone doesn’t disqualify adult children. The real requirement is actual financial dependency. 25-year-olds, 28-year-olds, or even 35-year-olds can qualify if they:

• Are legally single (not married)
• Are financially completely dependent on you
• Have proper documentation proving this dependency

This opens possibilities for adult children who’ve lost jobs, are pursuing education, or work but remain financially supported by their parents.

Question 2: “Can I Bring My Parents on My Golden Visa?”

The Concern:

The follow-up question from the same listener: What about sponsoring elderly parents? Many assume the Golden Visa is limited to spouses and minor children.

What the listener said:

“Can I bring my parents here? I can bring my guardians and parents as well.”

Gaurav’s Complete Answer:

“Certainly you can also sponsor your guardians and parents as long as you have to declare how they are depending on you. So, for example, if your parents are widowed or separated, or let’s say if they are still married. So all these factors have to be seen across and then only the documentation has to be filled properly in order to get the visas for your dependents.“

What This Means:

You can sponsor your parents. The key is documenting their dependency status:

• If widowed: One parent depends on you financially
• If separated: Documentation shows your support
• If still married (both parents living together): You must show how both depend on you or how you provide their primary financial support

The dependency relationship must be genuine and documented—not simply declared. This requires showing bank transfers, proof of financial support, or documentation of their reliance on your income.

Question 3: “We Can’t Get Information About the Green Visa. Is It Really Available?”

The Concern:

A listener named called in frustrated: “We’ve been hearing announcements about the green visa, but when we call Amer and GDRFA, they say it’s not started yet.“

What Gaurav Said:

“I don’t see that green visa applications are on hold right now.“

His Recommended Action Plan:

“If she is not able to get across, I would ask her to visit the immigration head offices, which are based in Al-Jabliya. Completely, she can get across the 360 information based on that.”

Alternative (Faster) Option:

“She can also arrange a call from the immigration. All she has to do is go to the GDRFA portal. There is a section where you can get on a call with an immigration officer on a video call. Just quickly put across the legal information and then you can get across all the details and information that are important to the green visa.“

What This Means:

The green visa isn’t on hold but information access is fragmented. Instead of calling Amer centers repeatedly:

✓ Visit immigration head offices in Al-Jabliya directly for comprehensive information.
✓ Use the GDRFA portal to schedule a video call with an immigration officer.
✓ Get answers directly from officials rather than relying on front-desk representatives

This approach saves weeks of back-and-forth confusion.

Question 4: “If We Get Divorced, Do We Lose Our Golden Visas?”

The Concern:

This is perhaps the most emotionally charged question. A couple considering a Golden Visa faces marital uncertainty or simply wants to understand the implications of separation.

The Question:

“If a couple obtains a golden visa and subsequently separates, what is the visa status for the former dependent spouse and the children?”

Gaurav’s Answer (For the Spouse):

“When it comes to the marriage and legal marriage status, unless the spouse is not able to declare that she is legally married, then she may not be able to hold the dependent golden visa. However, for a spouse, it will be a little challenging.”

Gaurav’s Answer (For the Children):

“The children have to be seen to determine whose custody the children are in. So if children can still manage and be able to maintain the golden visa, from a legal parent perspective, the primary applicant will come if it’s a mother or if it’s a father. So in both cases, children would be able to sustain their visa.“

What This Means

For the Spouse:

The dependent spouse’s Golden Visa is tied to the legal marriage status. 

Post-divorce:

• The spouse cannot simply transfer to another visa category under the same primary applicant
• They must pursue their own residency pathway (employment visa, investor visa, or independent Golden Visa application)
• This is described as “a little challenging” by Gaurav—meaning it requires legal and immigration planning

For the Children:

Children have stronger protection:

• Custody arrangements determine which parent sponsors them
• If mother has custody, children remain on her visa
• If father has custody, children remain on his visa
• As long as the custodial parent maintains their Golden Visa, children sustain theirs

Practical Implication:

If you’re married and considering a Golden Visa, understand that divorce affects your spouse’s residency status significantly. Plan with legal and immigration advisors. Children’s situations are more stable but tied to custody.

Question 5: “What’s the Minimum Salary Required for a Golden Visa?”

The Concern:

One listener asked bluntly: “What is the minimum salary for a golden visa?“

This question comes from self-employed individuals, business owners, and retirees wondering if salary-based requirements eliminate them.

Gaurav’s Direct Answer:

“As per the GDRFA, AED 30,000 has been marked very clearly.“

What This Means:

AED 30,000 is the minimum salary requirement but only for employment-based Golden Visa applications.

This critical detail: Non-employment pathways have different requirements:

✓ Real estate investment: No salary requirement (just AED 2M investment)
✓ Startup investment: No salary requirement (just AED 2M investment)
✓ Entrepreneur exit: No salary requirement (just AED 7M exit value)
✓ University graduate: No salary requirement (top 100 universities globally)
✓ Executive/CEO: No salary requirement (Fortune 500 companies)
✓ PhD holder: No salary requirement (with research publications)

The AED 30,000 figure applies narrowly. Don’t assume it disqualifies you. Explore alternative pathways based on your profile.

Question 6: “Is Now the Right Time to Apply?”

The Concern:

This is the hesitation question, not about eligibility, but about timing. Should I apply now or wait?

What Gaurav Said (Closing Advice):

“Right now, the government has been very actively offering golden visa services to the right mindset. So if anyone happens to know they would be able to qualify across, please reach out to the immigration office. This is a very good time for you, where you would be able to obtain it either for yourself or for someone whom you know.“

Why Now?

✓ Streamlined process: The Government has simplified applications.
✓ Active promotion: Official hotlines and resources are well-established.
✓ Expanded eligibility: New categories and pathways continue to open.

Question 7: “How Do I Actually Apply?”

The Practical Question:

After all the clarifications, how does someone actually move from question to application?

Gaurav’s Recommended First Step:

“They can reach out to the immigration office. This is a very good time for you.”

For JSB Specifically:

“They can go to my website, www.jsb.ae, and then they can immediately get in touch with my number and with my team. And I’m also available most of the time on the chat. So if they reach out, that’s an immediate chat that comes across.”

What This Tells Us:

The first step isn’t filling forms or gathering documents alone. It’s getting professional guidance to understand which pathway fits your specific situation including investment-based, employment-based, education-based, or achievement-based.

The Pattern in These Questions

Notice what connects all seven questions:

1. Uncertainty about eligibility (“Can my son qualify?”)
2. Complexity about family situations “Can I bring my parents? What about divorce?”)
3. Information gaps (“Is the green visa available?”)
4. Assumption barriers (“Do I need a salary?”)
5. Timing anxiety (“Is it the right time?”)

Every one of these questions reflects a genuine barrier stopping qualified people from applying. Gaurav’s answers remove these barriers by providing clarity, nuance, and practical guidance.

The Bottom Line: Real Answers to Real Questions

These weren’t polished marketing responses. They were live, on-air answers from someone dealing daily with visa applications, government procedures, and family situations. The nuance matters:

• Adult children can qualify (if dependent)
• Parents can be sponsored (with documentation)
• The green visa isn’t on hold (but requires proper access channels)
• Divorce affects spouses more than children
• Salary requirements don’t apply to most pathways
• Now is genuinely a good time to apply

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about a UAE Golden Visa, waiting for perfect clarity or the “right moment,” these answers suggest you might already qualify and the right time is now.

Reach out to immigration authorities or qualified consultants to verify your specific situation.