Emirates Airlines Skywards - Indian National flying from US to Dubai - Getting visa

I plan to spend a few days in Dubai on my way to India from Chicago. I am confused how I should apply for the transit visa.

Based on my research, I can ask my airlines (Emirates) to apply for the visa but I will need to book the hotel through them.

Marhaba Services also is pretty expensive.

I was wondering if there is a way to apply for visa separately and book hotels on my own.

Also, do I need visa on arrival or can I request for the visa at the airport (I am an Indian national)

Thanks

You are not eligible for a visa on arrival and will need to request it either through Emirates or you can try the hotel you book yourself, most of them can help with visa's as well.

You are not eligible for a visa on arrival and will need to request it either through Emirates or you can try the hotel you book yourself, most of them can help with visa's as well.

I am booking the air ticket from Orbitz.com and not directly from Emirates. Would Emirates still help me with the visa?

Also, I got a list of hotels from booking.com but none of them give any info on if they would help with the visa or not. Is there a list of hotels that sponsor visas?

Thanks!

Do you hold a US green card ?

I think if you hold a GC then you might get a visa on arrival. I am not sure about that piece of information but you mat ask EK for clarification.

Do you hold a US green card ?

I think if you hold a GC then you might get a visa on arrival. I am not sure about that piece of information but you mat ask EK for clarification.

No, I don't have a GC. I am on H1 visa and using AP for reentry to US.

Do you hold a US green card ?

I think if you hold a GC then you might get a visa on arrival. I am not sure about that piece of information but you mat ask EK for clarification.

Green card doesn't help at all. Actually I am hard pressed to to think of a country other than Canada that has such a policy.

http://www.uae-embassy.org/embassy/faqs/passports-visas

When we were last there (a few weeks ago), my wife (who is Turkish) obtained her visit visa from the Jumeirah hotel we stayed at. The process is fairly painless - you scan and email your passport and some forms, and they email back to you a visa letter that you bring with you to the airport.

Once there the process is quite simple - the email printout is validated by a guy who takes an eye scan, and then you clear immigration as usual.

Hotel charged AED400 for this service. All of the good hotels do this as best I know, it is a common process which is required of a large number of nationalities that commonly visit Dubai. Have you considered calling the hotels you like? I wouldn't exactly describe scanning booking.com as exhaustive research.

The 96-hour transit visa is another option and the best way to get this is via Emirates, but then they want to book the hotel themselves. Nice thing about this is that I think you can do this on arrival.

If at all possible, please do not wait until you get to DXB to try and get an entry visa.

You may qualify for an EK-sponsored visa (no hotel required). Here is the link:

http://www.cibt.com/emiratesvisa

This is ONLY for passengers looking for a Dubai visa who are US residents. There are other conditions required to get a visa through this process, but it is likely your best option.

Rasheed