I am an Indian national earning a monthly salary of KD329/- and working for a foreign embassy. I recently got married to an Indian lady in India who already has a 12-year-old son. I cannot legally adopt him since his father is alive. However, I have a ‘no objection’ letter from his father and ‘custody letter’ (in the mother’s name) from an Indian court. Now both are here (ie. mother and son) and I have completed the residence process for my wife (on my sponsorship). And the boy is also here on a visit visa. Can I transfer this visit visa to dependent (to my sponsorship) Is it legal? If yes, what is the procedure? How can I achieve this since the boy needs to go to school and I cannot enroll him without residence in Kuwait.

Name withheld

Answer: First of all you can’t change visit visas to dependent’s residence without leaving the country except in the case of infants. Secondly you can sponsor your step-son although you might have to go to the Head of the immigration dept in your area. With the application, besides the papers that you used to get your wife’s visa, you should attach the court orders.