Job Discussion Forums

[EricinAsia]

I'll have MA in hand in 2014 + 7-8 years teaching adults in the US and Korea. How long will the process take for a visa? Do I need to go back to the States and wait wait wait? Or, can I go to the states on vacation, do whatever it is I need to do, then come back to Korea to finish off a contract?

Thanks for any insight

[nomad soul]

[shebab]

Things in this part of the world never go quite as planned. So if you are already imagining your professional life in Saudi Arabia to the exact month, day and time in 2014, you will be in for a rude awakening when you actually start your processing!

The visa requires you to return to the US and do a very extensive medical exam. Of course, that implies that you are on a proper employment entry visa and not the dreaded business visa. Eventually, you will need to hand in your passport, get the visa, and be off to Saudi...all of this could be at a moment's notice after waiting and waiting for weeks or even months.

There are just too many unknowns, at least a year off from your projected date of deployment, to really help you that much. Why, you can't even start looking for a job for at least another 8 months!

[scot47]

The better employers have it easier in terms of getting people procerssed in. I would, as usual, recommend KFUPM or one of its constituent colleges (DCC and HBCC).

[EricinAsia]

[nomad soul]

I agree with Shebab. It's too soon to start thinking about visas and such; wait until you've finished your MA before applying. Also consider expanding your job hunt to other countries in the region---KSA isn't the only game in town. But again, have your master's degree in hand first.