Job Discussion Forums

hobartwells · Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45

I am on a business visa and am getting paid in cash. My place of work is Dammam. I cannot send money out of Saudi into my bank account in the US w/ o an Iqama but i have heard of people doing it in Bahrain. Would anybody please share how you have done it if you have done it? What bank you went to/ exchange office, etc. Which I can go to on a weekend.

I would really like a simple answer. No preaching about Iqamas and ' i told you so" s.

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

And something I have wondered about myself! There was an american who posted some time back about this issue, but I can't recall if he mentioned Bahrain. I do hope the differing visa types can be left out of this question, as per your request, and that you get some helpful answers.

Cheers,
S

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=115238&highlight=cash

i did a quick SEARCH and gpt that. There are more threads.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

easy to do but you can only legally take SAR 60K out of the country at any one time.

I'd recommend any BFC branch in Bahrain. Their rates cannot be beaten, but avoid the branch near Bab Al Bahrain as it can be super busy. Plenty of other smaller ones do the same stuff though with a shorter waiting time.

hobartwells · Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45

Thank you! Is it a bank? Or an exchange office / booth? Are they open on a weekend? Would just a passport be enough?

The other leads given were references and links leading to nowhere. Search yielding zero info. Except sermonizing and telling me to fly back to the US and spend thousands and many weeks on getting a work visa. My question was at what bank or exchange office in Bahrain can I send money to a bank in the US? Such a simple topic.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

To be fair, you are not going to get a 100% correct answer unless you call them yourself. Regulations change quite rapidly. Otherwise, just go and see what is on offer.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

BFC is the Bahraini equivalent of Al-Rajhi, Al-Amoudi or Enjaz in KSA. These are companies that began as "Seraf" or Moneychangers and grew to be banks.

The OP is looking for cast-iron answers. He seems to be risk averse. He may have to go to Bahrain and find out for himself.

squiggs · Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 12

Hi there,

Rest assured that you CAN remit Saudi Riyal to your home country via BFC.
The service charge is nominal and they offer very reasonable exchange rates.

I have worked for a few years in Saudi and my last post would pay monthly salaries out in cash. I was on a business visa in KSA that particular time and all I required was to show my Canadian passport and fill in the requisite receiving bank details and pass it through the window to the clerk. They offered me a courtesy BFC remittance card that made it much quicker and more efficient for future transactions. My last remittance was circa 2015. Quite painless and quite possibly the most expeditious option at your disposal. Funds typically showed up in my Canadian bank account on the same same day.
Hope this will reassure you and give you piece of mind.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

siologen · Joined: 25 Oct 2016 Posts: 336

hobartwells · Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45

Thank you, gentlemen, I will schedule a trip to Bahrain soon. Just found the BFC website, as well.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930