Job Discussion Forums

nickelgoat · Last edited by nickelgoat on Sun Dec 09, 2012 2:34 pm; edited 8 times in total

UPDATE: FINALLY GOT IT! THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT EVERYONE!

My situation: granted initial 90-day visa to enter Saudi Arabia on work contract. Entered May 16. Did 2nd physical here in KSA about two weeks later. Everything seemed OK. Submitted passport for iqama processing.

If May 16 is first day, then August 13 is 90th day. Am only told it is "in progress" by employer. Now that it is Ramadan and since that won't end until after August 13, am somewhat concerned. Two previous contracts had my iqama much sooner than this.

Would 8/13 really be the deadline since KSA goes on Islamic calendar? What if I don't have my iqama by then?

Maybe getting nervous over nothing, but you never know what to expect here. How close to the 90-day deadline have you come regarding getting your iqama processed?

Am I illegal otherwise, even if my employer has been checking with immigration?

scot47 · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject:

Relax and adopt the Saudi Work Ethic !

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 14852 Location: USA

Hopefully someone who has encountered this situation will show up...

My guess is that worst case would be a fine... and hopefully your employer will pay it.

VS

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 303

No worries. As long as your iqama is being processed by your company, and they can provide some sort of letter to confirm this, you are fine, even if your initial 90 days have expired. The only kink is that you can't leave the country during this 'transitional period'. Other than that, all is good.

nickelgoat · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:57 am Post subject:

I hope that is true - because I wrote to ACS (American Citizen Services) and their take was that if I don't have the iqama by 8/13, I have to leave the Kingdom or face a overstay fine, unless my company can convince immigration to extend the visa.

My company is telling me this has to do with the new laws being implemented referred to as "Saudization" where there needs to be a certain number of Saudi workers among any company's workforce. My company is in the "yellow" range as there are a lot of south Asian workers doing things besides teaching, and a lot of non-Saudi Arab teachers.

I have made my company very aware of the deadline I face, and my hope is that I can go with the guy who handles all this to immigration, sometime next week.

Just never thought it would be so slow!

tacomaboywa · Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 194 Location: The Magic Kingdom

threexband · Joined: 16 Jun 2012 Posts: 1

Who is your sponsor ? Speaking from experience, you will get little to no assistance from the Consulate. The Iqama process takes a week to ten days not months ! And "No" a letter from your company explaining that your passport/Iqama is in process is not sufficient- this nonsense will not be accepted at hospitals, banks, or any other legitimate institution. Again- who is doing this to you ? It sounds like they have "confiscated" your passport- illegal and a violation of your basic human rights... you are possibly on a common road of human trafficking here in KSA. remember, Saudi is a bottom tier nation in terms of human rights violations. You need to act quickly. Get back in touch with the US consulate and do not- repeat DO NOT let them ignore you. Be prepared to go to your US Senator and the US State Department if necessary- I have contacts there if needed. But first- who is doing this ?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 1689 Location: Al Mamlaka

nickelgoat · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 11:56 am Post subject:

I am a direct hire, working at a school in north Riyadh. My visa is a work visa, not a business or business-visit visa. It is valid 90 days. The 90th day since entry is August 13.

When I first came, they didn't seem to have an urgency to get my passport in their possession. I told them that two previous work visa positions I have held here wanted my passport immediately so they could get the iqama process going. They said they didn't need it right away.

I finally insisted, in late June, that they take the passport and begin the processing. They did.

About two weeks ago, I asked the person at my company in charge of this task to tell me the progress. He started discussing "Saudization" and how it wasn't just my iqama, but those of several other non-Saudi workers that were being "delayed" by this new law and that there was nothing he could do to speed up the process.

Then he took my passport out of his desk and said that they only needed it "for the beginning of the process" and that I was entitled to have it back while waiting for the iqama. I still have it in my possession.

Thanks to Ramadan, he is hardly ever in his office at all now. I call his cell and there is no answer. I'm supposed to come in to the school about 1-2 hours a day just to sit and do whatever, which I do. But I never see the bosses.

I wrote an email to my direct supervisor (a Canadian), to the school director and to this gentleman who is handling the iqama process, and told them all in no uncertain terms about this deadline and copied the email from American Citizen Services. I insisted that the man in charge of the processing go with me to immigration THIS WEEK to deal with the matter in person, becaus if we don't, it will not get done. So far, nothing.

This is a WORK VISA and they know it.

This company has never had a complaint at Daves or anywhere on the Internet. It's been in existence for about four years, but everyone seems to finish their two-year contracts, so there hasn't been much turnover. My supervisor doesn't understand why I am stressing over this and he has a very casual attitude about the whole thing. He just says "keep on them" about it.

So what now?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 1689 Location: Al Mamlaka

nickelgoat · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 2:19 pm Post subject:

There is absolutely nothing in my contract about a probationary period.

And, I moved into the apartment that the previous teacher who I replaced had lived in for two years. This was suggested by the school as it is right around the corner - I can walk to work in three minutes. My housing allowance is almost twice what the monthly rent on the apartment is, and there is a transporation allowance I don't have to use since its so close. Ups my take-home pay.

However, they don't give the apartment allowance up front. I just paid the next six months rent. The previous teacher had it paid up to mid-July, and this payment takes me to mid-January. Of course I am strapped for August, but that's how its done here.

No one at the school has hinted anything is wrong, that I am in any danger of being terminated, and I've had positive reviews by the classes I have already taught.

They're just not doing anything, or they say the government is not doing anything and using Ramadan and Saudization as excuses.

al-Californian · Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 94 Location: Raider Nation!

johnslat · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:31 pm Post subject:

Dear al-Californian,

Depends on the individual. I went there an impatient, get things done far in advance kind of O/C sort of guy, and it took me about 5 or 6 years to adjust.

It certainly made living there a lot more tolerable.

Regards,
John

P.S. The "impatient" part has never come back, but now that I'm here in the States, I've returned to the "do things far in advance" mode.

al-Californian · Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 94 Location: Raider Nation!

johnslat · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 9:52 pm Post subject:

Dear al-Californian,

No, they likely won't "jerk you around," but for a while, you may "jerk yourself around."

Example: You're told to get something done in five days. You think, "Hey, no problem - I can whip that out in two or three days."

So, you do. On the fourth or five day, after you've gotten everything done, you're told, " It's been decided to do it differently."

All your work is, of course, useless. Moral: put off doing anything until the last possible minute. Of course, even that won't save you all the time, but it'll eliminate lots of fruitless labor a lot of the time.

It was hard for me to get used to that; I like to get stuff done and over with. But I learned - the hard way, naturally - that's NOT a good work ethic there.

Regards,
John