Job Discussion Forums

[SaharaDesert]

My company just told me that they hold the passports in a safe and they issue an iqama.
When you need to travel, you just ask for your passport and pay the $60 visa to travel.
Any thoughts on that ?

[Captain Willard]

It helps to do a search first:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=90582&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

The passport which you bear is not yours. It is the property of your government. Tell the employer if they want the property of your government that they must first get written permission from the consulate. It should end the problem. Don't let your passport out of your sight.

[cmp45]

I have worked at three different reputable institutions in KSA and all three places kept my passport while I had the resident KSA work Igama. This is the norm with most institutions. I have never had a problem getting my passport when I needed it. You don't usually get to hold onto both. It may not be legal, but this is KSA and if you want to work in KSA you pretty much need to play by their rules. If you believe this is a violation of your rights, then best not work in KSA. Yes, there are some risks involved and you could have some problems with this arrangement, if you sign up with a dodgy outfit or if you run into any other unfortunate problems with the Saudi law.
Fortunately, I have not had any problems thus far, but I am sure there are many who have been less fortunate.

[scot47]

This has been normal procedure for ever - or at least since the early days of KSA. Now some employers are more liberal with some Western employees who are allowed both Iqama an passport at the same time.

Your passport is useless unless you have an exit visa !

[ecocks]

Your passport is "useless"?

Now I am really curious.

In SA what ID do you use to open a bank account?

When you go to the Embassy, what ID do you show to get into ACS?

When you go to the airport for an internal flight, what ID works to get on the plane?

If I am checking into a 5-star hotel in Al Khobar or Sharm El Shiekh, what ID works for check-in?

If you have a police encounter what papers establish your identity and nationality?

[pandamall]

You need an iqama to open a bank account, travel on a plane, get a hotel room, rent a car, deal with police, deal with mutawa (religious police), and transfer money. Once you know someone with an iqama, they can transfer money for you.

You'll want to make a couple photocopies of your iqama and your passport. If the mutawa stop you, give them the photocopy. Unless you'd like to see the inside of the mutawa station, and we had a few teachers in Jizan who did, you can often make a retreat once they have your photocopy.

When I was stopped by the mutawa, I didn't give them anything. I had done the terrible thing of sitting at an empty table outside a restaurant while waiting for a prayer to end. Haraam!

[veiledsentiments]

If you go to Sharm, you would have to get an exit visa - and exchange your iqama for your passport to travel - I would think. Unless there is some special arrangement with Egypt...

VS

[ecocks]

My bad, Egypt, Arabia, 210, 220 230 whatever it takes. Substitute in any other resort hotel in SA by all means.

So this iqama serves as the receipt we got. Interesting. Does the Embassy grant you admission when you flash this at the gate or does it involve a bit more to establish your bona fides, enter and get service?

[ram77]

I worked in a school in Dammam. They were very shady and whenever I asked for my passport or where it was, they shrugged their shoulders. When I went to the embassy to ask them about my passport, they said they could NOT issue another passport (you will have to lie and say you lost it), that I had to get an exit VISA to leave the country. Once you enter Arabia and hand over your passport, you are owned by the school. They can pretty much keep you there for years. NO JOKE!

I implore you all to call the embassy BEFORE you take that flight and specifically ask the embassy, if I want to quit my job and the employer doesn't want to give me my passport and/or my exit VISA, what can you do to help. They will tell you that you have to work it out with your employer and wish you good luck. The Embassy works with your employer. You have no right to leave unless your employer wants you to leave.

This is not advertised anywhere. The only way you can possibly know about this is by someone else's experience. You've been warned.

[ram77]

Your school has to issue the Iqama. You have no ability to do anything except ask. It's a way to keep you there. If you want to quit, then they will postpone issuing the Iqama and when you get stuck with the fee, you have to work to pay it. You can leave when you want before the 90 days, after you have to give a notice which your contract can dictate 30 days to 6 months notice. The embassy will only help you here to avoid the fee and give you an emergency passport to leave... later, they called me back to renig on that so I'm not sure what the deal is with that. CALL AHEAD. I'm disappointed that the embassy is so useless. It's a hostage situation without the jail cell, and paid... if your school pays you on time. If they don't, the embassy gives you a list of lawyers to call which can be almost as much money as in the states. The Ministry of Education is REALLY limited in their ability to help you but they have some services that can be of aid with pay and human rights. Also, check the hospitals that you will be assigned to you. God forbid you get sick and they send you somewhere shady. The name of the compound or living community can be googled. If they don't give you the name of the place you will be living... DON'T GO!

Also, if your recruiter is an elderly gentleman with a southern accent out of California who has a company that begins with Chem or if it ends with Tech and he is recruiting you for a school in Dammam. DON'T GO!!

[ram77]

Recruiters make money off of teachers who come and go, because the that way, he/she keeps having to recruit more teachers and that's more commissions. The recruiter will lie on purpose. I believe his first name is Ronny or Ronald. The last name is French.

[It's Scary!]

[johnslat]

Dear ecocks,

"In SA what ID do you use to open a bank account?

When you go to the Embassy, what ID do you show to get into ACS?

When you go to the airport for an internal flight, what ID works to get on the plane?

If I am checking into a 5-star hotel in Al Khobar what ID works for check-in?

If you have a police encounter what papers establish your identity and nationality?"

The answer to all of the above: iqama.

To get into the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, you "flash" your iqama at the Saudi guards.

If you're on a "business visa" and have no iqama, you'd better have your passport with your valid business visa stamped in it. And, as mentioned above, it's wise to make copies of your I.D. (iqama and/or passport) and carry them with you at all times.

Regards,
John

[ram77]

The embassy is open from 1 to 3 pm Saudi Time to come in and 9 - 11 am for phone inquiries. Saudi Arabia is 8 hours ahead, so write down your questions if you must, wake up early and call them or e-mail your questions to [email protected] and they will get back to you in a couple of days.

"It's Scary" I just came from Arabia had to go through all of this. 1. Why would you post that "The Emabssy" can't be reached or called?

2. If the embassy can't be reached or called, then that proves my original point on my previous posts.

People! Don't just take my word for it. DO THE RESEARCH FOR YOURSELF! The Iqama works for daily life, yes, but no one in the Eastern province asked for my Iqama ever!! I look Arab, too. They simply heard me talk, smiled and left me alone. I would rather keep my passport than my Iqama. If anything happens with Iran and you want to go, you have to beg the school for your passport and they will let you go, IF they want to. You can always request your Iqama to open a bank account or whatever. The airports REQUIRE the passport. There's no Iqama for an airplane unless you're a Saudi citizen.

[cmp45]