Job Discussion Forums

[Impala]

Hi. I received a K-12 job offer in Riyadh. The school is going to process my work visa and once in Riyadh I get my Iqama. Next, I am to apply for my family to come to Saudi. How long of a wait???

[Mysterious]

I guess it depends on how honest and reliable and hard working your company is, as well as whatever problems they may face by the authorities. It could take anywhere between a couple of weeks to... the rest of your life.. !

Okay, that's exaggerating it somewhat.. but let's just say that KSU teachers with ICEAT in August/september last year got told that it would take maximum 90 days to get an iqama (but they thought it would take about 6 weeks). The company encountered many problems, and 7+ months on.. people are still waiting for the iqama, and families are still back home. However, the iqama is finally happening. Most of it wasn't really the company's fault, but just how Saudi is run, with their petty rules and regulations.

So yeah.. basically, there is no telling. And whatever your company says, take it as a pinch of salt, because even the most honest of bosses can still mess up.

[rainbowprof]

some employers bring the family over at the same time as the breadwinner.

[Gulezar]

It depends how desperate you are for a job and how desperate they are for a teacher. I knew a woman who refused to take the job until her husband's visa came through. I would not expect a K-12 school to be too concerned about the family's visas.