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Hatcher
Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 602
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:10 am Post subject: Customs? |
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My exit visa is for the 10th and there is a flight that leaves on the 9th at 11:50 PM.
Where can I find out if customs would say, you are not leaving; or if they would wave me through. |
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cmp45

Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:48 am Post subject: |
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Technically you should be okay... You have 10 minutes If you have spent any time in Saudi you should know that anything can happen. It would be best, if you gave yourself a little more 'wiggle' room to allow for any mishaps...10 minutes is cutting it a tad short in my estimate...no matter what some official might advise otherwise...Why not just book an earlier flight? ... given murphy's law and all.... If that is not possible then perhaps Saudi Air might be able to advise you or the the agent where you booked your flight? As for communicating directly with a customs agent...good luck with that. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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If the date is the 10th, don't you have that whole day to leave? theoretically?
Or if the date is the 10th, does that mean that you have to leave before the 10th arrives? Does it expire on 12:01 am on the 10th?
VS |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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What if your flight is delayed ? Incidentally CUSTOMS are not the guys. You are talking about the Border Immigration Officers. There IS a difference ! |
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Hatcher
Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 602
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for help.
I can not leave until the 10th. HOwever, there is a flight on the 9th that I want to be on and it leaves 10 min before midnight, which is the 10th.
Would immigration not allow me to leave? |
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spiral78

Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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In Europe or North America, this would most likely be interpreted as having to leave ON the 10th at the latest - not BEFORE .
(I've had some situations involving last-minute border crossings as recently as last month).
This experience holds no water in SA, though  |
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bulgogiboy

Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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Hatcher wrote: |
Thank you for help.
I can not leave until the 10th. HOwever, there is a flight on the 9th that I want to be on and it leaves 10 min before midnight, which is the 10th.
Would immigration not allow me to leave? |
That was my understanding when I read your first post. If your exit visa cannot be used until the 10th or after, then I really think it would be sensible to book a flight on the 10th, or after. And, sorry to be pedantic, but it's immigration who would be concerned with this, not customs (who deal with importation of goods, etc).
You know how it is in Saudi, If you book the flight on the 9th, you might get some jobsworth immigration officer who insists you can't exit until midnight, leaving you chasing the plane down the runway! |
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Grendal

Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 861 Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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Are you talking higri days or gregorian days. The western world starts its day at 12:01 AM. The higri is after the prayer call in the wee hours of the morning before the sunrise prayer.
Grendal |
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cmp45

Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:11 am Post subject: |
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You would be best advised to just follow the time alloted on your exit visa to avoid any hassles upon departing, tempting as it may be. Unless you are related to some high ranking official that may be able to overlook this, just follow the times as they are stated in your exit visa. |
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mashkif
Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 178
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Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Customs? |
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Hatcher wrote: |
My exit visa is for the 10th and there is a flight that leaves on the 9th at 11:50 PM.
Where can I find out if customs would say, you are not leaving; or if they would wave me through. |
The visa validity is not only stamped/printed on your visa, but is in the computer system. When an officer enters your visa number, the system is bound to report an exception and flag you. At that stage, it'd be up to the officer in question and, probably, his superior.
Though they would probably wind up waving you thru, I wouldn't rely on their benevolence. As others have suggested, you'd be best advised to get a flight 6/10. |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:11 am Post subject: |
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As Grendal points out in the Middle East (as in the ancient world) the new day starts at sunset. This notion of 12 midnight as the start of tyhe new day is a recent introduction and therefore heretical and anti-islamic !
Last edited by scot47 on Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:20 am Post subject: |
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Grendal said it was the sunrise call to prayer, but, like Scot, I thought that it was the sunset... or am I confusing it with the Jewish rule that uses sunset as the start of the next day?
VS |
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