Job Discussion Forums

[Sydney2002]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the Gulf- and haven't actually arrived yet. I'm just wondering if anyone with experience could tell me what is involved in having documents verified or authenticated after arriving in Oman.

I've been through this numerous times with employers in Asia (we use the 'apostille') but I've always had it done from the U.S. prior to receiving my visa. I don't believe Oman is one of the countries which accepts the apostille, but I do think I need to have my MA notarized or verified in some manner... I'm guessing at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat?

Has anyone done this? If so, could you give me an idea of how much this will cost? I'm a bit nervous at the idea of waiting until I've arrived in Oman to take care of this when I've always dealt with in advance, in the past.

Would greatly appreciate any feedback on this...

[madrileno]

The most I've heard US citizens needing to do is get their degree attested at the Embassy in Muscat.

Attestation is free, and takes only a few minutes. All you need is your original dregree, a copy you want them to put the attestation stamp on and proof of identification (a passport will do). You'll need to make an appointment on the US embassy website before you go. You can't just stroll into the embassy in Muscat, even if you are a US citizen.

Once your degree is attested, you need it verified by the Omani government. This is done at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Muscat, which is across from the new Opera House. I'd forgotten how much it cost when I had it done, but it wasn't more than RO 10. Again, you need your original degree, the attested copy which the ministry will add their seal to, and identification.

Under no circumstances should you give your employer your original degree. There are countless horror stories of teachers doing this and never seeing their diplomas again, then having to deal with the costly process of having them replaced stateside.

Good luck.

[The Steakinator]

I brought my degree, handed it over to the recruiter (Majali), someone from his office took it to the US embassy in Muscat where it was attested, and then they took it to an Omani ministry. I got it back a month or two later. They said I would have to pay 3 Rial for it, but they either forgot or were bluffing.

[Sydney2002]

Thank you both so much.

I was hired directly by my university. No recruiter. And they did tell me not to ever give my original degree to anyone. I was just worried that the process would be complicated after arriving in Oman. But it sounds like it will be much easier than it was in the other countries I have worked in.

I really appreciate your help!

One more question- about couriers to Oman- DHL, Fedex, UPS or is Aramex really the best? I have been advised to use DHL, but they're telling me here (stateside) that they will not deliver to Oman unless it's a street address. I only have a post office box.

I suspect they're just being difficult here in the U.S. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

[veiledsentiments]

Oman has street addresses. You just need to find out what it is. Ask your employer.

VS

[The Steakinator]

I had something sent to Oman via DHL all the way from China. I had it sent to the Uni's PO Box and it arrived within a week.

[Sydney2002]

As I thought.

They're being difficult here in the U.S. My employer told me that other teachers had used DHL to send documents to them in Oman using the PO Box. I'm sure there is some reason why they do not give a street address too.

No matter now. I've just been notified by the Personnel Dept. that I can send the documents (which I copied onto legal paper before sending) as scanned documents via email.

Problem solved... hopefully! And I'll use DHL from now on. The US Postal Service is hopeless.

[gator07]

I had the same issue when I sent my documents. FedEx told me they couldn't send to a PO Box but that's all I had. I think most couriers just automatically assume they can't deliver things to a foreign PO Box since they can't deliver to a domestic one. Anyway, my package made to the school's PO Box within a week via FedEx. I'm sure DHL is the same.

[The Steakinator]

Now that I think of it, I had a duplicate of my degree sent to me in Oman via the US postal service's international service.

[KvK]

You can get your degree notarized BEFORE YOU LEAVE by any lawyer or notary where you live. That should be done before you leave the country. You can also find online a government office that authenticates documents. In Canada it is in Ottawa and you can either courier it or they do it while you wait. DO IT AT HOME!! here it is a matter of a phone call to the university for them authenticate it. From over there, they don't know up from down re your university's credibility. I am also having to do this but I was told to make sure I do it before I go to Oman to save myself any hassle. You can have copies notarized as true copies of a valid original degree for around 25 bucks (at least in Canada) by any lawyer.

[usa_in_gulf]

The US embassy in Muscat does not authenticate educational documents. They will stamp a copy of your degree saying that the school listed on the diploma is accredited by one of the DOE recognized agency---this is not the same as the authenticating your documents.

The following is from the embassy�s website:

[seekandfind]

I just had my documents attested by the Omani Cultural Division at the Embassy of Oman in D.C. (202) 387-1980. There was no charge. Once they had everything, they turned it around in about a week.
I'm overseas now, so I did need a friend in the states to assist. I needed to mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to the cultural office. My University sent a letter of degree verification directly to the Embassy and the Cultural office sent all attested documents to my friend who scanned them in and emailed them to me. I was told MoHE was fine with the soft copy.
This worked for me �.Maybe it could work for you too.
Good Luck!

[Sydney2002]

Thanks, everyone!

I live near D.C., so I'll probably just go in person and try to have this done, just to be on the safe side. Appreciate the response!