|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
vva
Joined: 19 Sep 2010
Posts: 42
Location: NY, USA
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:53 pm Post subject: A certified copy of applicant's degree - What does that mean |
 |
|
I'm getting my stuff together to apply for a Saudi employment visa in the US, and one of the requirements is to get a certified copy of my degree validated by the Saudi Cultural Mission.
So, what do they mean by "certified"? How do I get my degree certified?
Are they asking for a degree that is certified by the university I went to (and in that case, isn't my degree already certified?)?
OR, do they mean that the copy of my degree has to be certified...as in notarized as an accurate copy of my actual degree?
and then when I send it to the SACM, they will verify it once more, correct?
Nowhere on the Saudi Embassy website does it say anything about using DegreeVerify, however...so where does this come in? (for reference: http://www.saudiembassy.net/services/document_regulations.aspx )
(bear in mind, I'm not using any visa agency to complete my visa applications and what not).
Thanks for all your help! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vva
Joined: 19 Sep 2010
Posts: 42
Location: NY, USA
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Okay, so you pretty much sent photocopies directly from the printer--no prior notarization of the degree photocopies before sending it to SACM, correct?
BTW, what do they mean by "Courier Agency"? Isn't that like the USPS, or FedEX? You wrote in your last post "...they emailed me the following list of required documentation/documents:
- A letter from you or the courier agent, stating the reason for authentication, with a contact number..."
so maybe I misunderstood...is the courier agent a visa agent? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You just send copies of your degree---right off the printer. By the way, the printout from DegreeVerify is what certifies your degree, although you'll still need the sealed registrar letter and transcript from your university.
The courier agent is the visa agent, if you're using this type of service. However, you can write the letter requesting authentication yourself, as I did below. If you use it, you'll need to complete it based on your own employment situation and academic credential. Send it off along with all the other required documents.
Document Authentication
Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission
8500 Hilltop Road
Fairfax, VA 22031
RE: Request for graduate degree authentication for (your name here)
I have formally accepted an offer of employment with (Saudi employer's name) in (city), Saudi Arabia, for the position of (job title) at (Saudi institute name). Whereby, the purpose of this letter is to request authentication of my graduate qualification, a Master of Arts in (degree major), from (university name) in (city, state).
If you require further information or documentation regarding this request, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at ________, or by email at ________.
Your attention to this request is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vva
Joined: 19 Sep 2010
Posts: 42
Location: NY, USA
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Saudi Embassy Employment Visa Webpage wrote: |
| 6. A certified and notarized copy of the applicants university degree/diploma, which MUST be validated by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission...Diplomas need to be notarized by a Saudi Arabian Consulate in the United States. |
wow..no where does it say anything about degree verify; how are people supposed to know these things?
Anyway, thanks for explaining what they mean by "certified",but what about "notarized"?
It says "diplomas need to be notarized by a Saudi Arabian Consulate in the United States"... will the SACM notarize the photocopy I send them, or do I have to get it notarized via the Saudi Embassy, prior to sending it to the SACM to be validated? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| vva wrote: |
| Saudi Embassy Employment Visa Webpage wrote: |
| 6. A certified and notarized copy of the applicants university degree/diploma, which MUST be validated by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission...Diplomas need to be notarized by a Saudi Arabian Consulate in the United States. |
wow..no where does it say anything about degree verify; how are people supposed to know these things?
Anyway, thanks for explaining what they mean by "certified",but what about "notarized"?
It says "diplomas need to be notarized by a Saudi Arabian Consulate in the United States"... will the SACM notarize the photocopy I send them, or do I have to get it notarized via the Saudi Embassy, prior to sending it to the SACM to be validated? |
Don't read into this so much. If you re-read my Aug 2, 2012, comments from the link I provided, you'll see that you do nothing to the photocopies of your degree except submit them just as they are---as basic photocopies off your inkjet printer. The SACM looks at all the documentation you've provided, especially the letter and transcript from your university's registrar's office, the DegreeVerify certificate/printout, and your authorization to release info to the SACM. Their department then stamps both photocopies of your degree and writes the Saudi institute's name and code on them. Your degree has now been authenticated. They keep one copy, you get the other copy back. That's all. Again, my instructions came directly via email from the SACM's document authentication department and not from the Saudi embassy's outdated webpage. Of course, you can contact the SACM yourself for reassurance. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vva
Joined: 19 Sep 2010
Posts: 42
Location: NY, USA
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| nomad soul wrote: |
Don't read into this so much. If you re-read my Aug 2, 2012, comments from the link I provided, you'll see that you do nothing to the photocopies of your degree except submit them just as they are---as basic photocopies off your inkjet printer. The SACM looks at all the documentation you've provided, especially the letter and transcript from your university's registrar's office, the DegreeVerify certificate/printout, and your authorization to release info to the SACM. Their department then stamps both photocopies of your degree and writes the Saudi institute's name and code on them. Your degree has now been authenticated. They keep one copy, you get the other copy back. That's all. Again, my instructions came directly via email from the SACM's document authentication department and not from the Saudi embassy's outdated webpage. Of course, you can contact the SACM yourself for reassurance. |
Thanks for the guidance! I've proceeded as recommended and am now just waiting to get everything back from the SACM, before I have to send it all to the embassy.
Was I supposed to have sent a check along with my papers for the SACM? I can't tell who I'm supposed to send the ~$8 fee to...
I hope you won't mind if I pm you with any other questions that come up along the way! It's definitely rare to find someone who's tackled the whole visa process sans visa agency!
-------------
Update 9/19 -- Received everything back from the SACM, in the pre-stamped return envelope I included, within a week! They only stamped one photocopy however (even though I included 2)... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thaitom
Joined: 31 Dec 2009
Posts: 14
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 7:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quick question here; What if your school doesn't participate in degreeverify, is there a procedure for this situation? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rdobbs98
Joined: 08 Oct 2010
Posts: 236
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 1:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Nomad soul the letter has to be rewritten per SACM. I just went through this and it is a more general termed letter. I will post it later. Plus I am going to do a full posting laying out each step later because what is on here is incomplete. This is not challenging only the lack of help SACM will give you. I have figured out how to make enjaz work as well. My point is you don't need an agency unless you hit problems because for what you pay is ridiculous. I have even seen an agency charging $50 just to enter the enjaz. Enjaz took me two hours to figure out but then only ten minutes to enter each of my families info after that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| thaitom wrote: |
| Quick question here; What if your school doesn't participate in degreeverify, is there a procedure for this situation? |
According to clearinghousehelp.org's website, if you've conducted an advanced search and you still don't see your school on degreeverify's list of participating schools, you're to contact the school's registrar's office for assistance. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
