Job Discussion Forums

[geceler]

I've been hired through AETG. Yesterday I received an email saying that my employment visa documents were sent to the agency that AETG uses to process the visas. I'm trying to get an idea of how far along in the process I am.

The woman who interviewed me mentioned that I would be coming over on a business visa or a temporary work visa (I can't remember which but I know it is not the employment visa) so I'm assuming the processing time should be much quicker than the employment visa. I'm hoping to be in KSA within the next two months.

Also, I signed a basic job offer a few weeks ago but after reading through various posts it seems like I should be expecting a more detailed contract to sign, is that correct?


Thank you!

[2buckets]

[rdobbs98]

You picked one of the bad ones to work for. Do a search here.

[scot47]

They are planning to bring you in on a BUSINESS VISA which is covered with warnings, "EMPLOYMENT NOT PERMITTED". You will be an illegal in KSA. You like that idea ?

[Anacita]

Dear geceler,

I am pretty certain that you will be issued a work-visit visa. I've never heard of AETG reqyesting a business visa for any employee, but many employees are issued work-visit visas, especially now sine the semester has started and AETG wants you there asap. You can work on the work-visit visa for a limited time. You won't have a problem working on it for the duration of the contract with AETG. So, don't worry about the work-visit visa at this point.
However, if you choose to re-apply for the same teaching position at PNU next year, you may want to apply with several different companies, some of which will prefer you to have an employment visa.

To figure out how far along you are in the process, answer this question: Has the visa agency cntacted you yet? If so, simply call them and ask them when you will receive your passport back. By now, you should have also received a phone call or an email from the person at AETG who will book your flight.

Send me a message if you'd like to be put in touch with a seasoned AETG employee who is recruiting and also teaching at PNU (not me, but someone I met while in Riyadh).

Best regards!

[johnslat]

Dear Anacita,

If you're teaching in Saudi under a "work-visit visa" you're still illegal:

"Instead of a business visa, your host company in Saudi Arabia may offer you a visiting work visa. Quintessentially this is same as a business visa, but instead of just meeting with your host contact in Saudi Arabia, you will perform special tasks while in the country. You will still be paid by your direct employer and will not receive any compensation directly from the Saudi host."

http://www.travelvisapro.com/blog/saudi-arabia-2/

Regards,
John

[rdobbs98]

This group is reviewed all over this forum and not positively. The main issue being their consistent failure to issue iqamas. If you do not go over with the proper temporary work visa that leads to the iqama then you will be an illegal worker with no rights and no legal protections. After what many have posted here about these various bad actors, it is foolish to follow that path, only to then be coming back here to complain.

Caveat Empore

[Anacita]

John,
From the same site:
"You can be offered a temporary work visa instead of an actual work visa. This is very similar to a work visa, but your contract is limited and will generally expire in 3-6 months. A temporary work visa will require an invitation letter from Saudi Arabia authorizing you for this visa. Once the contract has expired, you will return back to your host country."

Perhaps that is what AETG is issuing.

[johnslat]

Dear Anacita,

"Work Temporary Visa
Recently, Saudi Arabia introduced a new type of visa � the temporary
visit work visa. The purpose of this visa is to allow the employee of a
foreign entity, which has no presence in Saudi Arabia, to perform
temporary work for its clients in Saudi Arabia."

A "work temporary visa" cannot be converted into an "regular employment visa."
It has to be renewed every 90 days.You do not get an iqama. You are not legally a resident there (which will affect your income tax if you are from the US.)
You cannot open a bank account (or legally do other things, such as rent an apartment) with a "work temporary visa.
Temporary Work Permits are issued only to applicants with the appropriate invitation from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The validity
of this permit will be limited to the number of days listed on the official invitation.

It's a really bad way to enter the Kingdom.

Regards,
John

[Anacita]

Yes, John, I am familiar with the disadvantages of the work-visit visa because I went to Saudi on one. Soon, I will be returning to Saudi on an employment visa (sponsored by a different company than I was with when I went on the work-visit visa).

However, some individuals seem to want a work-visit visa because they do not want to have to do all of the things that are required to apply for the employment visa. And some companies seem to want to offer it to employees.

In any case, I suppose that one of the real questions for a teacher who has just been hired by a company is whether the work-visit visa permits the teacher to work legally at one of the universities. The supervisor of the PYP at the female campus of King Saud said (in a meeting with many nw teachers) that it is legal to work for one year on a work-visit visa and that if anyone tells you differently, they're wrong. Now, this does not apply to me because I will be in Saudi working for a different university (not KSU) and I will have an employment visa (for which I've done the medical exam, police check, authentication of my degrees etc). However, the question does seem to apply to the poster of this query thread, the person who accepted a position with AETG.

So, what is the answer for the poster (geceler)?

[johnslat]

Dear Anacita,

Did you have "a more detailed contract to sign" when you arrived in Saudi on the "temporary work-visit visa?"

I have to admit I'll be surprised if you did since you were really working there illegally (no matter what that "PYP supervisor" said.)

But I guess it all depends on just how desperate one may be.

Regards,
John

[Anacita]

Yes, John, I did have a 6-page contract, which I had received before I flew to Riyadh. The contract was written in both English and Arabic and it had those shiny official-looking stamps on the last page.
But, as you probably know, a lengthy contract does not make a company professional. I found out that the company had done some very unprofessional things, like witholding passports of its employees against their will.
The PYP supervisors, the women who run the PYP at the female campus of KSU were adamant that it is totally legal to work for one year on a work-visit visa. The Consulate at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh did not explicitly say that it was illegal to work on a work-visit visa. They did say, though, that if you are in Saudi for employment, your employer should issue you an employment visa.
And since, as you know, a work-visit visa cannot be turned into an employment visa, much less an iqama, it is imperative that all teachers who go to Saudi understand that if they are going there with a work-visit visa, they will have to either leave the country every 30 days or have the visa renewed internally, which then results in a situation where they cannot leave the country---at least that is my understanding...is that your understanding too?

So, as long as the poster geceler is okay with that situation, then s/he can go to Saudi on the work-visit visa. Perhaps geceler should, upon arriving in Saudi, go to the Embassy of his/her home country and ask for specific information about the work-visit visa. Or, perhaps geceler should consult the Saudi Embassy before leaving his/her home country and ask: "If I go to Riyadh and teach at Princess Nora University, being employed by AETG, will I be working there legally or illegally?"

[johnslat]

Dear Anacita,

" . . . is that your understanding too?"

To be honest, I'm not sure. I know on a "business visa" one can leave at any time (as long as one has one's passport and can pay for the flight)) since an "exit visa" is not required. But as regards the "work-visit" visa, I don't know if that also applies.

"Or, perhaps geceler should consult the Saudi Embassy before leaving his/her home country and ask: "If I go to Riyadh and teach at Princess Nora University, being employed by AETG, will I be working there legally or illegally?"

Well, from my experience (and those of others I've known) in dealing with Saudi embassies - all I can say is good luck with that .

Regards,
John

[nomad soul]

[johnslat]

The so-called "Temporary work visa" is apparently simply a kind of "business visa"

Temporary Work Visa

Passport should be valid for at least six (6) months. Passport should have at least two (2) visa pages adjacent to each other.
One (1) recent passport size color photograph with a white background. Photograph(s) must be full-face shots in which the applicant is facing the camera directly. Side or angled-views are NOT accepted. Guidelines for accepted photograph for Visa.
A completed application form filled-out with a black ink pen or printed. Application forms can be downloaded from the website at http://www.saudiembassy.net/. Please include your email address on the application.
The applicant should include a reference note showing the number and the date of the Temporary Work visa issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any of its branches in Jeddah or Dammam.
A copy of the temporary work contract with the host company in Saudi Arabia.
Non-US citizens must submit a copy of their green card or another document confirming their legal residency in the USA.
Two (2) fees: one in the amount of two hundred and sixty eight US dollars (US$ 268.00) and the second for the amount of fourteen US dollars (US $14.00). Visa fees must be paid online through Enjaz website www.enjazit.com.sa or through any of the Visa Offices Registered with Enjaz. The Consulate Section will not accept visa fee payments.
Log on to https://enjazit.com.sa/ . Click on �Apply for a visa to enter the Kingdom by individuals.� Complete the online request for an Employment visa. It is important to record the request number on the application and present it to the Consulate. Guideline for enjaz online application.
Minors (under 18 years of age) travelling alone or with one parent must submit a notrized letter of authorization, in either in Arabic or English, signed by both parents or legal guardians.
Mailing Passport:We would like to bring to the attention of all applicants who send their passports by mail that from this time on, they must also include a pre-paid return envelope (from FedEx, UPS or USPS only) with the address label filled out completely. No credit cards, checks, money orders or cash will be accepted. Any package without a proper pre-paid return envelope will be put on hold until one is received. It is the applicant�s responsibility to determine the EXACT return shipping costs, according to the weight of the package. All labels must have a tracking number, and applicants are advised to keep both incoming and outgoing tracking numbers for their records. The Embassy does not send international packages. Washington DC Location: 601 New Hampshire Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037 - Tel. (202) 342-3800.

Notice:

Visitors should not overstay the time granted on the visa. Business visas do not grant to the applicant the right to work or to reside in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Visitors of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall abide by the country�s Islamic laws and regulations and respect its society�s values and traditions. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia�s anti-drug trafficking laws are strictly enforced. Violators are subject to severe punishments, which may include the death penalty.

http://www.saudiembassy.net/services/Temporary-Work-visa.aspx

Regards,
John