Job Discussion Forums

[Justin Kanter]

I have been teaching in Mexico for two years where I met my wife (who is Mexican) and her four year old son. We are interested in traveling and are drawn to the idea of SA for the money. The idea is to live abroad for two years and then return to Mexico for two. We want to continue this until her son is ready for high school at which time we want to go to the US.

We will be ready to leave Mexico after I finish this school year the following June. I want to know from the experienced ones, those that have been and lived the culture, what they think about bringing a family along for the ride.

I was told by Esllam Elghamry the Recruiting Manager for Skyline Global Solutions that there are "current positions [that] will give [me] the option to sponsor [my] family."

Thank you very much for your advice and experience.

[nomad soul]

Generally, your ability to sponsor your wife and child mostly depends on if you'll be on an iqama through the contractor. That is, you'll be on an employment visa in order to enter the Kingdom for employment purposes. If the contractor is doling out business visit visas for teachers, then your family will only be able to visit you (and that's if you're in housing that allows for families).

You don't say what your qualifications/experience are, who the employer/contractor is, and what other benefits the job offers, but it can make a huge difference in your quality of life and living/work situation. You should thoroughly research the contracting company. From a cultural aspect, many on this forum will advise against bringing a young child and wife to the Kingdom---I'm sure you'll get responses from some of them soon.

[lcanupp1964]

1. Your chances of getting what you want are far better if you are a direct hire - even better if you want to teach at a major university.

2. It would be best if you and your family come over for two years or more. You might not make/save enough money to make it worthwhile.

[scot47]

Only consider doing this if you can get a direct hire job with one of the better employers. make sure that you bget suitable accommodation, mewdical care for family and aneducation allowance when the child(ren) is school age.

"2 years on and 2 years off" is not a formula for accummulating savings.

I doubt if Skkyline is a sensible route to go down for accompanied status.

[desert_traveller]

[fledex]

I doubt Skyline Global Solutions would be able to get you a job where you can take your family with you. In my experience with them, I found that they mainly send teachers to contractors that are not ready to pay for family members' travel or provide the proper visas for them. They may promise it at first if they are desperate to fill teaching slots at the time, but don't trust them unless all of you are going over together.

BTW, Saudi is a much more manageable place if you have family with you. I fave been there with and without. With family gives you a little more sense of normalcy.

[lynnknows]

@desert,

yes, the child can be put on as his dependent. My friend has 5 children with her living in KSA with her new husband. The EX just had to give permission for them go travel.

[scot47]

Even the better employers have problems in getting in childrn who are not yours. Both Saudi Arabia Airlines and KFUPM had dicculties in my time with them in getting entry visas for children who were either addoipted or where the employee was not the father.

If these two had problems I do not fancy the chances of Ali Binali Abuhassan of getting you in. Maybe he gets a commission per head so he is telling you anything just to get you to sign ?

[lynnknows]

Oh, i didnt read who the employer is. YOu may have a problem.If they are allowing you to bring your family with you; I would just go through the visa process. They will say yes or no, at least you wont be in saudi stuck trying to bring them after youve been there months.

Good luck