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Keyboard Kommando
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
Posts: 38
Location: Saudi Arabia
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 Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:00 am Post subject: Business Visa vs Iquama? |
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I haven't been here all that long, but I'm with a company with a not so savory reputation. I wanted to make more money than I did in Asia, but I admit that I came in sort of blind. This company has been using Work-Visit visas to lure people, and that's how I came here. They've offered me an Iquama, but I actually don't want to be under this particular companies' thumb. I've seen them screw practically everyone that works for them and don't want to go that way.
I heard about a Business Visa where you pay a company that is a "real" company or a paper company and they provide you a Business Visa good for 3-5 years, but I guess you have to renew every year or something. I've also heard that there are very unsavory types in Batha that will provide these as well, but Caveat Emptor.
I haven't been able to get much info online about them, and am wondering if some of you longtimers can set me straight on these beasts? How do they REALLY work and is it a good idea to use them? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:19 am Post subject: |
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If you do a search, you'll find there are many threads within this forum about visas. But in a nutshell, an employment visa is required to legally enter the country for specific work purposes. They're also typical for direct-hire situations (i.e., being hired directly by the employer versus working for a company contracted by the employer). Getting one can be a lengthy and sometimes costly process because it entails academic degree authentication, a criminal background report, and various medical lab tests and a med exam. This type of visa is good for 90 days and leads to an iqama (not "iquama"), which is a government-issued ID card that confirms you're a legal resident of Saudi Arabia.
The other visa type, popular with shady companies, is the business visit visa. I believe this is what you're referring to. It's valid for 90 days and is intended for individuals entering the country solely for doing some type of short-term business (e.g., sales transactions, investment/business deals, consultancy services, etc.) with a Saudi entity. Like the employment visa, they're also issued through the Saudi govt and require Saudi sponsorship. Visit visas, in general, do not grant the holder the right to work or reside in the country. But sketchy contracting companies like biz visit visas because they're cheap and quick to obtain, which means the teacher is in country sooner to start making money for both of them.
Anyway, whether abroad or on your home turf, it's always smart to research the employer and their track record before accepting any position. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Business Visa vs Iquama? |
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| Keyboard Kommando wrote: |
I heard about a Business Visa where you pay a company that is a "real" company or a paper company and they provide you a Business Visa good for 3-5 years, but I guess you have to renew every year or something. I've also heard that there are very unsavory types in Batha that will provide these as well, but Caveat Emptor.
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This is a new twist on working illegally in KSA and we haven't had any teachers reporting using such. I suspect that this may be some kind of rumor... or perhaps something done by companies who hire illegal "slave labor." It is definitely NOT something that any sensible person would get themselves involved with in this country that already has pretty open abuse of employees.
My advice would be to avoid teaching totally illegally. The short term visit visa teaching is marginal enough. Either way, you never know when the government might decide to start enforcing their laws.
VS |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject: Re: Business Visa vs Iquama? |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| This is a new twist on working illegally in KSA and we haven't had any teachers reporting using such. I suspect that this may be some kind of rumor... or perhaps something done by companies who hire illegal "slave labor." It is definitely NOT something that any sensible person would get themselves involved with in this country that already has pretty open abuse of employees. |
I agree. Bad stuff. I wouldn't doubt such "visa brokers" exist. They're very likely targeting desperate workers from developing countries and not EFL teachers from the US, Canada, UK, etc. (although I'm sure there are some teachers who consider themselves desperate for work...)  |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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This has been common with unskilled and semiskilled workers from the Third World. For exampla a Pakistani plumber or electrician will do a deal with one of those Saudis who has a block of visas. He then comes to KSA and works on a "!self-employed" basis.
I have NEVER in 17 years working in KSA heard of a teacher doing this. |
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Keyboard Kommando
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
Posts: 38
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:14 am Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
This has been common with unskilled and semiskilled workers from the Third World. For exampla a Pakistani plumber or electrician will do a deal with one of those Saudis who has a block of visas. He then comes to KSA and works on a "!self-employed" basis.
I have NEVER in 17 years working in KSA heard of a teacher doing this. |
I've been told that there was a teacher in the past who had a 5 year business visa. He has evidently since moved on. This is not just a rumor from some guys with nothing better to do than just pass BS around. This is from some guys who would know.
Anyway, I've been in contact with someone who represents a company owned by Western non-Saudi's. They have them for sale, but I'm trying to get more info on it. Either way, BS or for real, I'd like to get more info. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:10 am Post subject: |
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| Keyboard Kommando wrote: |
I've been told that there was a teacher in the past who had a 5 year business visa. He has evidently since moved on. This is not just a rumor from some guys with nothing better to do than just pass BS around. This is from some guys who would know.
Anyway, I've been in contact with someone who represents a company owned by Western non-Saudi's. They have them for sale, but I'm trying to get more info on it. Either way, BS or for real, I'd like to get more info. |
Why do you want more info about this? Why are you pursuing this, knowing it's an extremely risky endeavor? Seriously, Saudi Arabia is not the country where you want to take such careless, stupid risks. |
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Keyboard Kommando
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
Posts: 38
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| Keyboard Kommando wrote: |
I've been told that there was a teacher in the past who had a 5 year business visa. He has evidently since moved on. This is not just a rumor from some guys with nothing better to do than just pass BS around. This is from some guys who would know.
Anyway, I've been in contact with someone who represents a company owned by Western non-Saudi's. They have them for sale, but I'm trying to get more info on it. Either way, BS or for real, I'd like to get more info. |
Why do you want more info about this? Why are you pursuing this, knowing it's an extremely risky endeavor? Seriously, Saudi Arabia is not the country where you want to take such careless, stupid risks. |
To get more information, good or bad.............. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Why is this starting to remind me of Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First" comedy routine about baseball players...
Abbott: I'm telling you. Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third--
Costello: You know the fellows' names?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: Well, then who's playing first?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: I mean the fellow's name on first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The fellow playin' first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first base.
Abbott: Who is on first.
.... |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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Just when one thinks that the teaching profession in Saudi can't be pushed any further into the toilet...
Now someone is considering working on what is considered an illegal visa for illiterate illegal sweepers from the sub-continent...
VS |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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| You could be like those guys washing cars in downtown Jeddah. Come in on a Haji visa and work illegally. Great fun ! |
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AnneSansTete
Joined: 26 Jun 2012
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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About 6 years ago, I went to the Eastern province to visit my dad. I was given a 2 year multiple exit/re-entry visa by the Saudis.
This may be what you're thinking of, but it's definitely not an employment visa, and, as others have said, working on this kind of visa (if it's even possible) is a bad idea. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Ann
That was certainly a DEPENDANT'S visa. |
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AnneSansTete
Joined: 26 Jun 2012
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
Ann
That was certainly a DEPENDANT'S visa. |
It was only a 6 month multiple, so completely irrelevant to the topic. Sorry. Memory failed me. |
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