Job Discussion Forums

[TheEasyLife]

A Saudi company want me to fly out to teach as soon as possible.
I need to know that if I don't like it there can I just leave when I wish.
I will have a 90 day work visa.
If the company apply for an Iqama am I stuck there and therefore should I leave before they apply for the Iqama if I hate it?

[Deeman15]

Looks like you're on a 'business visa'. You'll have your passport and you can leave anytime you want. However you won't get an iqama unless you leave the country and do the necessary medical tests and other requirements. Its a different visa. So if this company is telling you they'll get you an iqama while you're in the country they're flat out lying to you.

If you're scared of being stuck in Saudi then perhaps this visa is better for you. While you're technically working illegally, it is doable, especially for short periods of time. See if you like it, then come back on an iqama.

[Sirens of Cyprus]

If you have to have a physical it's an employment visa.

[TheEasyLife]

I have to have a physical in Bahrain where I will get the visa.
They said after this the visa will get me into Saudi where they will apply for an iqama.
It will be a work or employment visa.
I just want to know my rights.

[TheEasyLife]

Hi there,
can anybody give me a quick and accurate answer asap as they want to know if I am available now.
All I want to know is is I can leave the country whenever I want with a work/employment visa.
Cheers.

[nomad soul]

[Beast]

Go for the crack of it.
If yoiu don't like it, gut it out and get the Iqama. Then get an exit/re-entry visa and go to Bahrain for the weekend. What you do from there is your business. But... You'll be a few thousand richer.
On the other hand... if you're the kind of teacher who frequently uses the phrase, "I can't teach like this." or you usually find reasons why you can't do things instead of finding creative ways to get things done..... You're not suited for Saudi Arabia. Coping skills and creativity are what is required to be successful.

[Sirens of Cyprus]

I thought they quit doing work visas in Bahrain. Who's the employer? Adwaa? He told me something similar. I think he's pulling your leg. But I agree with the guy who says go for it, because I want to know if you really can still get a work visa in Bhahrain.

[nickelgoat]

.....

[horse]

How is it working out for you? I'm in a similar boat myself. Or on a similar camel, or whatever.

[TheEasyLife]

Thanks for all the help. I'm now in Saudi and everything is going well.
My employment visa means if I leave Saudi I will not be let back for years so I'm currently going through the iqama process.
The iqama only takes a few weeks these days- all the other teachers received theirs in 3-6 weeks so not long to wait.
The money is very good and the job is very easy - just the boredom I suppose but the internet access is excellent - watching a lot of football and downloading films.
By summer I'll be heading out of here around �10,000 richer for not much really!!

[Sirens of Cyprus]

So you got your physical and work visa in Bahrain? How long were you there? What company do you work for?

[TheEasyLife]

Yes, we flew to Bahrain and had both the medical check and got a 90 day work visa in two days. They flew us into Saudi straight after and they are now processing iqama (after another medical in Saudi of course).
The company is Interlink, who have a terrible press, but all the teachers say that management are much better now than in previous years and iqama gets processed usually around the month mark for teachers arriving this school year compared to ten months for the teachers last year.

[Sirens of Cyprus]

Are you American? The process for an American to get a Saudi work visa in America, especially considering the ridiculous physical required here, is so long and expensive and difficult, I don't see why we all don't do what you did. I wonder if your employer has to have wasta to do that or if the employee can arrange it on his own?

[lcanupp1964]

Dear EasyLife,

I hope you can keep all of us up-to-date on your experience with getting your Iqama processed without having to fly back to your home country. Many times, a person new to the �Saudi way� will either be too embarrassed or too upset to post an update if things don�t go the way they planned. I�ve been in Jeddah for a little over four years and I have never heard of a person being able to get an iqama without having to go back to their home country. I think you will be �stuck� with a 90-day visa and you will have to go back and forth getting a new one each time. I hope you will have success, but if you do find out that your employee has BS�ed you just to get you over here as soon as possible, maybe other new teachers can learn from your experience.