Job Discussion Forums

[laylow]

I know this question has been asked before but I just want to know the latest info. Please feel free to PM me.

Do most Saudi jobs NOT provide a no objection letter, even if you stay there for at least a year? Is there a list anywhere of schools that will either provide an NOC after a year of employment or if one resigns prior to a year of work, provide one after it has been a year since your first day of work? . The last position I worked at in Saudi provided a No Objection Letter if you were there for one year. In addition even if you resigned before completing one year, they would provide one to you in the future on the day that would have been your one year anniversary date if you had chosen to remain.

Finally, is the Saudi ban one year or two? And is there anyway to get around this ban? I have heard you can just get a new passport but don't the fingerprint scans now prevent one from simply changing passports?

Thank you in advance for ANY feedback. Please feel free to PM me. THANK YOU.

[scot47]

It seems toi vary from employer to employer.As is common in KSA the "rules" are fuzzy and are not really rules at all !

It is better to assume that you will need one and assume that 2 years after leaving is the rule.

I was personallt affected when Kazelli, contractor for SAMAREC refused tio give me a letter in 1991. I had the offer of a job with Saudi Arabian Airlines but he refuised to give me a NOC. As a result I went to Bulgaria where I was offered a job by the BC. That chnaged my life ! I got to the Airline but not until 1996

[lcanupp1964]

Not the timeliest information, but I worked for a year at WSI in Jeddah five years ago, quit and then went to teach at KAU. I gave proper notice and I left on good terms. I thought getting the letter was going to be easy, but I was told that I couldn�t get one. The reason was that they didn�t want me to work for a competitor. Once I explained to them that WSI will never be in direct competition with KAU, they finally agreed at the last minute. I know that everybody will say the letter is no longer needed, but guess what the KSA Embassy in Washington, D.C. wanted? Get the letter (if you can) just to be on the safe side. BTW, always get a letter of employment/reference as well from your last position in KSA. Make sure everything has lots of stamps � they do love those stamps!

Sorry if this is a little off-topic, but I heard that one could transfer their work visa to another university. I would assume that it would be for direct hires going from one university to another. Has anybody heard about this?

[scot47]

Poster asks "I heard that one could transfer their work visa to another university. I would assume that it would be for direct hires going from one university to another. Has anybody heard about this?"

I think that IF this is possible it would be a bureaucratic nightmare. Better to forget it, I would say.

[abayababy]

PNU did this for one teacher that they canned!

[scot47]

I think that in m ost cases it would be impractical, unless the procedure was initiated by one of the universitries. To try and do it as a forign teacher would be mean getting lost in the Maze.

[abayababy]

Well, yes, naturally it has to be initiated by the university that hires you and your prior employer must agree. It doesn't seem to be that big of a deal and does happen on occasion. It doesn't happen more often I suppose because when most people quit or are canned they've had enough of KSA and just leave.

[johnslat]

It takes - wait for it - BIG WASTA.

Regards,
John

[abayababy]

The employee I know who had her iqama transferred had no WASTA.

[veiledsentiments]

I do believe that you have misunderstood. It's not the employee's wasta that will get anyone a transfer... we almost never have any. It is the employer's wasta.

VS

[abayababy]

Thanks for the clarification, VS. Still, it didn't seem to be a big deal. Some people on this forum make it seem like practically everything is so difficult to accomplish that why bother. Additionally, rules and procedures can change over time, even (or should I say, especially, in KSA). If one can avoid going back to one's home country and go through all the rigamarole to get a proper visa, why not give it a shot and try to have the iqama transferred? My understanding is that if both parties agree, it is a fairly simple and straightforward process. That is, if anything can be said to be simple and straightforward in KSA. I'm sure there is anecdotal evidence to the contrary, but consistency is certainly not to be expected in the Kingdom.

[johnslat]

Dear abayababy,

Well, my experience if the situation IS limited. I personally knew only about two dozen teachers who tried to do it over the years.

Out of that two dozen or so, one actually succeeded. So, yup, it IS possible - if the employer who wants you has enough desire and wasta.

Regards,
John

[abayababy]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, John, as I do often get you mixed up with your evil twin, Scot. But hasn't it been 10 years since you worked in KSA?

[cmp45]

FYI:

Iqama System Violations & Penalties

http://www.the-saudi.net/business-center/iqama_violations.htm

Iqama - Your lifeline in KSA

http://www.teachsaudi.com/article/iqama---your-lifeline-in-ksa/42/

An old thread on topic of transfer of Igama(sponsorship)

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=634293

Two years employment before allowed to transfer sponsorship

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6817481-6m-expats-may-find-it-difficult-to-transfer-to-new-sponsor

There doesn't appear to be much info on HOW to go about transfering sponsorship...
I am sure it is possible, but from what I have heard not many people are successful in doing it because it does require alot of paper work not to mention ongoing communication between both employers and if either is less than willing to cooperate...then is less likely to happen.

[veiledsentiments]