Job Discussion Forums

Chomskyan · Joined: 17 Sep 2012 Posts: 5

Hi,

I have read on here that the Saudi Embassy in the US is only accepting English related degrees. My undergrad is not English related but I have a TEFL and related MA but through an online program which Saudi won't accept.

I have a position with a contractor in Saudi and their visa agent is guaranteeing that they can process my employment visa by using my TEFL certificate even though my Bachelors is an unrelated major.

My question is how sure can I be that what what the visa agent is telling me is accurate? Is there anyway I can ensure that there will not be any problems processing the visa? I am not in the US and would not want to travel there and be told that my visa won't be processed.

Thanks for any advice!

dominogeronimo · Joined: 09 May 2013 Posts: 18 Location: KSA

From my experience, visa agencies will say or guarantee anything just to get your business.

Teachers have posted companies to avoid. I wonder if it might be helpful to list visa agencies to avoid, or at least, good teachers have used.

dominogeronimo · Joined: 09 May 2013 Posts: 18 Location: KSA

Ha.... I meant good "ones" teachers have used. Referring to good visa agencies, of course. I know all of you out there are good teachers. Smile

Right?!

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

intrepid traveler · Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 48

I could not be sure that my TEFL cert and BA in History would pass muster until my visa actually arrived. It seems that policy and procedure change so often that it's often really just the luck of the draw.

aimhigh · Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Posts: 16

They have uplifted the ban on unrelated degrees. Alhamdulilah

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Chomskyan · Joined: 17 Sep 2012 Posts: 5

Hi guys,

Thanks for the information on here about it. I'm going to go ahead and contact the Saudi Embassy in the US and try to get more information regarding it hopefully in writing. I just think that leaving my present position to go the US for visa processing when I'm not sure if it will even process is a huge risk.

I'll post on here my findings.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You are going to .................ask the Saudi Embassy a question ? And expect to get an answer ?

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:23 pm Post subject:

Dear scot47,

No answer may be given - or many answers may be given. If the latter, they will, of course, all be contradictory. Very Happy

Regards,
John

intrepid traveler · Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 48

intrepid traveler · Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 48

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:05 pm Post subject:

Dear intrepid traveler,

"Don't you know, aimhigh, that until you have at least 10,000 posts, your experience is considered worthless and you have no credibility here?"

Actually, a poster acquires a lack of credibility when he/she posts incorrect advice about a situation that he/she has no personal experience of and is refuted by posters who do have such experience.

Regards,
John

intrepid traveler · Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 48

I have given true and sound advice on this forum and in countless PMs about working conditions at PNU. I believe you are responding to a comment in another thread which has been locked, so I won't bother elaborating or defending myself other than to say that I do indeed have personal experience which I was simply sharing and offering an opinion on. I think many of my female colleagues would agree with me. IMO this forum would be more interesting with more fresh perspectives and less same old same old from the aged and disconnected.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:23 pm Post subject:

Dear intrepid traveler,

And you expressed it so nicely:

"Bollucks to most of the above if you are going to be living in Riyadh, Jeddah or Khobar. While common sense should prevail in certain instances, and a woman needs to be extra cautious and avoid situations where she might be harassed or intimidated, shopping alone is not dangerous particularly in the malls and large supermarkets where many women, particularly foreign ones, wantonly flaunt their hair and faces. "

My apologies for not realizing that the "wanton flaunting" was intended to be humorous.

Regards,
John