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vabeckele
Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
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 Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 3:48 am Post subject: visa , housing and iqama |
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I have written 3 emails asking for what type of accommodation only to be replied by, 'single furnished accommodation'. I have also asked about reimbursement of visa fees to the tune of 300 dollars, and again no reply.
My final email demanded these be answered with the additional questions of when and if an iqama process will begin and exactly where I will be living - I don't want to live in a hotel on my own with no residence permit (thus not phone line, bank etc)just sitting at 'home' watching Saudi news.
Have any of you had a positive experience with coming over on a 90 day visa and having the residence and work permit process started upon arrival?
Regardless, it seems that if a company for some reason will not address my points brought up perhaps it is better to stay put?
I have written a caveat to the effect that if the iqama process will not begin upon arrival I can terminate my employment after the 90 day period without any repercussions to me.
Any ideas?
The company's name: Virtual Solutions |
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Heaton
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| You have no power to "demand" anything in Saudi. If you try to leave the country without a visa, you will end up in an immigration jail. The only decent jobs are direct hire. Don't get into bed with any shady recruiters. |
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Sheik Yerbuti
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Posts: 105
Location: the promised land
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:03 am Post subject: |
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Newbies get all ginned up reading this site, then figure they can
dictate what they want. Better to stay in Korea and not be
disappointed. |
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vabeckele
Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:13 am Post subject: |
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| Sheik Yerbuti wrote: |
Newbies get all ginned up reading this site, then figure they can
dictate what they want. Better to stay in Korea and not be
disappointed. |
These type of comments are not helpful, really. Newbie or veteran, I would not want to be around the all omniscient ESL professional like this in the desert. It would literally be murder. |
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vabeckele
Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| Heaton wrote: |
| You have no power to "demand" anything in Saudi. If you try to leave the country without a visa, you will end up in an immigration jail. The only decent jobs are direct hire. Don't get into bed with any shady recruiters. |
Perhaps, demand, was a poor choice of word. What I meant was the email left no room for any query to be left unanswered. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| Don't come to Saudi Arabia. You are not going to be able to dictate anything or get immediate answers to anything here. It's obvious that you should not attempt to be here. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:15 am Post subject: Re: visa , housing and iqama |
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| vabeckele wrote: |
| Have any of you had a positive experience with coming over on a 90 day visa and having the residence and work permit process started upon arrival? |
If you arrive via an employment visa, 90 days is the time frame allotted for having your iqama processed. Generally, once in country, you complete whatever lab tests (mine was just a blood draw), submit your test results to your employer a day or two later (or when all the test results are available), and thus, that initiates the process for your iqama. In my case, my residence permit paperwork was completed within 5 days of my arrival in KSA; I picked up my iqama from HR about a week after that. I should note that I was a direct hire. |
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vabeckele
Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:21 am Post subject: Re: visa , housing and iqama |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| vabeckele wrote: |
| Have any of you had a positive experience with coming over on a 90 day visa and having the residence and work permit process started upon arrival? |
If you arrive via an employment visa, 90 days is the time frame allotted for having your iqama processed. Generally, once in country, you complete whatever lab tests (mine was just a blood draw), submit your test results to your employer a day or two later (or when all the test results are available), and thus, that initiates the process for your iqama. In my case, my residence permit paperwork was completed within 5 days of my arrival in KSA; I picked up my iqama from HR about a week after that. I should note that I was a direct hire. |
Thank you yet again, Nomad Soul. Always happy to get a response from you.
I hope you are well.
Vab. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:07 am Post subject: |
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Virtual solutions ? Does that mean you get a virtual Iqama ? the poster who said AVOID SHADY EMPLOYERS was right. Direct hire or nothing at all !!!!
Last edited by scot47 on Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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vabeckele
Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Virtual solutions ? Does that mean you get a virtual qama ? the poster whop said AVOID SHADY EMPLOYERS was right. Direct hire or nothing at all !!!! |
I got a reply, but still no answer to who pays for the visa. The only clear response was having to renew a 3 month visa continuously for the duration of the contract and to be living in a hotel.
I think I will leave it, I do need the money but with 4 years exp. and a master's there should be better out there.
Any known contacts would be appreciated. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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| vabeckele wrote: |
The only clear response was having to renew a 3 month visa continuously for the duration of the contract and to be living in a hotel.
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i.e. legal temporary employment visa or illegal business visa. Not an employment visa leading to an Iqama. With the Saudis threatening to crackdown on illegals after Nov. 3 it's not a good idea to come on a business visa. You would have to have somebody cash your check for you and wire it to your home bank account. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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Does this "virtual job" with Virtual Solutions pay a virtual salary ? Will the Ministry of the Interior put you in the "virtual slammer" when they catch up with you ?
Wise up ! |
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vabeckele
Joined: 19 Nov 2010
Posts: 439
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys, I think I got it.
I could be considered as being 'virtually' peed off. Another run around the block with nothing to show for it - pfff. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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| vabeckele wrote: |
I got a reply, but still no answer to who pays for the visa. The only clear response was having to renew a 3 month visa continuously for the duration of the contract and to be living in a hotel.
I think I will leave it, I do need the money but with 4 years exp. and a master's there should be better out there.
Any known contacts would be appreciated. |
I think you should leave it because their response actually reveals that you will not be getting an iqama. If you were to have an iqama, you would not need to renew your visa (which involves a trip out of the country). While working on said visa, you will technically be an illegal worker. Not a good status should anything go wrong to say the least.
If you have more than 2 years post MA experience, look out for contractor jobs with Aramco. In fact, even without that much, they may hire you currently. They have just done a massive recruitment drive and may still have positions open as we expect huge student numbers in November. Have a look on Dave's and also tefl.com for Aramco contractor ads.
The only contractor for Aramco I'd recommend avoiding is SRACO. All the others do what they say they will do. Being contracted to Aramco is a very different world from being contracted elsewhere in Saudi. You will be treated well (SRACO excepting) and have all expenses covered. You will also have very decent benefits and salary.
Being contracted elsewhere is best avoided in Saudi as Scot is fond of mentioning. One day, he just miiiiigth say "except Aramco" but I'm not holding my breath  |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| ARAMCO ? Who are they ? |
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