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mikethomas
Joined: 18 Oct 2013
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 6:41 pm Post subject: MOFA preapproved work visit? Some advice please! |
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Is this a legal way (i.e. iqama or possibility of one) for me to teach in Saudi? I've been offered a contract which mentions this as the visa given.
It's multiple entry but its validity is only 3 months... Any advice? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| An employment visa is required for legal work in the Kingdom and entails a physical exam, battery of lab tests, criminal background report, and authentication of your degree/credentials---a lengthy process. However, a business visit visa (AKA work visit visa) is specific to businessmen, consultants, IT specialists, etc., entering Saudi Arabia for short-term, business-related purposes, and doesn't allow for legal work or residency (iqama). In other words, it's not relevant to teachers expecting to stay for a minimum one-year contract. And if you haven't been following the news lately, be aware the Saudi government has been "diligent" about foreigners having the proper visa for employment. Anyway, what did the recruiter/employer tell you? |
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mikethomas
Joined: 18 Oct 2013
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Nothing as of yet... I'm awaiting a response (emailed them a few hours ago).. They sent me the contract to sign and it refers to this visa... My contract with them would be for a year... Is this a dodgy setup? The company is a well known one... maybe I should pm u the company name? don't know if it's appropriate here... |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:36 am Post subject: |
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| If the company is well known, then you should be able to research them within this forum. |
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strangerthanparadise
Joined: 12 Aug 2011
Posts: 35
Location: uk
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| Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 12:28 am Post subject: |
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| it is perfectly legal to work on a TWV - temporary work visa - whereas a business visit visa does not allow you to work. it is valid for 3 months after which you go across the border to have it renewed, takes a couple of days. some see it as a short holiday. however, no iqama(= no bank account, no driving, but who cares, you can send home money anyway and taxis are cheap). it comes with a multiple exit/re-entry visa and you keep your passport. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 2:00 am Post subject: |
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| strangerthanparadise wrote: |
| it is perfectly legal to work on a TWV - temporary work visa - whereas a business visit visa does not allow you to work. it is valid for 3 months after which you go across the border to have it renewed, takes a couple of days. some see it as a short holiday. however, no iqama(= no bank account, no driving, but who cares, you can send home money anyway and taxis are cheap). it comes with a multiple exit/re-entry visa and you keep your passport. |
Not so. A temporary work visa is for a short-term period of as little as X number of days to no more than 6 months and requires a contract for temporary work specifying the begin and end dates. That is, the work period indicated on the contract must match the begin/end dates on the temporary work visa. As such, the visa holder would be required to depart the Kingdom no later than the expiration date of the contract. (Another requirement for this type of visa is confirmation of a return flight.) If work/services are to continue, an entirely new temporary work contract with new begin/end dates would be needed for the worker to reenter the country since contract renewals and extensions aren't valid for this visa type. By the way, temporary work contracts are agreements between the Saudi host/sponsor and the worker's employer in his/her home country.
Frankly, a teacher expecting to work as a bona fide employee for at least a year in KSA should avoid any Saudi sponsor pushing temporary work visas designated for short-term work. The same goes for business visit visas. |
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mikethomas
Joined: 18 Oct 2013
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 4:06 am Post subject: |
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so this one in more detail is:
multiple exit/entry
lasts for 3 months
requires me to state most recent UK employer (home country)
states that my reason for visit is: temporary work assignments
titles it as a 'work visit - MOFA pre-approved'
Most of this doesn't mean anything to me but I hope it means something to you experienced folk! Should I discuss getting an iqaama with them or should I drop this fast? |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| strangerthanparadise wrote: |
| it is perfectly legal to work on a TWV - temporary work visa - whereas a business visit visa does not allow you to work. it is valid for 3 months after which you go across the border to have it renewed, takes a couple of days. some see it as a short holiday. |
Yeah, but is that what the OP is getting? Also it's called a temporary employment visa not work visa. The term work visa always makes me question what a person is getting. If she has to go through the extensive medical in her home country to get the visa then it's likely an employment visa, otherwise she wouldn't have to go through the all the tests etc. |
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mikethomas
Joined: 18 Oct 2013
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 4:54 am Post subject: |
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| mikethomas wrote: |
so this one in more detail is:
multiple exit/entry
lasts for 3 months
requires me to state most recent UK employer (home country)
states that my reason for visit is: temporary work assignments
titles it as a 'work visit - MOFA pre-approved'
Most of this doesn't mean anything to me but I hope it means something to you experienced folk! Should I discuss getting an iqaama with them or should I drop this fast? |
This is what I (the OP) am getting |
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strangerthanparadise
Joined: 12 Aug 2011
Posts: 35
Location: uk
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| Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| temporary employment/work visa = no medical, no criminal record check, no legalization of documents. valid for 90 days, renewal in neighbouring country. no iqama. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 8:57 am Post subject: |
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| mikethomas wrote: |
multiple exit/entry
lasts for 3 months
requires me to state most recent UK employer (home country)
states that my reason for visit is: temporary work assignments
titles it as a 'work visit - MOFA pre-approved'
Most of this doesn't mean anything to me but I hope it means something to you experienced folk! Should I discuss getting an iqaama with them or should I drop this fast? |
| Quote: |
| This is what I (the OP) am getting |
That's what you're getting if you agree to their offer. Anyway, I suspect you'd have a temporary work visa, which, if you read my previous post, is tied to a short-term, temporary work contract and not a valid, one-year work agreement despite what the sponsor says. That is, the words "visit" and "temporary work" don't equate to an offer of legit employment slated to last for at least 12 months. Quite a contradiction.
Seriously, if this is the "best" teaching job you can get in Saudi Arabia with your qualifications, then consider looking at positions in other countries where securing long-term, bona fide employment isn't so ambiguous or a hassle. |
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