Job Discussion Forums

[kartoteka]

I've been offered a four-month contract in Saudi, and have been told it's expeditious to go to Bahrain and utilize the Saudi embassy in Manama to apply for the working visit visa. Am told it would take three working days.

Any thoughts on the wisdom of such advice? And yes, all my papers/documents/etc are in order...

[veiledsentiments]

Just be aware that it isn't really a work visa and you would be working illegally. But it is so short term, that it probably isn't a big deal. But, if the employer decided not to pay you, you would have no legal recourse.

VS

[nomad soul]

I assume you're not physically in your home country, which is why you're being told to head to Bahrain for visa processing. However, something's amiss because a business visit visa (AKA working visit visa) is valid for only 90 days/approximately 3 months. Since you're contracted to work in KSA for four months, why isn't the sponsor getting you a temporary work visa to cover your short stay?

[rollingk]

[scot47]

Working visit visa ? They are going to get you a business visa which PROHIBITS EMPLOYMENT.

[nomad soul]

[kartoteka]

Forum responders, I'd like to thank you for your generous and prompt postings in answer to my query.

Addressing the latest post first, that of Scot47, I was attracted to the four-month contract because it would tide me over until I take up a job that is 100% firm for September 2014 (direct hire,excellent communication, thoroughly legit, government university, contract soon to be sent by FedEx, etc.).

A fair amount of confusion seems to exist (at least in my own mind, if nowhere else) with respect to what, precisely, is a "working visit visa," but from the responses given so far, it seems that the terminology itself --come of the recruiter-- is suggestive of insufficient forthrightness or, at a minimum, lack of complete candor on the recruiter's part. In any event, if a "working visit visa" or business visa --however one cares to characterize it-- means that paid work is illegal, then one hardly needs more reason to reject the offer.

Thanks for the input!

[johnslat]

Dear kartoteka,

It's illegal, but that hasn't stopped a fair number of people of taking that route. And some actually claim to like it, posting that it's better than an iqama.

Regards,
John

[nomad soul]

[kartoteka]

Yes, Nomad Soul, you are correct.

What do I mean by "contract on the way by FedEx" etc? In point of fact, it's coming from this university's office in the US. I mention this only by way of emphasizing the bona fides of the direct hire in question --in other words, it's not a fly-by-night situation; in other words, the September hire inspires confidence, whereas the four-month deal inspired doubt and uncertainty.

[nomad soul]

[kartoteka]

Yes, that is entirely correct --not just four months in advance, but a full eight months in advance, and from their extension in the US. I could, of course, erase the doubts and questions by identifying the entity in question, but I'd just as soon keep that to myself (I hope you understand). However, i am willing to say that, first of all, the initial job offer was posted on this website, and that all initial communications to me were done by the assistant dean and by the chair of the department, that it furthermore is government and enjoys a high opinion in these fora. I suppose it can seem odd that they would recruit at this time of year for September hires, but that's the case, and it was on the 14th of this month that they alerted me to the imminent Fedex shipment.

I might add, that I spent four years at a university in KSA, in the Eastern Province, from 2009-2013. I had cut my teeth at an outstanding, nationally-recognized, large private language school in Europe; the students were truly amazing --fantastically well-educated, extraordinarily committed, bright, vivacious, and terrific learners, some of whom today are Fulbright scholars in the US, and others of whom are actual luminaries in the country, for example, the director of the country's number one oncology hospital.

I was, therefore, shocked by what I encountered at this particular university in KSA --a place which, on paper, boasted all manner of what manifestly proved, rapidly, to be utter balderdash (understated out of kindness). To be candid, it was hard for me to accept what seemed to me -and to everyone else working in that place-- was the patently fraudulent nature of the whole enterprise. In a better world, the entire management would be taken into court and charged with fraud on a colossal scale. And this, they passed off as "extending an opportunity at an education" to a populace apparently resigned to being routinely defrauded on every level of existence...

Based on my experience at this particular place, experience I might add that was corroborated by literally everyone there, I could say that in general, there isn't an educational institution in all KSA that's worth a fart in a potato sack,. It would astonish me if this September hire I've signed on for proves to be all that different, BUT, at the same time, this university does in fact enjoy a good reputation in terms of student motivation and academic rigor.

Supposing that I am due to be disappointed, I should first say that my actual expectations in terms of classroom environment is not exactly sky-high. However, Simply in terms of the communications undergone thus far --the professionalism displayed, the conscientiousness, diligence, responsiveness, thoroughness, and the rest-- what I have thus far seen, so far outshines what i experienced at the university 2009-2013, that I am delighted by things so far.

To wit, when I was steered to my first KSA gig by a reputable UK recruiter, I was floored by how unpardonably slipshod was this university's literally every doing. In fact, I went onto this very website to investigate the place, and the remarks and opinions thereof were uniformly and consistently not just negative, but outright damning, that I chose to stop reading. I needed the job and was determined to take it, so 'damn the torpedoes,' but truth to tell, the reality on the ground was significantly worse than what might be gleaned from these fora. Furthermore, as bad as it was, in terms of dealing with these clowns prior to my departure to KSA to fulfill the contract, what awaited me down the line was by far worse. As virtually anybody and everybody who worked there was wont to say, it wasn't so much a matter of the (terrible) students, it was the administration. The lying, the deception, the equivocation... the broken promises, it was amazing, and the HR director, a person friend of the rector, easily was one of the stupidest persons i have ever had the displeasure to have to deal with over the course of a thirty-five year working life.

All in all, it was an appalling experience in terms of dealing with the entire apparatus outside of the classroom (and that was bad enough). And, housing? Unbelievable. People were having nervous breakdowns.... incredible!

I would love to identify this institution, but won't... but it';s worth saying, that so vociferous were the complaints, that HR actually took the step of having this website blocked inside of KSA. Imagine that!

By way of contrast, the people with whom I am now dealing are a positive dream. Supposing I am deluded --and I'll be the first to admit that there';s a good chance of it-- I can say that at a minimum, these people have restored at least some measure of faith in the idea that there can indeed be,in Saudi Arabia, administrators who seem to be aware of something approximating this crazy thing called "ethics"...

But, stay tuned!

[scot47]

Saudi Universities do not have offices in the USA. If they need contact in the USA, they may use the SACM (ie Cultural Mission)

Someone is telling lies.

[kartoteka]

Well, all I can say in response to that is, you're misinformed.

[sicklyman]