Job Discussion Forums

Muhammed Abbas Khan · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 73

It is clear from what has been stated above that you should not go to KSA on a "business visa", especially if you want to sponsor your family. It is not even possible to open a bank account on a "business visa" let alone sponsor your family. As for the the promise of something in the near future then this can and most often will be broken by unscrupulous employers who have not used the 'legal' avenues available in the first place.
Could the various contracting companies have been more honest and let prospective employees know that they will be unable to provide them with 'reguar work' visas which can be transferred in to iqamas? Yes, but obviously that is not in their interest. If you are expecting to be in KSA for at least a year then a 'business' visa is problematic to say the least. This is perhaps difficult to understand for those not familiar with KSA and its visa regulations.

cnthaiksarok · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 2:40 pm Post subject:

CANDLES · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 12:42 am Post subject:

My friends!

We know that 3 months does not entitle anything; bank account, leaving the country, bringing the family over, etc, etc. We were going to do the medical and then it got cancelled and we all went on a 3 months visa basis. Their excuse for not doing the medical was because there were not enough Iqamas to go round!!!!!

As I said before I had an Iqama before and after this fiasco so I knew the game. I let myself be duped by Edex because I wanted a job with a decent salary. Didn't do too badly out of it, except had to stay put in the country without the Iqama, so CASH only.....
Rolling Eyes

jaffa · Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 403

CANDLES · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 7:10 pm Post subject:

Prior to the changes in the visa, yes you could have left anytime within the 3 months period. Some did, some didn't.

Nowadays you go in after having done the medical and within 3 months get the Iqama. Whilst waiting for the Iqama you cannot leave without the permission of the sponsor.

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

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 381

I feel - for some people - more time is needed to see things more clearly and to see how things really are. There needs to be more distance. It's hard to have an honest "reality check" with oneself if some people are still deep inside the problem. Becoming defensive is very understandable. Many teachers work very, very hard to get over here and they must take a huge “leap of faith” and get on that plane. I respect the strength it takes to do that. Most posters on this forum know that many teachers coming to KSA have the best of intentions, including the ones that come over on a business visa. It can be very embarrassing the moment a teacher finds out that he/she has been duped by a recruiter, or by the system in general. The best we can do when this happens is to try our best, teach, make some money, and learn from our experiences. Maybe – just maybe – we can also help those teachers new to KSA that come to this forum looking for answers. They are trying to find the same courage to get on the plane. Will they take our advice? No. Very Happy

CANDLES · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2014 9:14 pm Post subject:

My sentiments exactly!

However, a person needs to see it as an 'adventure and a challenge,' as opposed to something frightening. Rolling Eyes

rollingk · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 212

Adventure and challenge more often than not involve frightening elements. Best be aware of them.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

You cannot turn business visas into Iqamas. You have to start with a 3 month temporary employment visa, which is not the same thing as a 3 month business visa.

cnthaiksarok · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 4:22 pm Post subject:

yet wasta trumps all.

johnslat · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject:

Dear cnthaiksarok,

However, wasta (if employed by someone else for your benefit) can turn out to be VERY expensive (but I'm not talking about money.) Very Happy

To paraphrase the "free lunch" axiom - there's no such thing as free wasta.

Regards,
John

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

Edex are a crappy company. There are many such companies in Saudi.

I once worked for them and they took ages to get me over to Saudi. This is fairly commonplace as all these kind of companies are useless at organising themselves. It took three months, actually. I signed the contract in the summer, and didn't get to work until November.

They didn't pay me for those lost months and so I was out of pocket big time. It wasn't the best start!

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 381

Another good reason to start on the visa paperwork as early as one can. I think if people get a position (offer letter signed as a direct hire for a university) in the next few weeks, they MAY be able to be in KSA by the end of August. I've seen many teachers not getting over to KAU until Oct/Nov because of not having enough experience working with Saudis and their "unique style of project management". Shocked

For those teachers that aren't direct hires, it might take longer.

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