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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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 Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:18 am Post subject: Iqama/visa |
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Question:
1) Can an Iqama be cancelled and still have a 6 months visa (end of June)?
2) How is that possible?
3) What happens if there is no 'final exit visa' stamped in the passport and one wants to visit KSA again, if above is still in place?
I'm asking this on behalf of a friend who is in this situation and is not getting any feedback from the company.
Any suggestions? Thanks. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:13 am Post subject: |
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| Can an Iqama be cancelled and still have a 6 months visa (end of June)? |
The only way for an employee to qualify for an iqama is via a proper employment/work visa, which is valid for just 90 days pending application of the iqama. Once the person has his/her iqama, the only type of visa required would be one to exit/reenter the country either once or multiple times. When an iqama gets cancelled by the employer, any plans to return to the country on an exit/reentry visa will flop since the visa is tied to the employer as well as the iqama. In other words, the visa gets cancelled upon departure.
Generally, upon final exit, the employee turns in his/her (unexpired) iqama and is issued the final exit visa, which has its own expiration date.
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| What happens if there is no 'final exit visa' stamped in the passport and one wants to visit KSA again, if above is still in place? |
I don't know what you mean by "to visit KSA again" if the purpose of entering the Kingdom is for employment. But if it's for employment, the work/employment visa application process starts fresh. In the absence of any indication of a final exit, the Saudi consulate in the visa applicant's home country will most likely require a notarized statement from the applicant confirming departure from the Kingdom on X date and that he/she is currently on home soil. |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:55 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks NS.... very useful info. |
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Rostom
Joined: 16 Apr 2014
Posts: 102
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:58 am Post subject: Re: Iqama/visa |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
Question:
1) Can an Iqama be cancelled and still have a 6 months visa (end of June)?
2) How is that possible?
3) What happens if there is no 'final exit visa' stamped in the passport and one wants to visit KSA again, if above is still in place?
I'm asking this on behalf of a friend who is in this situation and is not getting any feedback from the company.
Any suggestions? Thanks. |
No exit-re-entry visa or final exit visa if your Iqama has expired or cancelled.
To get an exit visa you need to have a valid Iqama. Your Iqama is cancelled only when you have physically left the country in a final exit visa -- this is done at the airport when the visa person in your company/university get a signed and stamped form from the immigration officer in the airport. |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Well, as far as I can gather (bit convoluted), she left with the intention of coming back, but it didn't happen, so doesn't have an exit visa stamped.
I believe her 6 month visa will expire at the end of June. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| CANDLES wrote: |
Well, as far as I can gather (bit convoluted), she left with the intention of coming back, but it didn't happen, so doesn't have an exit visa stamped.
I believe her 6 month visa will expire at the end of June. |
Convoluted is right; something about your friend's account of her situation makes no sense. Regardless, at this point, it's safe to say she won't be able to reenter KSA without going through the visa application process again. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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She left on an exit/re-entry but did not come back. After a short period (3 months ?) re-entry visa and iqama are nullified.
The other trap that people fall into is this. They get an exit/re-entry and do not use it. You MUST cancel it if you do not use it. Otherwise there is a fine. |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Well, she shouldn't be fined surely. If her intentions were to return, but fell through, (beyond her control), then I'm assuming that what Scot said would apply.
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| Quote: |
After a short period (3 months ?) re-entry visa and iqama are nullified.
The other trap that people fall into is this. They get an exit/re-entry and do not use it. You MUST cancel it if you do not use it. Otherwise there is a fine. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Which is what I stated as well. Once her iqama is cancelled (or expires), she won't be able to enter on an exit/reentry visa anyway because she's essentially sponsorless at that point. The exit/reentry visa is tied to the iqama and has its own expiration date as well. So whatever plan she has of returning on that visa ain't gonna happen. She needs to start from scratch if she intends to return to work in the Kingdom. |
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CANDLES
Joined: 01 Nov 2011
Posts: 605
Location: Wandering aimlessly.....
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks all- I wil pass this info onto her.  |
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Rostom
Joined: 16 Apr 2014
Posts: 102
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| She left on an exit/re-entry but did not come back. After a short period (3 months ?) re-entry visa and iqama are nullified. |
No, scotty, the rules are as follow:
"The Consulate does not have the authority to extend an exit re-entry visa if the applicant’s stay outside the Kingdom exceeds seven (7) months or, for students, thirteen (13) months. The duration of the visa is estimated from the first exit of the applicant from the Kingdom after issuance of the visa."
Requirements:
- A letter from the Saudi sponsor to our Consulate requesting the extension of the re-entry visa. This letter needs to be notarized by a Saudi Chamber of Commerce if the sponsor works for the private sector; or by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs if the sponsor works for a government agency.
- A copy of a valid residence permit along with a copy of the last extension if applicable; this must be provided before the extension is granted.
http://www.saudiembassy.net/services/exit_re_entry_visa.aspx |
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