Job Discussion Forums

Thor3K · Joined: 06 May 2014 Posts: 9

Hey guys.

First off, sorry if my questions come across as silly, but despite having spent hours trying to find answers online as well as face to face from my company, I still haven't received any straight forward answers! (unbelievable but true and I'll be writing an in depth review of my "experience", which will appear on this forum in a few weeks).

1) I'm due to leave KSA in a couple of weeks on a final exit visa, my company has told me that my visa is "ready". They've told me that I should be receiving some kind of "print out" with a stamp on it. Question is, do I actually need this piece of paper to leave the kingdom? (I'm not interested in ever returning). Will I actually be stopped from leaving without this print out?

2) When I get to the airport, what do I actually do? How do I surrender my Iqama? Does the airline do this? Or do I need to visit an immigration office or something? Do I need a letter from my bank to confirm that I owe no debts (some colleagues have told me that I don't, and that this is all "on the system" now, but they have only heard that second-hand). Do I need any other paperwork at the airport? How easy is this process? Should I expect any problems as long as my exit visa is in order?

3) It's unbelievable that I can't actually find this information online (in English anyway), but does anyone know if there's a "limit" for money exchange in Riyadh Airport? Would I be okay changing 50,000 SR to British Pounds? How is the exchange rate at Riyadh airport?

If I do have problems in Riyadh, can I change Saudi Riyal's in Dubai or London?

- Guys, thanks in advance for any help you can give me. Watch this space for a review of my year here which includes the good (A.K.A. money), the bad and the ugly (no shortage of material).

Thanks!

cultofpersonality · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 94

You need the final exit visa to leave the country. You can be stopped!

At the airport, all you need to do is hand in your Iqama. Do not hand in the final exit. It is necessary if you wish to apply for another job in Saudi within a year or two (not quite sure on the length). You don't need any authorisation from the banks.

You can change your Riyals in the UK. The airport offers a decent exchange rate but whether they have 9,000 British pounds available is a different matter completely.

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

Rostom · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 11:52 am Post subject: Re: Final Exit Queries

cultofpersonality · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 94

The only things I exchanged with my employer for a final exit were my medical cards etc.

There must be different ways of doing this. I still needed my Iqama to deposit my final settlement into my bank account. I am sure others in my company handed in their Iqama to the visa official at the airport.

Thor3K · Joined: 06 May 2014 Posts: 9

Thanks all!

As always in the Kingdom, chaos and confusion reigns. I read about the sudden "changes" back in January/February with regards to submitting the Iquama 30 days before, teachers were apparently turned back for about a week (as reported in Arab News), but it appears that the changes caused so much chaos on such an industrial scale, that immigration quietly rescinded the changes after a week or two.

My company (Interlink) have only asked for my medical card, they're telling me to surrender my Iquama at the airport ... at least one teacher from our site has already departed by submitting his Iquama at the airport. I guess this is a good sign right? I haven't been told anything about a stamp in my passport. I have my own passport so a stamp won't be happening, man, I really do hope that this is just a matter of different ways of doing things ...

I was just quoted an exchange rate of 7.34 to GBP at the Post Office in the UK. It looks like changing money at somewhere like Tahweel Al Rajhi is a much better option. I understand that the US Dollar is fixed at 3.75, I wonder if it might even be worth changing to USD then to GBP in the UK ...

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

cultofpersonality · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 94

7.34 Riyals to 1GBP....Sweet Jesus! In my day, which wasn't too long ago it rarely was 6 Riyals to a pound.

Rostom · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 3:26 pm Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Do the transfer through a bank. Do NOT wait until you get to the airport. There are limits on how much cash you can take with you unless you declare it and I imagine that could be a mega-hassle. All Western countries now require passengers with more than 10,000 (Euros or £s) to declare at Customs on arrival ON PAIN OF CONFISCATION !

System with Iqama is that your employer or sponsor applies for an exit visa and SURRENDERS your Iqama to the Passport office. You get a chitty, and a stamp in your passport. That is what you need to leave. Get it checked before you head to the airport.

A good employer would explain all that to you. I take it your employer is of the other variety. As many including myself have advised here CHOOSE YOUR MASTERS WITH CARE.

Thor3K · Joined: 06 May 2014 Posts: 9

Money exchange houses such as Tahweel Al Rajhi seem to offer an exchange rate about 6.40 to the GBP.

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

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Your employer is responsible for making sure that you leave. Procedures vary and may have changed since I made my Final Exit in 2011. Ask for clarification of what you have to do. Maybe even go and ask at the local "Jawazat". Take an Arabic speaker with you, preferably a high status Saudi (one of your students ?)

Most towns of any size have a "Saraf" or moneychanger. Al-Rajhi is the biggest but there are others. Check out what they an do for you in terms of remitting your money or selling you foreign currency.

Was there no one in the job who could show you the ropes and explain things like remitting and iqama procedures ?

Each time I left on "Final Exit" (1972 and 1991 and again 1996 and then 2004 and final final exit in 2011), procedures were different. You need someone to help you out locally and not on some anonymous forum.

Rostom · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 6:49 pm Post subject:

eslteacher2014 · Joined: 08 May 2014 Posts: 66

One of my friends left on a final exit ( Khuruj Niyaha) this past January 2014. According to him, he told me that his employer let him keep his iqama, but when he was leaving at immigration the immigration officials asked for and confiscated his iqama.

However this was 6 months ago, so things might have changed, lol.

It might be a good idea to go with an arabic speaker to the jawazat office and confirm this.