Job Discussion Forums

saadia-rauf · Joined: 05 May 2014 Posts: 13

Hi,

I need some advice regards to degree certificate attestation and Iqama.

I have been given Employment Visa to KSA, I am all done just about to confirm my departure date wit my employer.

The only thing I can't seem to work out is if my Degree was attested or not? and if I will still need to do this in order to obtain my Iqama and then also to invite my husband.

Will I HAVE to have it attested even though I have been given the Employment Visa. No one so far has advised me to do so. The agents that did my Medical and Visa took copies of my certificates.

The issue is...although I am British I am not residing in the UK. I have only just visited the UK to process my Med and Visa, and now facing this unclear matter.

Confused

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

You received your employment visa, which means your diploma was attested. Therefore, you should direct these questions to the visa agency that processed all your paperwork because the employer will still need to see your key documents in order to process your iqama once you land in country.

cultofpersonality · Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Posts: 94

Like Nomad Soul said, it should be fine.

Usually, the cultural bureau stamp a copy of your certificate to show that it has been attested. You wouldn't have been able to obtain an employment visa without an attested certificate. The visa agent I used (Harley Medicals) gave me a copy of my certificate with a blue Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau stamp on it. The previous visa agent I used didn't. It's a matter of asking for these things so you don't have to go through this attestation malarky again.

Don't worry! As long as your employment visa is in your passport you should be fine.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

If you have multiple diplomas, at least one of them was attested by the SACM or else you would not have gotten your employment visa. You can tell by the signature from the SACM on the diploma copy that they send back to you. By the way save those signed diploma copies, they might come in handy.

saadia-rauf · Joined: 05 May 2014 Posts: 13

Thank you all for your reply, really needed it.

That's what I thought too, If i have been given the employment visa they would have had to have my certificates attested.

I have contact my employer, and also the Visa Agent to confirm this. I will surly be asking for the copies to be sent to me for my records and peace of mind.

Just that I read on their website the process of attesting my Degree would include me contacting my university to send an email to someone ... I never did this so had my doubts since.

Once again, thank you

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

I'm a Brit and none of my certificates were attested in the process that I went through to bring my wife in. Not saying that it will be the same for you, just to give you hope that it is possible to do it without having anything with you that shows any mark of attestation.

crocus · Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 79

Does anyone know if, if you already have your degrees attested by the UAE, you have to go right back to the beginning again with fresh,clean copies or can the Saudi Cultural bureau just put their stamp on the same copies I used for the UAE?

Many thanks.

saadia-rauf · Joined: 05 May 2014 Posts: 13

The Visa issuing agents have replied...

"The copy that is legalized is kept by the Saudi embassy with your application however you do not need that in Saudi Arabia"

So ... I guess Saudi Embassy is being more organized! I am aware that every case is different, and I hope it will be okay... if i get turned down one day, I'll just make sure I speak to someone else the next day Very Happy

Thanks sicklyman, I hope my experience will be smooth like yours.