Job Discussion Forums

[Cletus]

I am embarrassed to say, I have no clue what was just issued to me. I have almost always received an Iqama and once I worked under a Business visa. With that said, I was issued a visa that is similar to a Business visa but it doesn't state " Not Permitted To Work", and the duration of stay is 90 days. The company I was to work for stated I would be issued an Iqama. Could I have en issued a Visit visa?

I just opened the package with my visa in it and I am shocked. I hope someone can provide me some guidance. No, I am not going to KSA with only a Business visa or a Visitor visa if that is what was issued to me. I have contacted the company I was to work for and the Visa agency.

[nomad soul]

If you've been issued a visit visa, the postage-sized stamp that's affixed in your passport will indicate "visit visa" in English. By contrast, the employment/work visa stamp simply states "entry visa." Obviously, if you'd completed the employment visa process, you would have had your degree authenticated, lab tests and a med exam completed, and so on. If you didn't do any of that, then you don't have an employment visa.

Let us know what the employer's response is.

[egyptfan]

Unfortunately, the postage stamp was done away with from July 1 this year and it is difficult to tell what type of visa it is. The visa type is now written in Arabic on the page where they put the main (computerized) visa. The only way you can find out is if you scan and send or give to someone who can translate. Obviously, your agency should do this but......... don't believe all they tell you. Good luck.

[plumpy nut]

You probably have a temporary work visa.

[onemoreteacher]

I think visit visas all have "Not Permitted to Work" in English. Yours is probably an entry visa (i.e. leading to an iqama after arrival). But the visa type is written next to the heading (on the right):
:الغرض

If it is a business visit visa, the next words will be:
زيارة تجارية

If it is an entry/work visa (iqama-to-be):
للعمل لدى
followed by the name of your employer in Arabic.

But a temporary work visa starts nearly the same:
للعمل المؤقت لدى

Best of luck

[BajaLaJaula]

The new trend....

Government visa (or Business Visa) but clearly states that you are not permitted to work.

Employers can get this quickly and have you on the job within 1 to 2 weeks.

Once they get you there...they make a lot of empty promises about getting you the proper work visa.

BEWARE

[plumpy nut]

I'm curious Cletus, what does your visa say?

[Cletus]

I have an Entry/Work Visa....

[nomad soul]