Job Discussion Forums

[makeeba]

I spent the past few months wasting my time gathering docs for an employment visa which was recently denied. My visa agent had me pursue an employment visa despite knowing that a few of my courses for my MA TESOL were taken online. He claims his understanding is that the SACM in Washington was only refusing degrees completely taken online.
I thought this was the end. However, I was issued a work visit visa invite by my employer despite letting them know I was interested in the "unique opportunity" as it was worded by my visa agent. My biggest concern was that my husband and daughter would not be able to visit me under this visa.
To my suprise my employer said he would issue an escort visa for my daughter and husband and they will be able to leave immediately with me.

Is this a red flag?
Has anyone been through this visa process with family?
I'm excited that I can travel immediately with family which I was told was impossible for a female teacher.
Am I setting myself up for failure?
By the way, not sure how long the escort visas last yet. I was told they could be 3 or 6 month stays and that renewal was uncertain.
I'm still waiting to get all the details

[nomad soul]

This scenario has 'red flag' written all over it, so think hard about going ahead with your plans to work for this sponsor. For starters, a business/work visit visa doesn't grant you the legal right to employment or residence in the Kingdom. In other words, it doesn't lead to a residence permit (iqama) and you'd be working illegally under a sponsor versus an employer. Additionally, I suspect the escort visa would be valid for 90 days---the same length of time as your business/work visit visa. But even if escort visas were issued for your husband and daughter to actually accompany you, where are they supposed to stay during their few months in KSA? That very likely won't be with you. That said, I'd say to pass on this one; that sketchy sponsor isn't worth any more of your time and has already begun to make things complicated and iffy for you by insisting you work on a biz/work visit visa.

In regard to your online MA, it's unfortunate you didn't check out this forum before applying for positions; the subject of online degrees being rejected comes up frequently. Anyway, if you're dead set on working in the Kingdom, you might be able to get approved for an employment visa using your BA instead, if it was completed on campus. Of course, your education and experience would have to meet the requirements for the positions you apply for.

[coder]

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[makeeba]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my post.

I am still waiting for a response in regards to expenses. My first thought was who is paying for our air fare and how quickly my housing allowance would be given. Some other questions I submitted were:

How long are the escort visas for? Can they be renewed or reissued?
Will the company provide housing for my family and I upon arrival?
Will the company assist with finding housing?
Will I be reimbursed for family visa fees too? Yes, i know this is unrealistic but i still had to ask.

As far as I know, the company has a female only housing compound and those who don't reside there can request the housing allowance.
I was told that I won't be able to put my daughter in school. She is only 10 months and not in need of school. My family doesn't really want to be there full time. We were hoping for family visit visas maybe twice a year for stays of a month or two.

With family visit visas I knew I would be taking my chances but figured the odds were in my favor because several of the current employees I have spoken to were able to bring their hubby and/ kids this way within 3 months of getting their iqama.

I have been thinking things over and wondering if I can take a second bite at the employment visa apple by submitting a tesol or tefl certificate with my bachelor degree.
They originally refused my master and bachelor degree according to my visa agent.
My bachelor degree is in Arabic and the only tesol related education I have is my Master degree.
Yes, I have read several of the post on here and elsewhere about online degrees not being accepted. However, I was convinced that my degree didn't fall under this category because the majority of my courses were on site at a well known New York state university. I was told to simply obtain a distance learning letter which specified which of my courses were taken online and all would be fine.

I'm confused as to which certificate is acceptable and would pass the authentication process. I checked out Oxford seminars courses in New York and they want $1100 for a tesol certificate course which takes a few weekends to complete.

Is there anything cheaper and still acceptable?

Also, another visa agent suggested resubmitted my bachelor degree and using my onsite master degree courses as the tesol qualifier. She said it should be comparable to a tesol certificate. I'm not convinced considering that they had this info in hand but still rejected it.

[coder]

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[makeeba]

Thanks for responding. Yes, I have been job hunting for the past nine months and despite trying for positions in other countries like China, Turkey Korea, UAE, Kuwait and even Spain that offered decent salaries no one ever got back to me. I'm not sure what it is about my resume that is scaring employers off from other countries.
I never saw my bachelor degree as a bonus in the Arab world. I'm a history major and just really want and need a decent job somewhere in the world. I have applied through this website, serious teachers, and a couple others and the only hits have been saudi positions.

Yes, it was silly of me to keep chasing after this crazy job.

[nomad soul]

[sicklyman]