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returnee2014
Joined: 06 Jun 2014
Posts: 37
Location: SuliTown, Iraq
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 Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 4:05 pm Post subject: Visitor / Business Visa ...conversion |
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What's up with the employers bringing people over on visitor and business visas instead of work visas?
Apparently even Booz Alexander is bringing their people over on visitor visas.
Is this the new norm? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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More credence might be given to these fairy tales if the perpetrator of the rumour could get the company name right.
http://www.boozallen.com/ |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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The only visa that can be converted (to an Iqama) is an employment visa. work, business, visitor etc. visas are routinely used out of convenience for the employer, maybe in some cases for the employee. If you wish you can look at this thread about Business visas vs. Employment visas.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=110279
The thread title says Business visa vs. Work visa although Work visa as stipulated by an employer could mean anything. |
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returnee2014
Joined: 06 Jun 2014
Posts: 37
Location: SuliTown, Iraq
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:40 am Post subject: |
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Sigh. Sorry Scot for getting the name of the company wrong. I will try harder in the future when I am perpetrating rumours.
From BAH recruiter in response to my CV:
"New hires are initially deployed on a visit visa which is then converted to a work visa or Iqama. Is this acceptable to you?"
And again in response to further inquiry on the topic:
"The current government contract Booz Allen supports is nearing its end, however, we have two more option years remaining on the contract which we anticipate the customer will execute." |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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| What Booz Allen is talking about is they bring you in on a business visa, then if they like you they send you back to your home country for an employment visa at your expense . This is commonplace and like I said before business, visit etc. visas cannot be turned into Iqamas, Employment visas that become Iqamas must be acquired in your home country. This is because of the medical testing and the doctor primarily. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| I've had friends who worked for B3H and were brought in on business visas and then, via Bahrain, brought back in again to get their iqamas. It can happen. No guarantees though |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I know people who claim to have been abducted by aliens and taken to a spaceship. That does not mean I intend to follow them ! |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| returnee2014 wrote: |
From BAH recruiter in response to my CV:
"New hires are initially deployed on a visit visa which is then converted to a work visa or Iqama. Is this acceptable to you?"
1 - You really have to ask the recruiter. What if you say, NO, it's not acceptable to me.....what are your options? None? You don't get the job?
2 - If you say YES, I would ask something like: HOW and WHEN does this "conversion" take place? Do I have to GO anyplace or PAY anything to get this conversion accomplished? What is involved?
And again in response to further inquiry on the topic:
3 - "The current government contract Booz Allen supports is nearing its end, however, we have two more option years remaining on the contract which we anticipate the customer will execute."
I would say: That's fine. When EXACTLY is the project ending and what would happen to me if BAH is not renewed? Do you pay me off the rest of the contract or do you simple wash your hands of me after (hopefully) returning me to my point of origin at your espense?
These are all legitimate questions to ask and I would not hesitate for a moment asking them.
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BajaLaJaula
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 267
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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Visitor visa or non-work visa are used so that they can get you in quicker. A visit visa can take as little as 1 week. A work visa can take several months. BAH needs teachers to start ASAP, so that's why they are doing the visit visa.
They are an American company and have been in Saudi for a long time. I tend to trust them that they will in fact get you the iqama. It might take up to six months and the only real inconvenience would be travel during that time and the fact that you could not sponsor your family until you get the iqama.
Plenty of stories of other less reputable outfits bringing in teachers on visit visas and then just renewing them without ever going the iqama route.
Unless you intend to bring your family over (I believe the BAH job is for single only anyway) no reason to worry about the initial visit versus work visa issue. |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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| BajaLaJaula wrote: |
| Visitor visa or non-work visa are used so that they can get you in quicker. A visit visa can take as little as 1 week. A work visa can take several months. BAH needs teachers to start ASAP, so that's why they are doing the visit visa. |
Yes, yes, Baja, we all know why the visitor's visa is being used. But the problem (as I see it anyway) is that the OP has yet to be told, by BAH, by you, by me etc. that it is ILLEGAL to work in KSA with a visitor's visa. Maybe he doesn't care......maybe he needs the job so bad(ly) he shouldn't even ask any questions.....just: where do I sign? (I know several people in this situation).
But at least the OP should be TOLD all this. After he knows all the facts, he can then decide what to do.
The fact that BAH's contract is coming to an "end" makes this case even more ominious. If they lose the contract, technically they can just depart KSA and wash their collective hands of the OP....after all, he's there as a "visitor" and it's his responsibility to depart and pay for his return fare on his own. Right?
Whether this will happen is unlikely. That it could happen is what the OP has to be aware of. |
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BajaLaJaula
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 267
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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The whole visa process for Saudi is very confusing...even for those of us that have been through it several times....but for the "more reputable" companies in KSA....the bottom line is, they need teachers and will do whatever they can to make sure you get there and that you stay there, at least until the end of your contract or until they can get someone else who will make less and enable them to make more.
Always a risk working in Saudi is the fact that it is all based on the contract...and each subsequent contract is inevitably less than the previous.
Will BAH get the next contract in 2 years???? No way to tell....and if they don't get it, then he is out of a job...most likely.
Will the next contract be for more or less money, assuming that BAH stays on...??? most likely for less money and this will again most likely mean lower salaries for the next contract.
A lot of speculation...ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN....if he plans it right, he should have another job lined up, in 2 years, just in case. |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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| Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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| BajaLaJaula wrote: |
| ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN....if he plans it right, he should have another job lined up, in 2 years, just in case. |
Yes, I totally agree. I would add the following.....Always be ready to leave at a moment's notice - either because you want to for some reason or because you're forced to. Be sure you know where your documents are, that they're up to date etc.
I have always had a little black bag all set to go in my closet full of my essentials. I could be ready to "board that helicopter" in 5 minutes if that "call" ever came.
Remember that you may be in the Magic Kingdom, but there are no ruby red slippers waiting for you to tap your heels with to get you home in a flash. You're ultimately on your own. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:21 am Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| I know people who claim to have been abducted by aliens and taken to a spaceship. That does not mean I intend to follow them ! |
despite our joint wish that you would |
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buravirgil
Joined: 23 Jan 2014
Posts: 967
Location: Jiangxi Province, China
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elamericano
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 65
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| Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Of course you can work in KSA on a business visa if you're going with one of the military contractors. Your employer is a foreign entity. |
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