Job Discussion Forums

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

A friend of mine, an American who works for a contractor in a university prep year program, is currently here on a business visa. She is 63 and holds a PhD (I think it's in TEFL, but not sure). The contractor has assured her that they will sponsor her for an employment visa in the US this summer which will lead to an iqama when she comes back in the fall, and that her age is not an issue. For her sake, I hope this is true, but I am sceptical as it goes against everything I have read (and thought I understood) on this board. What say you? (Edited and bolded for clarity)

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

No hard and fast rules. I know of some teachers well over 60 still getting renewed with Iqama.

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

My question is not about iqama renewal. That should be clear from the content of my post. My query is about getting an iqama for the first time after one has passed the age of 60.

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

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Point taken but I still say the rule is that there are no fixed rules.

CANDLES · Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 9:47 pm Post subject:

I've had about 3-4 recruiters telling me that after the age of 56??? it's very difficult to get an Iqama, unless one is already out there and renewing.

The rules keep changing......

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

rbc · Joined: 24 Jun 2009 Posts: 14

The last I found on the web, there is no law against providing a worker over 60 with an iqama. Rather, the Ministry of Labor has made a recommendation that companies not hire foreigners over 57. So I believe it is ultimately up to your sponsor. Mine was willing to hire me, and I'm a few years into my sixties.

Hope this helps.

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

Yes, that helps a lot! I think in my case, where I am a direct hire in a government university, the 60 year old rule applies (fortunately, I got in at 56 and plan to retire in a few years if I can stand it that much longer - and that's a big "if"). But my friend, who works for a contractor, should be able to get one since her sponsor is willing.

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

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

The article refers to those over 60 who already have iqamas and does not specifically address those seeking iqamas for the first time. After discussion with my HR rep, it does seem to be quite difficult, if not impossible, for one who has passed that age to get one. I now believe my friend has been misled if not outright lied to.

If anyone has knowledge of an ordinary PYP teacher who has received their first iqama, either through direct hire or with a contractor, after they reached the ripe old age, please do share.

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

Grendal · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 11:24 am Post subject:

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

I didn't see anything in rbc's posts that indicated she had an iqama.

hash · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 456 Location: Wadi Jinn

[quote="scot47"] Point taken but I still say the rule is that there are no fixed rules. [/quote]

scot47 is correct. In KSA there are "rules" for everything, but few of them are fixed. If an employer needs an employee (and the "need" is determined by the employer, not the Ministry of Labor), he can hire anyone he wants.

We recently hired someone who's over 60, looks like the Prince of Whales, has a relevant MA that has no teaching component and was partially done on-line.......and he doesn't have a TESL certificate. Since his MA was recently completed (3 years ago) he was offered a salary that didn't take into account his pre-MA experience. When he turned the offer down (on that account), the employer (also my employer) "added" 2 additional years to the offer at which point the offer was accepted. (What he DOES have is years and years of experience in the Gulf, all attested to and with superb recommendations. Work visa leading to Iqama).

Go to any mall or supermarket in KSA and behold the jaw-dropping legions of white-haired "westerners" milling about. They can't ALL be visiting parents of local employees.

My KLM end-of-summer return flights out of Amsterdam for the last 10 but especially the last 5 years have resembled "hospital flights" or "mercy flights".....crutches, wheelchairs, bent backs, eye patches, 4-fingered hands and so on. No matter what you hear, KSA is having a very rough time hiring "ideal" employees, at least westerners. The rules for hiring are being bent back almost to the breaking point.

(Of course, your employer does have to have some clout.....I doubt any ol' "recruiter" could pull off what my employer just did).