Job Discussion Forums

[desertsurvivor]

Well folks hi all,

This will be my 3rd year in Saudia Arabia now...

Ive joined another company,

Does anyone now how long a visa can take to process during Ramadan.

Just asking cos as far as I know, new visas (Iqamas) have only ever taken 2 days maximum.

Thankyou.

Peace to All.

[nomad soul]

It's unclear if you're asking about the timeframe to obtain an employment/work visa to start a new job, or if you're wondering how much it will take your employer to process your iqama once you're in KSA. If the former, it depends on staffing --- no one can say. If the latter, ask your employer since they submit your paperwork for your iqama after you land in KSA.

[desertsurvivor]

Thanks for your reply nomond soul,

Sorry I was actually referring to a new iqama visa in my home country.. and not when I reach Saudia Arabia.... mind you my previous company issued me an iqama within 10 days.

So its been a week so far and I'm still waiting to get my passport back from the embassy with my visa.

Thanks.

[desertsurvivor]

Yes and for a new job I mean.

[scot47]

It depends where you are. Seoul ? Washington DC ? London, UK ?
And that is certainly not the only factor. Ramadan certainly slows things down.

[desertsurvivor]

Scot 47 I'm in the UK so it's not that bad!

[scot47]

I think it is difficult to generalise. Apart from the first time I went (in 1970 !), I used an agent or 3rd party to process visa in London.

Les Budd - I hear he is still on the go !

[hash]

It appears you are totally confused about your terminology even after residing in KSA for some time and despite the advice you've already been given on this thread.

To begin with, there is no such thing as an "iqama visa". An "iqama" is not a visa. It's a "residence permit" which allows you to reside in KSA. Your employer obtains this permit for you.....you don't get it yourself and you don't receive it in "your home country". You can receive an Iqama only AFTER you've entered KSA.

What you're probably asking about is a "work entry visa" which is issued to you by the KSA consular section in your home country. This visa allows you to enter KSA and to work there. Once you've done that and have gone through some preliminaries in KSA, your employer will apply for and present you with the Iqama.

How long it takes to get a work entry visa AND an Iqama (2 totally different documents), is anybody's guess. It can take as little as a few weeks to a few months. There is no standard time frame.

I suppose you can ask the KSA consulate in your home country about the work entry visa or your employer (about the Iqama) (again, 2 totally different documents) but my experience has been that whatever they say is unreliable since so often, the final authorities for validating and finally releasing these two documents are very far from the consulates and very far from your employer.

[nomad soul]

[scot47]

Not odd at all. I know someone who has worked for 15 years in KSA. He still has not grasped the fact that the Muslim calendar operates differently. I know another two who have never learned to decipher numbers written in the Western Arabic manner. After 20 years in KSA !

Of course the phenomenon of LIFER Teflers in KSA with Zero Arabic is a common one. 20 years in the country and no knowledge of the local language at all !

What would Harry St John Philby or Wilfred Thesiger say ?

[desertsurvivor]

I was actually referring to an Iqama, because thats what most of the 'new visas' are in KSA... most companies issues iqamas mainly due to new legislation..

Im not new to the process: My certificates are being attested I found out yesterday.... so thats the reason why it may take a while... as for the past 2 years Ive worked for 2 different companies. I was slightly unsure and that was the reason I asked because some companies do want your qualifications attested before you leave...In the past Ive not had to do that.

Sorry for any confusion but what I love about this blog is the way people jump to conclusions right away , (may be because of the way I wrote things)

I still dont know the islamic calendar and even hijri dates I mean I should do because I am a muslim. ( time to learn its never too late)

[nomad soul]

[hash]

Plus, as far as the IQAMA (remember, your EMPLOYER applies for your Iqama AFTER you've arrived in KSA...and it's not a visa even though you keep calling it that....see your last posting), there are going to be some changes starting in October of this year.

1. see full article at: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=98861

2. http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/765266

These two items basically state that starting in Oct. your IQAMA will be delivered to you via the KSA postal service
and
Your IQAMA will now be called a MUQEEM

[Arabic sidebar: why the name change, I don't know. Both words are related and are derived from the same verb (QaWaMa). IQAMA means RESIDENCE while MUQEEM means RESIDENT)......so you will have a RESIDENT CARD instead of a RESIDENCE card). (You'd think they'd have more critical issues to contend with other than a name change.)

[nomad soul]

A correction, hash. That link you provided is to my profile page.

See the thread: "5-year resident ID card for expats starting October" (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=111314).

[hash]

Nomad Soul is right. The correct link about the IQAMA changes is the one NS referred to:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=111314