Job Discussion Forums

nickwils · Joined: 29 May 2014 Posts: 41

Has anyone gone through this process recently. I have heard some nightmare stories that the process can take months. I have a copy of my degree with an apostille from Milton Keynes but not an attestation from the Saudi Embassy.

Any views?

many thanks.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

not recently but I would recommend you use a visa agent and pay them to run around for you. That is, after all, good practice for coming to the ME in any case...

nickwils · Joined: 29 May 2014 Posts: 41

Sure, I usually use Britannia near Paddington. I have talked to a couple of people who were waiting for months over the summer and i'm sure they were using agents but I think different ones. Someone I know lost a job offer over the delay.

1chunk · Joined: 05 Aug 2014 Posts: 123

I know two people who had it done recently ...one took circa two weeks and the others took nearly two months... That's the Saudi way. Might as well get used to it if you wish to come.

bigdurian · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 1:41 am Post subject:

I have recently used Britannia, and I didn't find them that great. Difficult to get through to them on the phone, texts not answered, on the whole not great service.

About 8 weeks all in all for me. Although that was affected by Eid etc.

Plus the guy at the agency basically told me how useless the Saudis were and they couldn't do anything.

nickwils · Joined: 29 May 2014 Posts: 41

nickwils · Joined: 29 May 2014 Posts: 41

bigdurian · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 1:35 pm Post subject:

It's all because you now have to get your certificates attested by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau, which involves getting an e-mail sent from your awarding body to them.

The actual part at the embassy when they issue the visa takes two working days.

When I did it three years ago I think I went to the agency on the Wednesday and had my passport back on the Saturday!

Times change.

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

Kimchidon · Joined: 25 Aug 2015 Posts: 19

Currentaffairs, are you serious? So now Brits will have to travel to London at least once if they want to come to Saudi? Is there any reasoning for this, or the employees just got tired of opening up parcels?

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

You need to check the embassy website or call them. As with all things Saudi, they change the rules and regulations all the time. I sent off my visa application at the end of September but it was rejected because it was missing a couple of documents. At the beginning of October they stopped accepting postal applications so I had to go in person. The good thing being that IF all your papers are in order they will process the visa in 24 hours.

nickwils · Joined: 29 May 2014 Posts: 41

I don't understand why you wouldn't use an agency to do this for you. Surely all costs are fully reimbursed and it saves you at least one trip to London and arranging a Saudi specific medical.

paul.conlong · Joined: 31 Mar 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Rochdale, UK

Which agents do you folks use? know of any around the north west?

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

No, my new Saudi gig doesn't reimburse you for visa fees. You need to check with your employer about that.

Even if you use an agent, you would still need to go to London for the medical at a Harley street clinic and pay 500 pounds for all the additional paperwork to be processed. I am sure you could cut down the waiting time to weeks rather than months, though.

nickwils · Joined: 29 May 2014 Posts: 41