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RamblingMan
Joined: 22 Sep 2015
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 3:39 pm Post subject: Spousal visas |
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Hello all
I've signed a contract to work as a direct hire at a government Uni. The plan is for my wife to come out at the same time as me. Today we took our medical tests and it emerged that my wife has high blood pressure. I worry that this could disqualify one or potentially both of us, given that KSA has announced its intention to deny visas to expats with health problems. As my wife wouldn't be working, the situation isn't clear. (There are no other medical issues between us.)
Has anyone had a similar situation recently? I would be interested to know if anyone here or their spouse was denied an iqama because of health problems.
Thanks in advance |
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Karitos
Joined: 05 Oct 2010
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: Spousal visas |
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| RamblingMan wrote: |
Hello all
I've signed a contract to work as a direct hire at a government Uni. The plan is for my wife to come out at the same time as me. Today we took our medical tests and it emerged that my wife has high blood pressure. I worry that this could disqualify one or potentially both of us, given that KSA has announced its intention to deny visas to expats with health problems. As my wife wouldn't be working, the situation isn't clear. (There are no other medical issues between us.)
Has anyone had a similar situation recently? I would be interested to know if anyone here or their spouse was denied an iqama because of health problems.
Thanks in advance |
I don't have any information about the potentially ramifications of health problems unfortunately.
I am curious though...I thought that dependents could not come until after the employee arrived and received the iqama and applied for them to come? Are you saying that your wife can go at the same time as you? |
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pooroldedgar
Joined: 07 Oct 2010
Posts: 181
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2015 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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| It depends on the employer, Keritos. I think bringing them over after 3 months is more common, but I can attest that at least one employer will let you come over together. Not sure how many more do, though. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 6:03 am Post subject: Re: Spousal visas |
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| RamblingMan wrote: |
I've signed a contract to work as a direct hire at a government Uni. The plan is for my wife to come out at the same time as me. Today we took our medical tests and it emerged that my wife has high blood pressure. I worry that this could disqualify one or potentially both of us, given that KSA has announced its intention to deny visas to expats with health problems. As my wife wouldn't be working, the situation isn't clear. (There are no other medical issues between us.)
Has anyone had a similar situation recently? I would be interested to know if anyone here or their spouse was denied an iqama because of health problems. |
Ask on a couple of the general expat forums, which attract a wider, diverse group of expats. Do an Internet search using: expat forum saudi.
| Karitos wrote: |
| I am curious though...I thought that dependents could not come until after the employee arrived and received the iqama and applied for them to come? Are you saying that your wife can go at the same time as you? |
That's because the OP is direct hire with a government university as opposed to being hired by a private contracting company. |
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RamblingMan
Joined: 22 Sep 2015
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 7:57 am Post subject: Re: Spousal visas |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
Ask on a couple of the general expat forums, which attract a wider, diverse group of expats. Do an Internet search using: expat forum saudi. |
Already tried that. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything current. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Spousal visas |
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| RamblingMan wrote: |
| nomad soul wrote: |
| Ask on a couple of the general expat forums, which attract a wider, diverse group of expats. Do an Internet search using: expat forum saudi. |
Already tried that. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything current. |
Instead of searching for similar questions/responses on those forums, you need to actually post your question on several sites. |
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Karitos
Joined: 05 Oct 2010
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Spousal visas |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| Karitos wrote: |
| I am curious though...I thought that dependents could not come until after the employee arrived and received the iqama and applied for them to come? Are you saying that your wife can go at the same time as you? |
That's because the OP is direct hire with a government university as opposed to being hired by a private contracting company. |
So all direct government hires can bring their families at the same time? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Those on contract to KFUPM in Dhahran can come with spouses and family. No medical restrictions on spouse(s). Other employers may expect the employee to serve a probationary period of 60 or 90- days. Some employers will simply refuse to process visas for dependants. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: Spousal visas |
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| Karitos wrote: |
| So all direct government hires can bring their families at the same time? |
Direct-hire situations, in general, offer better benefits. |
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Karitos
Joined: 05 Oct 2010
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Those on contract to KFUPM in Dhahran can come with spouses and family. No medical restrictions on spouse(s). Other employers may expect the employee to serve a probationary period of 60 or 90- days. Some employers will simply refuse to process visas for dependants. |
I had heard of one case of that with KFUPM, but I had not heard of it for any other direct hire situations, thus the question. Generally it seems like the main impediment is having the iqama, which sounds like it can take anywhere from a week to 3 months. |
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RamblingMan
Joined: 22 Sep 2015
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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Update: we've also learned that my wife has a certain amount of scarring to her lungs. She's never had TB, but we've been warned that KSA is very iffy about anything related to chest illnesses. Certainly, a quick internet search reveals that plenty of others have been denied visas because of lung scarring. (The clinic have passed us both and think the scarring is temporary. What the Saudis decide will be another matter.)
| scot47 wrote: |
| Those on contract to KFUPM in Dhahran can come with spouses and family. No medical restrictions on spouse(s). |
I really hope this is still the case across the board at government unis. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| RamblingMan wrote: |
| scot47 wrote: |
| Those on contract to KFUPM in Dhahran can come with spouses and family. No medical restrictions on spouse(s). |
I really hope this is still the case across the board at government unis. |
Have you informed your employer about your concerns? They may have dealt with this same issue with other job candidates. |
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