Job Discussion Forums

[pastramionrye]

I had wanted to make a single question but the title length is quite restricted.

If I were hired to start in September, is there any reason not to start the process soon? If get am issued my visa, say, 8 months before I'm due to ship out will it become invalid?

I'm asking with the assumption that the employer has already requested the visa from SACM/SACB.

[plumpy nut]

The University documents can be started early because once your degrees are attested by the SACM, the attestation remains permanent. They will send you back the copy of the degrees you have sent and the attested degrees will be signed. You have to save those signed degree copies because you will need to send them back again anytime you apply for a visa.

Your medical documents, tests, doctor's form are only good for 3 months from the date on the tests and documents. So you can't start too early. The visa itself is valid only for 3 months from the date of issuance.

[nomad soul]

You should submit your visa application and documents within a month of your expected deployment date.

[scot47]

Once that visa is stamped in your passport, the clock starts ticking. There is a "use-by-date"

I am happy that all that stuff is behind me. When I remember the horrors of getting all those bits of paper !

To all of you still in the filed, I wish a speedy and safe demobilisation and return to the Homeland !

[currentaffairs]

In truth, you are at the behest of the employer. You may sign the contract in March of any given year but the visa will almost always be processed in the summer, after Ramadan, and very close to your starting date. You have to wait until the employer gives you the go-ahead to apply for the visa, as each employer has a 'block' of applicants and they almost always leave it very late...

Also, there is a three-month time limit from the issuing of the visa to getting the iqama in Saudi.