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sbones
Joined: 16 Oct 2015 Posts: 3
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 12:05 pm Post subject: Suadi Arabia Work Visa 3+ months in processing... |
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Hello Everyone in the KSA Boards!
I have a general question about work visas.
I was hired by a company called Adwwa Rabia about 3 months ago to work as an ESL teacher in Riyadh and they started me on the process of getting my work visa. Although most things have been explained about this process and even times things I've done has slowed the process, is it common for a visa to take up to 3+ months to process?
I'm thinking at some point I should probably abandon this and start looking for another job.
Your comments are appreciated!
Thanks! |
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BajaLaJaula
Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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3 months....at least. Company I have worked for (US Company) takes around 5 to 6 months from initial application to deployment.
Whole process can take more or less time depending on HR and visa process. |
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sbones
Joined: 16 Oct 2015 Posts: 3
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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BajaLaJaula wrote: |
3 months....at least. Company I have worked for (US Company) takes around 5 to 6 months from initial application to deployment.
Whole process can take more or less time depending on HR and visa process. |
Thanks for your reply. They told me they have the e-visa in hand but they still need to process some other documents. I have my med exam but I haven't sent it in yet. Does that help indicate how far along I am?
Every time I ask they tell me it will take another week or two. I don't mind waiting and spending time at home with my folks but it's hard to plan anything else. I don't know if I will get to be here for Xmas or more importantly, when Star Wars opens!  |
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BajaLaJaula
Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 267
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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I would try and delay....until after the 18th....so that you can see the new Star Wars movie. Otherwise you'll have to download a bit torrent copy a few weeks later. Don't forget to install a proxy before you head over. Once in KSA they block any site address with the word proxy in it. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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My visa took 3+ months to come, in fact I had given up when it came. If you already have a job, maybe you shouldn't give it up. Your visa may yet come through, but there is no guarantee that you will not be sent back after a few months. The Saudi system is severely dysfunctional, the students are your next obstacle, and keep in mind it was just announced on the news that oil prices are going to remain down for some time. Saudis are bringing people over in droves thinking they can make money off of them only to send them back home with any program cut that takes place. |
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gregory999

Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Posts: 372 Location: 999
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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plumpy nut wrote: |
Saudis are bringing people over in droves thinking they can make money off of them only to send them back home with any program cut that takes place. |
I do not think Saudis are bringing people over in droves, it is the other way round, people are going to the Magic Kingdom in droves thinking they can fill their bucket with $$$$$.
This is the rule of Supply and Demand. |
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sbones
Joined: 16 Oct 2015 Posts: 3
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 11:51 am Post subject: |
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plumpy nut wrote: |
My visa took 3+ months to come, in fact I had given up when it came. If you already have a job, maybe you shouldn't give it up. Your visa may yet come through, but there is no guarantee that you will not be sent back after a few months. The Saudi system is severely dysfunctional, the students are your next obstacle, and keep in mind it was just announced on the news that oil prices are going to remain down for some time. Saudis are bringing people over in droves thinking they can make money off of them only to send them back home with any program cut that takes place. |
I don't have a job and I am on a kind of holiday since this is the holidays. I did sign up more for the money of course but I'm not desperate. I can return to Asia after the holidays or after the next school break. So, Im here for the next month or so, so might as well wait if it really does take that long. My employer assures me that there is a job and it's only the visa that has been slow to process. Another thing that happened was that KSA switched from a paper based to an electronic based system for visa processing which I was able to confirm.
BTW - What did you mean by the students being the next hurdle? I've heard that they can be difficult and I've had my own share of them in Asia but anything in particular? |
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RustyShackleford

Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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Your situation is apparently pretty common. For me, I had my interview in early July and flew off in late September, after my medicals and degree attestations cleared. Did you use a visa agency or do it all yourself? I used an agency and was amazed that, literally two days after my degree attestation cleared, I got my visa and flew to the Kingdom not long after that.
In the four countries I've taught in - Japan, Vietnam, Spain and now Saudi, the Saudis have been by far the most obstinate and hardest to direct I've ever encountered. I'm hoping, for your sake, that this is limited to my situation. However, all accounts tell me otherwise. Do your job best as you can, keep students happy, show management that you're doing what you can and make sure students are performing to par. |
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brnrd
Joined: 23 Dec 2013 Posts: 53
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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 3:03 am Post subject: |
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3 months or more. Hmm? Something for me to think about.
Cheers,
WW |
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travelgirl07
Joined: 21 Aug 2015 Posts: 2
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 2:45 am Post subject: VISA HOLDS For Saudi Arabia |
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I want to share my story with Saudi Arabia. I was hired by a recruiting agency back in July of 2015 for a ESL position at PNU. I was supposed to arrive for middle-end of August. I was given the runaround from my recruiter. She failed to inform me that the country is NOT I repeat NOT issuing VISAS to Canadians and Americans right now. There is a VISA hold from Saudi Arabia. So be aware of this when you see job postings that say they are hiring for Saudi Arabia. I'm not 100% certain why KSA has put a hold on VISAS but I believe it has to do with politics and the current refugee crisis. I do believe that schools want to hire teachers. However without a Work VISA, this is mission impossible. After months of telling me one story after another, she admitted that it will be unlikely for her to obtain a Work VISA for me. So I now I am going someplace else. My point is this: don't solely rely on what hiring companies tell you because they aren't always going to be forthright. Also, they aren't able to legally obtain VISAS at this time. I hope this helps. |
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travelgirl07
Joined: 21 Aug 2015 Posts: 2
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 2:49 am Post subject: Re: Suadi Arabia Work Visa 3+ months in processing... |
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[quote="sbones"]Hello Everyone in the KSA Boards!
I have a general question about work visas.
I was hired by a company called Adwwa Rabia about 3 months ago to work as an ESL teacher in Riyadh and they started me on the process of getting my work visa. Although most things have been explained about this process and even times things I've done has slowed the process, is it common for a visa to take up to 3+ months to process?
I'm thinking at some point I should probably abandon this and start looking for another job.
Your comments are appreciated!
Thanks![/quote]
While it is common to wait for a long time to have your VISA processed, the truth of the matter is, the KSA is not providing VISAS to most nations right now. I would look for another job if I were you. |
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nomad soul

Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2015 12:27 am Post subject: Re: Suadi Arabia Work Visa 3+ months in processing... |
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travelgirl07 wrote: |
The truth of the matter is, the KSA is not providing VISAS to most nations right now. I would look for another job if I were you. |
I assume you're referring to proper employment/work visas. It's not unusual for the Saudi government to approve these visas for certain nationalities. Some contracting companies actually state in their ads which passport holders can apply. |
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EnglishLanguageOne
Joined: 02 Feb 2016 Posts: 28
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Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:33 am Post subject: Re: Suadi Arabia Work Visa 3+ months in processing... |
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sbones wrote: |
Hello Everyone in the KSA Boards!
I have a general question about work visas.
I was hired by a company called Adwwa Rabia about 3 months ago to work as an ESL teacher in Riyadh and they started me on the process of getting my work visa. Although most things have been explained about this process and even times things I've done has slowed the process, is it common for a visa to take up to 3+ months to process?
I'm thinking at some point I should probably abandon this and start looking for another job.
Your comments are appreciated!
Thanks! |
If Saudis are involved expect delays, dont expect straight answers or for that matter any email replies.I once got a visa and waited and waited and waited. 88 days later they issued my flight ticket.
They havd no understanding of how things are done in western nations. |
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