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Some advice please?

 
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waks



Joined: 27 Feb 2013
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2015 9:51 pm    Post subject: Some advice please? Reply with quote

Hello,

Just looking for some general advice please. I've been offered two jobs:

One through Adwaa (contract with Al Jazeera) for work at Imam Uni in Riyadh

Another with International Institute for Languages working at Jeddah University.

I've signed both contracts and thought I'd go with whomever seems to be more on the ball (rejecting the other). However, I've just noticed some negative comments about them both here which has left me unsure about working at either. Are they really that bad to work for and shall I begin applying for others?

Also, I've been asked by Adwaa to start the visa process and to send qualification verification letters from the University to the embassy.

However, again after reading comments on here I'm unsure about what Visa they are asking me to apply for and how this will affect me as I'm reading different comments about passports being taken away and about multiple entry visas etc? Would anyone know?
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plumpy nut



Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652

PostPosted: Thu Dec 17, 2015 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Make sure your degree can be attested by the SACM before spending any money on the other items like the medical requirements. There's no telling what will happen with the SACM. In addition to all the things that the agent wants, your Registrar has to send a document to the SACM that itemizes all of the courses you have taken at your universities and whether or not they were online. No other Embassy but Gulf State Embassies, does this to prospective employees and Universities. Any online courses, just 1 credit, disqualifies you from using the degree for a visa.

It's nice how this little item creeps up on employment visa applicants without any warning. The Saudis are like that. Make sure your university is willing to send an itemized list of classes of that nature to the SACM. If you have any online course on the transcripts of your degrees, you won't get the visa be forewarned before spending any money.

I consider this issue to be so heinous and lacking in integrity on the part of the Saudis I intend to start contacting U.S. Representatives and Senators over the issue. Of course it's their country and the Saudis of course can do what they want, but if the US government wants to, it can make things even more difficult for the Saudis than they already are, that is MAYBE if the government cares, which it should.

Regarding which company, the Riyadh locality would be my choice. You're less likely to get canned by a company when you're working in Riyadh. At least that is my opinion.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Thu Dec 17, 2015 5:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Imam Uni" ? I have never heard it called that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam_Muhammad_ibn_Saud_Islamic_University

This is a serious institution. I see you are going there not as direct hire but through a contractor. Be careful. A man cannot serve two masters !


Last edited by scot47 on Fri Dec 18, 2015 10:55 am; edited 1 time in total
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

waks wrote:
I've been offered two jobs:

One through Adwaa (contract with Al Jazeera) for work at Imam Uni in Riyadh

Another with International Institute for Languages working at Jeddah University.

I've signed both contracts and thought I'd go with whomever seems to be more on the ball (rejecting the other).

Be aware that once you've signed the contract, that generally starts the visa process at their end. In your case, there will be two requests for visa authorization going to the Saudi government for the same person (you), so you might want to make up your mind soon about which employer to go with, if at all.

and waks wrote:
However, again after reading comments on here I'm unsure about what Visa they are asking me to apply for and how this will affect me as I'm reading different comments about passports being taken away and about multiple entry visas etc? Would anyone know?

In terms of the visa type, no one on this forum would know, so just ask the employer. If the visa entails a battery of lab tests and a physical exam, then it's a proper employment/work visa. If not, then it's a business visit visa, which means they're sponsoring rather than actually employing you. Some teachers prefer an biz visit visa, which has both positives and negatives.

By the way, it's illegal for sponsors/employers to keep passports. See Do employers/sponsors still withhold passports?


Last edited by nomad soul on Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:59 am; edited 1 time in total
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

plumpy nut wrote:
Make sure your university is willing to send an itemized list of classes of that nature to the SACM. If you have any online course on the transcripts of your degrees, you won't get the visa be forewarned before spending any money.

I consider this issue to be so heinous and lacking in integrity on the part of the Saudis I intend to start contacting U.S. Representatives and Senators over the issue.

Seriously? The US government has way more important issues to deal with. Besides, why bother since you've consistently posted your dislike for all things Saudi (except when they paid you). Rolling Eyes
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waks



Joined: 27 Feb 2013
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Thu Dec 17, 2015 11:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you all for your comments.

Nomad Soul - what if one of those has already processed visa papers on their side but I do not wish to go with them? Is this likely to cause much complication to securing another job? I understand one company has applied for a saudi work visa whilst the other (which I prefer) is offering a business visa?
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If they're different visa types then there's likely no problem. Regardless, choose one and inform the other that you withdraw your interest.
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