Job Discussion Forums

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

Just be careful when doing the -You write, I sign- that the exact same phrasing doesn't appear in all your references.

Mine all finished "Although we sorry to see MixtecaMike leave, we wish him every success in his future endeavors." I managed to catch it on my Saudi reference, but it appears on the Korean and Mexican ones.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 9:25 pm Post subject:

Dear MixtecaMike,

Pretty crafty, that leaving out the "are" between "we" and "sorry." That definitely gives it the ring of authenticity.

Very Happy

Regards,
John

Mingvase · Joined: 19 Jan 2016 Posts: 62

So what you're saying then is write my own letter of recommendation. I don't know how to get the college's logo copied for the letter head. Do I need Microsoft Publisher to do this?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

hash · Joined: 17 Dec 2014 Posts: 456 Location: Wadi Jinn

Am I missing something here? Are you (the OP) sure you were asked for a Letter of RECOMMENDATION?

A letter of Recommendation is usually presented to the hiring authority BEFORE they hire you. But if you're already at the stage where a VISA is going to be issued, that means the employer has already technically "hired" you and both he and you are simply waiting for the Consulate/Govt. to issue you the visa.

I've never run across a situation where the Consulate/KSA govt. holds up a visa until they get a letter of recommendation. You (and your visa agent) must mean a Letter of No Objection or a Letter of Release from your previous KSA employer.

Note 1: In most cases (that I've run across) Letters of Release (or) No Objection also serve as Employment Verification letters. They will say something like:

"Mr. Hash has worked for the ABC Co in Riyadh, KSA in the position of ESL Lecturer from xxxx to xxxx and will complete his contract on 11/05/2016 in good standing. We have no objection to his obtaining employment elsewhere in the Kingdom following his Final Departure from the Kingdom scheduled for 11/11/2016."

But this is not what is usually known as a "Letter of Recommendation".

Note 2: Originally, a Letter of No Objection was a letter you obtained from your current KSA employer ALLOWING YOU to seek a new job in KSA, because originally, it was illegal for you to seek a job in KSA while employed by a current employer in KSA. This is no longer true, of course, as one can now seek new employment in-Kingdom willy-nilly.

Note 3: These two types of letters (no objection/release) over the years became confused with one another and employers were often never sure what each one was used for. This is still true today......also, current rumors confirm that these letters or no longer required......and other current rumors confirm that they indeed still ARE required. I think it depends on the employer.

However, going back to my original point and to answer the OP......I believe it is one of these just discussed letters that you agent is wanting....he can't possibly mean a Letter of Recommendation which is a totally different document

(One main difference is that a Letter of Recommendation can be issued to you YEARS before you actually depart the Kingdom. This usually happens when a friendly supervisor leaving the Kingdom will write you such a letter long before you yourself depart).

It is this type of letter that can be "doctored" considerably to suit a current situation with advantageous "modifications" and so on. I've known cases where not only was the entire "letter" written by the employEE, but it was signed by him too, sometimes with a past "supervisor's" consent, other times without it. A "dearly departed" supervisor is a particularly valuable person to have known for obvious reasons.

The other types of letter discussed here (letter of release/no objection) are issued only just before a final departure and not by a "supervisor" but by the administrative "Office of Personnel Affairs" or "Human Resources Office". These "offices" never issue a "Letter of Recommendation". They've probably never even seen you and certainly don't know anything about your teaching abilities, character and so on.) NOTE: under no circumstances would I recommend anyone trying to counterfeit a Letter of No Objection/Release. You could run into serious difficulties if found out.

Finally, remember that these Letters of Release/No Objection are not automatically issued to a departing employee. Sometimes they are but usually they aren't. You have to ask for them. Once you know you're going, you'll have to ask Human Resources what the policy is in this regard and take appropriate steps to get one before that final departure, because once you're gone, no one will lift a finger for you.....they'll hardly do that if you're just ARRIVING.....just imagine how insignificant you'll become once your DEPART !

Mingvase · Joined: 19 Jan 2016 Posts: 62

hash

I left KSA 5 years ago! It's only now that I'm thinking of getting another job in the kingdom that I have been in touch with the visa agency in the UK and it was them who told me I will need a letter of recommendation, which Ithink they mean letter of no OBJECTION like you say. I've tried contacting them about getting this letter but they won't reply so my only option is to pretend Ihaven't been to the kingdom in any new job offers or write my own letter. I think I was on a business visa not an Iqama so they might not know I've been.

Mingvase · Joined: 19 Jan 2016 Posts: 62

hash

I left KSA 5 years ago! It's only now that I'm thinking of getting another job in the kingdom that I have been in touch with the visa agency in the UK and it was them who told me I will need a letter of recommendation, which Ithink they mean letter of no OBJECTION like you say. I've tried contacting them about getting this letter but they won't reply so my only option is to pretend Ihaven't been to the kingdom in any new job offers or write my own letter. I think I was on a business visa not an Iqama so they might not know I've been.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Mingvase · Joined: 19 Jan 2016 Posts: 62

I went to the Saudi embassy yesterday about my GBSM and they said to check with my sponsor. So what we think is that so long as the sponsor is happy with it, it should be ok.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

gregory999 · Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Posts: 372 Location: 999

Mingvase · Joined: 19 Jan 2016 Posts: 62

Greg
i'll take whichever post is offered first. Saudi will be more money though.
Yes it was the Saudi Consulate in Charles St. I don't know about proper legal work/residency/muqeem. Do they need a copy of your degree for that then? Don't you get granted residency visa from the UK before you head out to KSA?