Job Discussion Forums

[Charlie123]

EDIT Slightly different question. Has anyone ever heard of a Saudi visa requirement to have a current US driver's license in order to obtain a work visa?

I am an American citizen currently living in Oman. I have lived abroad for many years, and my California drivers license expired in 2013. However, I have a valid Omani license. I was offered a job working for an American company in Saudi Arabia. I have all of the qualifications except the US drivers license. Their HR department says that the Saudi government requires it. I have no idea why -- driving is not a part of my job description.

I no longer have any residency, or family in the United States and going back for the sake of getting a drivers license would be an enormous pain in the neck. It would take at least a month from the time that I walk into the DMV to the day I received my license in the mail. And then of course there is the expense…

Workarounds? Has anybody else run into this?

-- No, I can't do it online.
-- Yes, I need to establish residency in the state I apply.
-- Yes, I will need to take the driving test because my license expired 4 years ago.

[nomad soul]

You didn't mention which visa type you're expected to get, but if you're required to apply for your visa via the Saudi Embassy in the US, you'll have no choice but to return.

[sicklyman]

What's the company? This doesn't sound right to me.

[Charlie123]

[hash]

It’s probably a security or identification issue. Perhaps some previous employees…for one reason or another….put down false information on their applications regarding where they are from (thus possibly hiding a criminal background)….and it became an issue later on….and the employer or the KSA govt. now wants to avoid a repetition of this affair.

(Another reason for claiming an untrue residency…… many employees put down Alaska or Costa Rica or similar as their “home of record” thus greatly increasing their travel allowances (in cash or in kind) . As far as I can remember, KSA (and other entities) simply accepted what you said as true as far as residency......you never had to "legally" prove or confirm that you were or were not a resident of a certain state.

After all, a driver's license pretty much establishes your US residency. You're not going to be living in Texas and driving around with a Hawaii driver's license. There are all kinds of circumstances where you might possess a state driver's lic. from a state other than the one you're currently living in, but eventually, you get a state driver's license from the state that is in fact your residency.

To answer your question directly: No, I haven’t “run” into this driver license requirement for a KSA visa. I’ve never even heard of such a requirement. Assuming the employer insists that this is a Saudi Consulate requirement for your particular job, there are several things to consider.

1…I assume your “employer” is aware of your dilemma. What does he have to say about it? Nothing? No suggestions?

2…Is the employer willing to “wait” for you until you do get a license? A month, perhaps two? If he’s not willing to wait, if he needs someone “right away”, then it’s a dead and moot issue as far as you’re concerned and you can forget about the job…….and forget about going to extreme lengths to get the US license……since there will be no job waiting for you after you get your license.

3…Assuming you decide to establish residency and get a driver’s license, you should be aware that there is another issue at stake here for you having to do with state taxes. I won’t discuss it here because of length and other issues, but if you want to read what I have to say, just pvt. me.

.

[Charlie123]

I'm hip to state taxes, particularly in California.

I am going to try to speak to someone stateside when their offices open today. Hopefully they will have some sort of explanation. I do not know if they are willing to wait. I'll find out.

I agree it is moot if they don't want to wait, but it is just baffling. No one was forcing them to offer me a position.....

[hash]

[nomad soul]

[Charlie123]

The link is helpful, thanks. I'll forward it to their HR.

[scot47]

I agree with the poster who suggest that this is a smart way for the employer to establish where you are based in the US without asking you a direct question. I recollect that when working for Saudi Arabian Airlines the savvy US citizens had a home address at some remote location miles away from the busier airports. This "address of record" was used for annual ticketing when going on leave and for eventual repatriation.

[sicklyman]

that's a good point. Other outfits do require proof of address in your "home" country so they can repatriate you for leave and final exit and it may be that the license is what they're requiring. OP did say company say a license is a govt requirement but they could mean having proof of address is a requirement not the license per se.

[scot47]

I think US passport does not show holder's address.

[nomad soul]

US passports don't indicate the holder's address. A state-issued card is available as an official form of ID. However, most folks with these ID cards usually don't have a state driver's license.

[nomad soul]

Charie123:

What was HR's response to the US driver's license requirement?