Job Discussion Forums

[hobartwells]

Basically, this is what happened:

I had a commercial visit visa from company A (ICEAT) valid for 5 years ( must exit/reenter every 6 months). I was hired as a language consultant by them. They laid me off after 8 months and I left for the USA.

Then, company B (NPA) offered me a job from the USA and applied for another similar visa for me. But the Saudi Embassy in DC sent my passport back saying that I already had a visa.

I went on company A’s visa to Saudi Arabia to work for company B. This was a big blunder.

Company B did not like me, but then company C (AA)asked me if I could go and work for them.

Then company A (ICEAT) found out I was in the Kingdom and put a block on my visa on Oct 12. I cannot leave the country now. Stuck! Company C cannot remove the block. They are firing me. I went to an attorney, and he even tried to help deport me. But the deportation office said my original sponsor needs to come an apply for it.

I am now trying to negotiate with my original sponsor to have the block removed or have me deported, but I am not sure they will cooperate fully. They are being hesitant and keep changing their mind.

I just want to leave. Pay fine if needed and go. Can someone recommend a good attorney/in between or anybody familiar with such situations who has helped you or a friend in a similar situation? I am ready to get deported and just get out.

Please no sermonizing, dark sarcasm, empty advice, joking or negativity. Just information, please. I really need help. Now I have no job, cannot leave, and my 6 month reentry period expires in the first days of April. How am I going to live?

Went to the US consulate in Dhahran. They said they would try help, but I am not counting on them. From the list of attorneys they have, only one responded. The English is zero, had to use a translator whose English was also not that great.

The first attorney I used was good, but not very familiar with such situations. They are mostly corporate. They took me to the deportation office. And we were told to just bring the sponsor. Yeah, right.

I am in the Dammam/Riyadh area.

Any referral to legal specialist who has helped with such cases before or sharing experience with something like this will help.

[nomad soul]

Have you contacted the UK and Canadian embassies for a names and numbers of English-speaking Saudi immigration attorneys? Their lists might differ from what the US consulate gave you.

Also... I don't know what your current relationship is like with Sponsor A, but have you apologized to them? I mean, genuinely apologized. This might soften them up to finally lift the block on your visa so that you can leave.

[Jerusalem]

[Richard62]

Certain acts will get you deported instantly, e.g. begging on streets or walking naked in public. I am not suggesting that you try these, but perhaps you may want to considered as a last resort.

[baa_baa]

I just wanted to say Im so so sorry for what happened to you.

WHen I quit my job HR gave me exit but didnt give me my money nor my references. They made me wait. In the end it turned out that everything was ready signed dated everyhting. I finally went to the Dean she got me out of the mess and later I heard the HR got introuble. But I spent the whole summer there until july 10. worked finished in mid of may. It was ramadan. I had to wait end of holiday. it was really bad.

Im so sorry. Just be patient. Find someone imp to talk to. some one who will get them in trouble. good luck.

[baa_baa]

I dont think attorney is the solution. things dont work like that there. find someone very imp to get you out of this mess.

[voyagerksa]

You're going to have to get the owners of your visa that is blocked to unblock it. I think you're going to have to talk to them. What you can expect I don't know. They essentially for all practical purposes own you. That is the nature of the Saudis and how they treat people.

[hash]

.
Like most such “stories”, there are all kinds of questions that pop up in my mind:

1- Employer A “laid you off” and you departed KSA without incident. You were no longer employed by A. If that’s true, then there are certain protocols A had to follow to invalidate your visa which he apparently didn’t do. (Why not?)

2- The KSA consulate in USA returned your passport when you applied for a new visa with NEW employer B because you “STILL HAD A (VALID ?) VISA from your previous job (and didn’t need a new one??).

But if you told them you were returning under new sponsorship, they must have known you’d need a new visa, cancel the old one and issue you a new one. (Why didn’t they do that? This sort of thing must happen all the time..in fact, it happened to me once.)

3- Was new employer B AWARE that you were (illegally?) entering KSA to work for them? (If so, how did he justify this? Weren’t they afraid of the legal consequences to them by approving your illegal entry into KSA?)

4- How could new employer C “hire you”…without the proper documents and so forth? Did they know about your “illegal” visa? They “fired” you? But they never really “hired” you…..hiring someone in KSA involves a lot more than an employer telling you to come start work tomorrow……..all kinds of ministries are involved and so on.

No, there’s something else going on here….lots of information we are not being told about. Too many “mistakes” by too many entities to render your story as told believable……1 or 2 errors, ok…..but it seems the errors are “endless”, by employers, KSA govt. agencies, immigration, airlines, consulates and so forth…….just not believable…..Sorry.

.

[nomad soul]

[hash]

.
OK...on the assumption that you're story is mostly true and you're in a jam, here are some considerations:.

1- You could get your US Senator (or House Representative) involved in your incident. That would require “someone” (usually family) back in the USA to take the first steps.

If your family is “well-connected” (if they have wasta) (Oh yes, wasta is alive and thriving in the USA), they could get your Senator to start enquiring at the KSA Embassy in DC about your incident. (The last thing KSA authorities want at this time is another incident of “abuse” of a US citizen/resident that goes viral).

2- You could petition the governor of your province for a resolution to your affair. (You mentioned that you’re in the “Riyadh-Dammam”l area, but you’re going to have to decide exactly which province you belong to. ) I suggest using the province where “employer A” is located since they have control over your visa (and its blockage).

Provincial governors hold regular MAJLIS meetings where citizens (and others) can present requests or petitions for problem resolutions. You’re going to have to find out when this takes place, where it takes place and so on. You’re going to have to get an Arabic speaker to go with you or represent you. You will have to “get in in line” so to speak, and I mean that literally.

3- There are several “shady” methods of getting out of KSA - NONE OF WHICH I RECOMMEND - A couple have already been mentioned by previous posters.

Good luck.

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[hobartwells]

Thank you for all the replies. Employer A has agreed to cooperate but they still have not removed the block. They said they went to do it, but today I checked at the airport, and the block is still there.

I will study the options here.

Dave

[hobartwells]

Like most such “stories”, there are all kinds of questions that pop up in my mind:

1- Employer A “laid you off” and you departed KSA without incident. You were no longer employed by A. If that’s true, then there are certain protocols A had to follow to invalidate your visa which he apparently didn’t do. (Why not?)


They just didn't. How would I know why?

2- The KSA consulate in USA returned your passport when you applied for a new visa with NEW employer B because you “STILL HAD A (VALID ?) VISA from your previous job (and didn’t need a new one??).

Exactly.

But if you told them you were returning under new sponsorship, they must have known you’d need a new visa, cancel the old one and issue you a new one. (Why didn’t they do that? This sort of thing must happen all the time..in fact, it happened to me once.)


Exactly. This is what happened.
3- Was new employer B AWARE that you were (illegally?) entering KSA to work for them? (If so, how did he justify this? Weren’t they afraid of the legal consequences to them by approving your illegal entry into KSA?)



He said, "Oh, you are as good as gold. I've entered Saudi on the old visa several times, no problem. "

4- How could new employer C “hire you”…without the proper documents and so forth? Did they know about your “illegal” visa? They “fired” you? But they never really “hired” you…..hiring someone in KSA involves a lot more than an employer telling you to come start work tomorrow……..all kinds of ministries are involved and so on.

They said they would send me back to Bahrain soon and get a new business visa for me.

No, there’s something else going on here….lots of information we are not being told about. Too many “mistakes” by too many entities to render your story as told believable……1 or 2 errors, ok…..but it seems the errors are “endless”, by employers, KSA govt. agencies, immigration, airlines, consulates and so forth…….just not believable…..Sorry.[/size]



I know. It's Kafkaesque. And Employer A said that he would remove the block and said he went to the immigration to remove it and they agreed, but today I checked and the block is still there.

[hobartwells]

[nomad soul]

[hobartwells]

It's been five days now. Basically, I could really use some info from a person with a similar experience and/or who knows such a person, who contacted certain people and who has been successful in overcoming such or a similar obstacle. Some local Arab expats told me about Labor Officials and public relations officers who have been acting as arbitrators. And also, about some offices in front of the Immigration that negotiate with the Immigration. This is all very vague but this is the kind of info I'd like to get more of.