Job Discussion Forums

[Ahmed_ONLINE]

Could anyone tell me what degrees are to be presented to the Embassy? Is it enough to present the Masters (and not the BA) degree along with the professional diploma/certificate?
Is it necessary to get the NOC ( duly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs KSA) attested by the MOFA in the employee's country?

[Cleopatra]

I think it's usually OK just to bring a copy of your highest degree, though some nitwit at some Embassy might demand to see both.

Regarding the NOC, it is an internal Saudi document so has nothing to do with the MOFA in your own country.

[True Dreamer]

Further to what Cleopatra has said, I think you should produce the highest degree achieved. This may later help you if you want to invite parents or even your wife - if she is going to accompany you later.

But if the place where you are applying are asking you to attest (legalise) your qualifications and experience documents... then prepare yourself for a good lump sum to pay to the legalisation office in London!! Each document costs �19 to legalise!!! This is of-course in addition to the solicitor's charge of �5 - �10 for each document!!! My advice is, if the institution hasn't asked you to do this, then don't! The embassy will not ask for any legalisations. But if the institution where you are going to start working has specifically asked to do that, then God help you with the costs !!


Sorry to bring this up as well, you do know that the medical report has to be DIFFINETLEY attested since the embassy asks for this!

[shadowfax]

In addition to a translation and legal attestation of my postgraduate degree, I was obliged to bring a letter from the university which awarded it. In an exasperating stroke of paranoid meticulousness, the Sudani in charge of the matter demanded next that the university be phoned and a verbal confirmation given. I could hardly believe my ears when he started to hector and lecture the people at the university hall in England to come up with the goods immediately (which was difficult because the results are no longer on their office computer after a 3 year interval). I wondered whether this Clusolike behaviour was upon his own 'initiative', or if he was complying with the demands of a superior. Still, I suppose I ought to be grateful he was making efforts to get the matter dealt with as quickly as possible, albeit to a somewhat stringent level of satisfaction. I had already been batted from embassy to cultural affairs and back, and was almost thinking about erecting a tent in Grosvenor Square to defray accommodation expenditure!
Whatever the case, I would advise a belt, braces and gaiters approach.
This was several years ago, so things may have changed. It may be a good idea to phone the relevant cultural affairs attache (or whatever they call him these days) and ask exactly what the person concerned wants.

[dmb]

[shadowfax]

I was going to add a cummerbund for good measure. But even with all these, and a waist size 2" too small, I wouldn't feel impervious to the machinations that play out in the psychic gloom of those subterranean chambers.

[dmb]

So would the cummerbund go over or under the belt?

[Bebsi]

I imagine that if one turned up in something less archaic (and uncomfortable) than a combination of belt, braces, gaiters and cummerbund (whether UNDER or OVER the belt) and instead attired oneself in a costume with a dash more panache, the resulting distraction might allay the insistence on some people's part to provide a medley of certifications, authentications, legalisations, attestations and notarisations.

I am thinking here of something along the lines of stockings, suspenders, and basque (garment, not a townsperson of San Sebastian). It would in all likelihood cause sufficient consternation to induce at least a temporary amnesia regarding the requirement for myriad paperwork. Dammit, even the famale applicants could try it!!!!

However, as we are really more concerned with the present than with the time when Shadowfax apparently made his application , I can tell you from personal experience that nowadays the Saudi embassy in London simply asks for a photocopy of one's primary degree. In 2002, when I applied for a work visa, I was asked to just give a xerox and that was that. I asked them if they wanted it legalised etc, and they said no, just a basic copy, so that was what they got.

That was London, and I am assured that that is still their requirement, namely just a photocopy. Other embassies such as DC may have different requirements. Hope this is of help.

[Stephen Jones]

The Cultural Mission stamped copy is required if you are going to work for a government instution.
A copy is required for the Conculate when you apply fore the visa. That is separate and they may well ask for it to be notarized and the notary's signature verified at the British Foreign Office.
If you want to bring your wife over later the Saudi Foreign Office will ask for a degree copy stamped by their embassy as well.

The Sudani gentleman's behaviour is not at all "Clouseau-like". Most universities in the UK are capable of confirming the details of a degree over the phone, even from thirty-years back. This is what happened with mine, and I have called universities from Saudi and they have verified the degree immediately over the phone.

[scot47]

I think each Embassy and Consulate has a different way of doing things. I had my certificates translated and legalised (with an apostille) but when I went to the Royal Saudi Consulate in Istanbul they did not want those documents. They wanted something else ( my contract)

[True Dreamer]

Any luck at the embassy Ahmed?