Job Discussion Forums

[R_of_OK]

Hi Amal!

I don't know if you've completed your Visa application...but here's what you can do to speed up the process:

1-In your Visa application send two large envelopes. One, with all your original documents and another one, with photocopies ie duplicates;

2-Then, on each envelope "tape" an 8 1/2"x11" sheet with all the listed documents that they require. One, for your originals and another one, for your copies;

3-Send your Visa application by Express Courrier (The KSA embassy deals with DHL Courier services company). It' ll cost you a few bucks, but it'll be worth it ;

4-Make sure to include, along with your Visa application , a self-addressed "Waybill" with a DHL envelope, so that your "Visa'd" passport will be returned to you in a speedy, safe & prompt way;

5-Finally, make sure to keep copies for yourself;

6- Don't forget to enclose the $22 money order!

I can assure you, if you follow all these steps, that will help to process and to speed up the ...the process (Pardon me for the redundancy! .

Good Luck Amal!

R_of_OK

[a_ibrahim]

Thanks again to all of you for the info.

I'm planning to contact my soon-to-be employer and ask because I wasn't given any instruction on the visa process. I was only asked to submit my translated documents along with the medical report.

Amal

[Cleopatra]

Try the Embassy website - they should list the requirements for a work visa.

Another piece of advice. If the Embassy in Washington is anything like the one in London, make sure to stay in contact with them once your application has been sent. Of course, this is easier said than done, because these guys have an aversion to answering their phone, but it's worth a try. This is because they won't feel any obligation to keep in touch with you: if there's a problem with your application, they won't pick up the phone and tell either you or your sponser. They'll just leave your forms sitting idle in a drawer somewhere, or post the whole lot back to you, wasting precious time.

However, it's a good preparation for life in the KSA.

[a_ibrahim]

I actually did take a look at the embassy website. I read the requirements and all but then I still had questions. I mean, I was sent an initial offer. I accepted. I asked a few questions and a few were answered. I asked more questions and they were not answered. I received no instructions on what to do or how to go about doing it. The only thing I know I have to do is have a medical exam and have my documents translated, etc. That's why I've been asking so many questions. I realized that I may not get all the answers from the school. This would be my first position overseas and I want to be as prepared as possible for whatever comes my way. I don't want to think I have a job and then find out that I don't. And at the same time I don't want to consider other offers and find out that I supposedly have another contract.

I just don't want to find myself in a big mess.

Thanks for all of the info and advice you've all given.

Amal

PS: I've experienced calling the embassy in the past. All I wanted to ask about was the hajj and it literally took a month or more before I was actually able to speak to a person.

[Cleopatra]

[balqis]

Amal,

I keep saying ''no'' to all other offers that I've been getting after I'd made up my mind and chose one, exactly - as you are saying - in order to avoid the potential mess and heat of imagining myself in ten other places in Saudi Arabia, even though some of them - at face value at least, i.e., upon internet image reserach - seemed to be ''nicer''. I think it is quite a reasonable way to go, I mean sticking to something you've managed to come to terms with in your innards. After all, it is an effort and a sort of achievement as well to maintain one's focus. But true, my offer seems solid and I seem to be happy with it. You must ask yourself whether you are happy with the offer or maybe not really.

balqis

[a_ibrahim]

Balqis,

That's exactly what I mean. I actually got a 'response' today from a school in Kuwait. I really didn't want to go to Kuwait but I was looking for the best offer. I didn't get an offer but I was asked what my current 'availability' is. And a big question mark appeared as I asked myself the same question, lol.

I am quite pleased with the offer I got. I just want to know it's what I'll get. My contract is supposed to begin September 10th. That doesn't leave me much room for playing around. I have things to take care of, a lot of things. My husband and I are considering whether or not to sell everything or give things away. Should we go for my 3 month probation and then decide? There are a lot of questions I have. Someone else I know said that her employer did everything for them. She didn't have to apply for visas at all. And I guess everyone's situation is different.

I got info from a couple of people working for the same school and they both were pleased with it. I may try contacting one of them to ask them about the 'process'. I could also try contacting the school but it hasn't proved fruitful in the past.

But I guess it's as Cleopatra said, this is quite the norm for KSA. It seems to be from what I've read. I appreciate all the info I've gotten from everyone.

Balqis, what city will you be in? I'd like to have as many contacts as possible while there, even if they're in different cities. I know Cleopatra is in Riyadh, right?

Amal

[balqis]

Amal,

It sounds dangerous to me when you say you try contacting your school-to-be and they do not reply. But do they really not reply or maybe they advise clearly patience and ask you to wait, but your ''many things to be taken care of'' back there where you are make you anxious to ask? The visa thing takes time and maybe your is being now processed. But if they do not reply and you mean it, I wouldn't like it and I would share your anxiety. To my standards ''no sensoring'' on the employer's side would mean'' bad offer''. But again, is this really ''no sensoring''? I know that if my employer doesn't answer my enquiry within an hour or so I fell I'm left out and walked out on, but I also know this is my character only, and I will always get the answer in a day or so. But in strained to the limits circumstances like ours hours feel like weeks and days like ''I can't really make it any longer''.

True that some peolpe do not need to apply for a visa in the country of their origin. But they will have to do it anyway, but somewhere on the way to K.S.A., for example for many Saudi cities on the eastern coast of K.S.A. it will be in Bahrain. So your friends were not specific enough.
My destination? Eastern coast of K.S.A.

Try to take things easy, Amal.
This is what I keep saying to myself almost hourly.

balqis

[a_ibrahim]

Now you're making me nervous, lol. When I asked one set of questions I got a response within a day or two. But when I sent another set of questions, I got no response at all.

Initially, when I got an email concerning my phone interview, I was asked when was a good time for them to call. I responded and wasn't sure if and when they were going to call because I didn't get a response to my response. But, sure enough, they called when I asked but I really wasn't sure if they would.

Either way, I got my offer the following week. I just wanted to know if I need to begin the visa process myself or what. If so, I'll do that but I keep hearing about a 'block visa' or something which is issued by the embassy or whoever.

Anyway, this is what is in my offer concerning what I need to do:

subject to the final approval from Royal Commission Higher Authorities at Yanbu, Labor Department Authorities of KSA, passing of your Medical Tests at specific authorized clinics and subject to the submission of the following documents by you as well:

� Copies of your Educational and Experience certificates
� Copy of Your Passport and Family Passport
� Copies of your Marriage Certificate & Children Birth Certificates ( For Married Status Employee only )

Please note that all the above documents must be translated in Arabic language and attested by your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authenticated by Saudi Embassy/Consulate in your country.

P.S: The above said documents could be submitted at a later stage, but they are essentially required in order to complete the employment process.

This is what I have to go on. Nothing else.

[balqis]

Amal,

1. In such circumstances one must be nervous. It is physiological. So simply worry but in moderation. Gut gesacht?

2. Anyway, ask your second set of questions again. Your mail might have got lost somehow [ even though it should not].

3. Your visa point is crucial, though you seem to be taking take it quite easy. You must know - i.e., get to know from your employer - if you need to launch the entire visa procedure back there where you are or not. Maybe you just need to get authorized/legalized/confirmed documents required of you by your employer. And this must be done as you can see in the contract passage that you've quoted. You have quite a way to go, I mean to pass through the three steps mentioned - first you get it translated by a notary, then you attest the translator's stamp in the MFA and finally you get the papers authenticated by the Saudi Embassy - will take a while [ btw, it took me some 6 weeks to sort out what I need to do and what I do not need to do, and only some ten days to carry out the actual list of tasks so do not repeat my mistaken ratio... ]. If your list of tasks ends with K.S.A. embassy attestation only, you need to further ask where/how your visa will be issued. From the little that I know, and little it truly is, to apply for a visa you need to have two sets of documents, one prepared by you, BUT the other one sent to you by your employer. So more INFOAmal!!!

4. You can simply call, willy nilly, your employer with the last question, if emails won't work. Apart from the paper work that needs to be done by you, you obviously need the ultimate info [visa issuing, who by and where]. This will help you sleep more and be less on the nervy side. At least more info worked with me pretty well.

balqis

[Cleopatra]

[a_ibrahim]

What you say makes perfect sense to me, Cleopatra. I guess the issue I'm having is, if they're supposed to apply for this block visa, or block visa number, how am I supposed to know what's going on on their end? After reading all the posts today, I decided that I will call. It's probably better than trying to use email. That way, I can get an immediate response.

The individual I was referring to that didn't have to do much is also in UAE and not KSA. I don't know if their processes are any different. I decided to re-visit the embassy's website and try to go by that.

Thanks again to all of you.

Amal

[Cleopatra]

[a_ibrahim]

Thank you,

As I mentioned, I intend to call them. I'll try not to harass them, lol. I did talk to a friend who has also gone through the process of having documents translated and authenticated. I will start there.

Thanks again.

[also in saudi]

Ask your employer to identify a visa service in your country that specializes in obtaining Saudi visas. This will simplify the process. They will do most of the footwork for you and interface with your employer.