Job Discussion Forums

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

I'm in the midst of applying for my Saudi work visa through the embassy in Ottawa, Canada, and I was wondering if anyone knew what "letters of experience" are. They need to be notarized and sent along with my other docs. Are these simply my reference letters? Record of employment? If anyone knows, please fill me in.

Also, are there any Canadians on this forum? If so, any advice/help you can offer about getting my work visa from Ottawa would be much appreciated. The requirements seem to be a bit more convoluted that I expected. Thanks.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Letter of Experience are a very Middle Eastern thing that I had also never heard of. When you leave a job, they assume that you will get a letter from your employer stating dates of employment, salary, and job description. North American employers have no idea what they are, but will likely make one up for you if you ask. As to other jobs you may have had around the world, good luck getting them. For jobs that have a step pay system, it will affect where you are on the pay scale as they only count a year of experience if you have the letter.

VS

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

Thanks VS. I don't' quite get it, because it's the embassy that requests them for the work visa, not the school. What would the embassy care so long as the company is sponsoring me? Has anyone had any experience getting rejected for a visa because they didn't have/submit them? I've mostly taught abroad, so yeah, getting them from those jobs will be impossible. They kind of sound like ROEs, which I have for one job here but not for abroad. Hmm. Any other info/advice?

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Accidentally leave the passport in a pocket and put the trousers in the washing machine. Then get a new one.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

I am Canadian and the letters of experience seems to be a new thing as I don't recall ever having to get such 'letters' notarized....last time I had to get the visa was back in 2003. I really can't remember. LOL I will check. There were a ton of other papers which need notarizing, such as degrees and medicals, but letters of experience? I will ask my employer, if they have heard of this and see what they say. The weekend is here so will take a few days before I can find anything out.

It is possible it is a new requirement due to people writing false letters to get the experience added to base salary...just a thought....especially when it may be hard for emp-loyers to contact previous jobs of employment

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

Thanks so much cmp. I really appreciate it. Get back to me when you can. This is puzzle I can't figure out - no one seems to know about them.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

The rest of the Gulf has used 'letters of experience' since the '80's, so I find it strange that Saudi would just discover them. Cool

But they all still wanted letters of reference as a separate thing.

VS

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

I do recall having to submit letters of experience, but not having them notarized. However all my letters of experience or reference letters were from Middle Eastern employers with contact numbers so it was easy for them to contact them.
Will see what I can find out. The process of obtaining a visa is unbelievably difficult from Canada! It took me several months before I was actually able to get mine back in 2003. It was the police check that delayed mine, but perseverance / patience eventually paid off. National Secuity and all being what it is these days, it's no wonder.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

These are commonly required by employers so they can verify your experience. I have never heard of a Saudi Embassy asking for them - but Embassies seem to operate their own rules.

My hightmare was using the Royal Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. They gave me a list of 16 requirements - in Turkish. I managed to decipher 15 of them but the last - No. 16 baffled me. I had to seek enlightemenet from someone whose Turkish was better than mine. Requrement Number 16 was :-

"16. The above documents must NOT be stapled together !"

007

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

Thanks everyone. So I'm guessing that reference letters and letters of experience are NOT the same thing?? And cmp, when you got your security clearance, did you have to get the "vulnerable persons" check? I've got my medical and police report ready to go but I didn't get a vulnerable persons check because I won't be working with children. Did you know it is absolutely impossible to talk to anyone at the embassy in Ottawa? I've tried calling and leaving messages numerous times and I never hear back from anyone. Frustrating.

windstar · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235

I wrote and called Saudi Embassy in Ottawa. They dont return your calls or write back to you. I suggest you go there in person around ninish in the morning.

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

Easier said than done. I live in Edmonton. Thanks for letting me know, though. Are you in the midst of applying or are you already in KSA? If you applied, was the process pretty straightforward as long as you submitted all your docs? How long did you have to wait?

jmarkowsky · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 18

I was planning to send everything in by post. Maybe that's not even possible??

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

It sounds like the Canadian~ Saudi Embassy has a whole new batch of requirements re: vunerable person's check. No, I did not have to get this checked.

Reference letters and letters of experience in my view are the same thing as they both verify when you started and finished your contract.

Perhaps reference letters differ in that they also highlight one's character and job performance as well.

I was based in Ottawa when I applied so it was much easier for me to visit the Embassy as Windstar suggested when they don't return calls I just went down to the office to show my face and inquire, but actually doing so did not speed up the process; they just remembered who they were talking to when they did return my calls.

It is a frustrating process; I don't have any specific advice except to say that you are at the mercy of their time table and as long as you have supplied what they require there isn't much else you can do but wait it out. Calling too them often will not help, probably ticks them off more than anything.

You should send your paper work by a reliable courier or priority post.