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SUZUKI
Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 32
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:44 am Post subject: No-Objection Letter / Release Certificate |
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I've searched this site and read what I can find on the matter.
My questions are with regard to leaving a teaching job at the end of a contract and continuing to work here, with a different sponsor (away from the capital area).
1. Is it now certain that a Release Certificate / Letter of No Objection is no longer required, or can it still be an advantage to have one?
2. **Does the issue of this letter depend on whether one gives notice (as compared to a contract not being renewed)?
3. What is the most recent information as to the need to leave the country prior to starting a new contract? If one has to leave, can this be by road to the Emirates, or would it involve an air ticket? |
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flutterbayou

Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 244
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: letter of release |
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You will have to fly out of the country, even if it is only to go to Dubai for the night. Your sponsor's ROP will meet you at the airport to cancel your current work visa, so you won't be able to make a trip by car. The ROP will show evidence at the airport that you are leaving no outstanding debts behind.
You can return on a visitor visa. Let's say that you had worked for MOHE and will return to work for the Ministry of Manpower - this is okay, because you will re-enter on a visitor's visa and re-apply for a new work visa.
There are several recruiter/sponsors. Some of them might want a release letter, while others won't care. I left Oman altogether but a recruiter offered me a position in Muscat and said he didn't need the release.
A release letter is not a referral. It is a letter of dispatch, letting people know you served the full term of the contract. It makes no difference that you might not have been invited back.
Best of luck. |
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SUZUKI
Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 32
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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flutterbayou, thankyou. That was certainly very useful. You wrote:
"Your sponsor's ROP will meet you at the airport to cancel your current work visa, so you won't be able to make a trip by car. The ROP will show evidence at the airport that you are leaving no outstanding debts behind."
1. Could you please clarify the first three words?
2. " evidence [that I am] leaving no outstanding debts behind"; does this mean that I will prove to the Royal Omani Police that I am leaving behind no outstanding debts? I take it to mean, at least in part, that my rent, electricity, water, phone (inc. mobile) are paid up-to-date, and that this would be proved by showing bills for these, covering the period up to the date of departure; that I had no other oustanding dues or debts might be more difficult to prove (except, for example, outstanding traffic fines, which would immediately show up).
Or does one need a formal statement/letter from somewhere saying that "this person has no outstanding debts"? |
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flutterbayou

Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 244
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: ROP |
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When you prepare to leave Oman, your sponsor (might be your agent/recruiter) will prepare an outprocessing checklist for you about four days before your departure, which will include your rent, utilities, perhaps car payment, etc. You won't need to do anything, unless your recruiter asks you for verification. Check with him.
The ROP works for the government and will have all the paperwork readied in advance, and will meet you at the airport two hours before your departing flight. The ROP will meet you at the airport, take back your labour card, and have your work visa cancelled. He will escort you to the ticket desk as you check in your luggage. Once you're checked in, then you are left on your own.
Just so you know, the ROP is the same staff who assisted you when you first came to Oman and did all your inprocessing at the hospital and the police station. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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Just to clarify, there is variance between employers here. I have left twice and the term "ROP" is unfamiliar to me. I presume it is something used by flutter's particular employment through a recruiter. I don't think it has anything to do with the Royal Omani Police. My only encounter with those fellows was once when I got a ticket.
Both SQU and the private universities send one of their admin people with you to the airport (he, in fact, drove me there). All check-out procedures were done previously through the admin office of the employer. As flutter said, they provide a checklist. Your employer (or recruiter) is responsible for any unpaid bills that you leave, so that is the purpose of this process.
VS |
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flutterbayou

Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 244
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:20 pm Post subject: ROP |
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I've edited after realizing VS and I were saying the same thing
But the ROP is the one and only official to in and out process teachers at government universities these days. Not sure about the private ones
Actually. I felt good about having someone official see me out. He even encouraged the airlines to allow me excess baggage without an added charge. The ROP sent me off with a fond farewell and a warm handshake - all rather nicely done. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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What is "ROP" though?
VS |
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windstar
Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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Royal Omani Police |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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I know that... That is the only meaning that I know for ROP, but I have never heard of the Royal Omani Police having anything to do with the exit of teachers. And she said that it was the same person/people that greeted her when she arrived. I have also never heard of any teacher being met and taken to the new job by the police. I would consider this both scary and bizarre.
Unless the recruiters are considered so shady and undependable that the government is now insisting that the police do the release??? And meet and deliver all their new staff on arrival???
That would be another factor that would keep me from every using recruiters... as if I needed another reason.
VS |
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windstar
Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe they mean resident cards are processed by ROP? |
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flutterbayou

Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 244
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:51 am Post subject: ROP |
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Don't get spooked, VS - the ROP person in-processes all new teachers.
He takes them to the hospital for the blood check, then in for fingerprinting and to obtain the labour card.
These people know what they are doing and are extremely efficient. Things run smoothly with them around, and like I said, they were helpful to me at the airport when I had excess baggage.
He wear a regular dishdasher, so don't be intimidated by the thought of being met by militia.  |
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williamh
Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 24 Location: Oman
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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I am a little confused about 'ROP' as well. When I arrived to teach in oman there was nary a police in sight, except when the school rep. (def. not police) took me to police station for labor card. I have known several people who came and left; no one had any intereactions with any police. |
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flutterbayou

Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 244
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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People, people, times change: the man in the dishdasher who meets you at the airport to cancel your work visa the day you leave Oman and who verifies that you have completed your checklist is, in fact, a representative from the ROP.
This policy might not have been in practice a while back but it is now. |
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camelman
Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Oman
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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I think you mean PRO. They are employed by various agents and ministries to do such things as arranging blood tests, finger printing for your new labour card and then meeting you at the airport to hand over documents to immigration to have your visa cancelled.
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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Now... that makes sense. Flutter wasn't in Oman very long and I don't think she was there quite long enough to figure out the system.
PROs have nothing at all to do with the ROP. Many employers have their own admin person who does this job. Some places call them the 'fixer' - the one who knows the ropes at all the various Ministries.
VS |
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