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NYCESOL11211
Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 75
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:01 am Post subject: May Teach in KSA. What About My Spouse in the Med Field? |
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Hello all,
I hope this forum can provide a little feedback about job prospects in Saudia Arabia.
I am a 28 year old ESL Instructor. I've worked in South Korea, and now I'm in New York. I'm working on a graduate degree related to TESOL, so I'm fairly confident I would be a good candidate for decent jobs in Saudi Arabia.
I met my wife in South Korea. She was a Medical Technologist for a few years in Seoul. She is now at Hunter College-CUNY, completing a B.S. in Medical Technology. We wonder about her job prospects in KSA, since she doesn't have experience in the United States yet. She will be a graduate of Hunter by the time we are ready to move to KSA.
Would a person in her situation be best advised to come over on a spousal visa, then look for work?
Does anyone have the address to any forums specific to medical workers in Saudi Arabia?
Thanks! |
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Cleopatra

Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 3657 Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: |
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Like most people on this board, I'm not particularly well informed on the details of recruitment for medical posts in KSA. However, to speak in more general terms I would say it would be better for your wife to come here as your 'dependent' and then see if she can arrange a job once in the country.
These days, most medical professions in KSA seem to be Asians or Arabs, who would work for much less than an American would. For that reason a decent job would probably be hard to arrange from the US, and also if you come over here with separate sponsors this will complicate your visa process and your life once you get here. |
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Mia Xanthi

Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 955 Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:32 am Post subject: spouse in KSA |
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All I know is that contracts that are negotiated in Kingdom as local hire usually pay far less, and as a dependent spouse your wife would probably not be eligible for any benefits. Therefore, in contrast to the advice from my respected fellow poster Cleopatra, I would suggest that you at least try looking for a contract for her before she comes to KSA. |
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lall
Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 358
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:48 am Post subject: KSA |
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Mia Xanthi wrote: |
All I know is that contracts that are negotiated in Kingdom as local hire usually pay far less, and as a dependent spouse your wife would probably not be eligible for any benefits. Therefore, in contrast to the advice from my respected fellow poster Cleopatra, I would suggest that you at least try looking for a contract for her before she comes to KSA. |
I don't live in the KS of A and have never been there. Yet, I believe that you would have to be extremely lucky to be able to arrange for a job for your wife in the same town, starting at around the same time and be able to get around all the other logistical issues.
Good luck, anyway. |
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Mia Xanthi

Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 955 Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:01 am Post subject: |
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That's why I said "at least try looking for a contract for her before she comes to KSA"
I didn't mean to imply that it would be easy |
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lall
Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 358
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:24 am Post subject: Hey, Mia |
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Hey, Mia,
I didn't mean to directly refute your stance on the matter and decidedly used neutral language to reinforce the difficulty in juggling multiple contracts.
Peace!
Regards,
Lall |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: |
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Better for her to come here and find something. And you should know that she will get more if she is on a US passport not a Korean passport. Payment here is related to nationality as well as tio qualifications. |
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Cleopatra

Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 3657 Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:18 am Post subject: |
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All I know is that contracts that are negotiated in Kingdom as local hire usually pay far less, and as a dependent spouse your wife would probably not be eligible for any benefits. |
It certainly can happen that local hires get paid less than international hires, but this is technically illegal and need not happen if you know what the going rate for an international hire would be and demand the same.
With regard to benefits, as a 'dependent' spouse, the OP's wife would receive all benefits such as as flights, housing, health insurance etc, paid for by his employers. Depending on his contract, she might do better as a local than as an international hire. |
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johnslat

Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Cleopatra,
I guess things have changed since the 90s, when my wife (at the time) was a "local hire" nurse at KKESH. She (and all the other local hires there) ere not given all the benefits - no flights, housing, etc.
Regards,
John |
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Cleopatra

Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 3657 Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
She (and all the other local hires there) ere not given all the benefits - no flights, housing, etc. |
You seem to have misread my post, John.
I did not say that the OP's wife would get the benefits from her employer. I said that, as a local hire, she would still be eligible for the benefits she already gets as her husband's dependent spouse. This arrangement may be technically illegal, but, as discussed before, the authorities tend to turn a blind eye. |
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NYCESOL11211
Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 75
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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scot47 wrote: |
Better for her to come here and find something. And you should know that she will get more if she is on a US passport not a Korean passport. Payment here is related to nationality as well as tio qualifications. |
I don't doubt that is true, but Medical Technologists are paid well in Seoul. |
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NYCESOL11211
Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 75
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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Cleopatra wrote: |
It certainly can happen that local hires get paid less than international hires, but this is technically illegal and need not happen if you know what the going rate for an international hire would be and demand the same.
With regard to benefits, as a 'dependent' spouse, the OP's wife would receive all benefits such as as flights, housing, health insurance etc, paid for by his employers. Depending on his contract, she might do better as a local than as an international hire. |
This is what I guessed.
Thanks. |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:17 am Post subject: |
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And salaries for medical technologists in KSA are not high - most are from India/Pakistan/Philippines. |
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Griff-James
Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: A place full of 18 year olds and endless ale. Not not this time.
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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I know someone in The Gulf who earns �40K as a nurse!  |
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Griff-James
Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 171 Location: A place full of 18 year olds and endless ale. Not not this time.
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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How much do Pharmacists and Doctors earn? |
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