Job Discussion Forums

passport220 · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 117

Dependent visa issued within KSA:

I have accepted a teaching position at a university in Riyadh; my wife is Filipina. My employer would like me enter Saudi first and apply for my wives visa after I arrive. I am looking for someone who has gone through this procedure who can give me some details so we can prepare my wife�s paperwork and generally reduce stress about what to expect.

Regards

Cleopatra · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:54 am Post subject:

There was a fairly long thread on this subject recently - I suggest you do a search.

Generally speaking, you are taking a risk by coming to KSA without your family. Employers like to tell people that they will get their family's visas quickly, just in order to get the teacher in country asap. However, when they teacher arrives, sometimes he/she finds out that getting their family's visas is far more complex and time-consuming than anticipated. This is certainly not always the case - I have known many people who arranged for their families to join them with little hassle - but is a distinct possiblity for you to be aware of.

As was said on the other thread, you could try to insist on your employer sponsoring your wife to come at the same time as you. However, it's entirely possible that they will refuse to do this, in which case you'll have to decide if you really want the job, knowing that it is uncertain when or even if your wife will be able to join you.

passport220 · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 117

Thanks for the reply. We are willing to take the chance as long as sooner or later she will be granted the visa (of course sooner would be better than later). I have searched and read several previous threads; I am looking for someone who is willing to post in greater detail about the paperwork required.

I am an American and my wife is from the Philippines, we were married in Thailand. If I am in Saudi will my wife have to gather and prepare a lot of paperwork on her own or is most of the paperwork heavy lifting done by me and my sponsor while in the KSA?

Regards

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

EVERYTHING depends on who your employer is. Just as string is available in different lengths, employers vary in the way they approach things and the 'wasta' they have.

007 · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:28 pm Post subject:

McBrainiac · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 61 Location: Somewhere warm

Hi

I am resigning from my present job, which otherwise has been a great gig, partly because of snafus related to getting family visa paperwork processed. My wife is also Filippina, and in my personal belief, the nationality of your wife seems to have a great deal to do with the processing speed and feasability of getting your wife over here. I know colleagues with European or North American wives, for example that got the paperwork done and their families here very quickly. Not necessarily so when your wife is a TNC.

So, my advise to you is tell them that iin order for you to come, you need to bring your family with you. Tell them that it is not acceptable to leave it hanging and bring them at some undefined time in the future. Chances are good, IMHO, that you will have to stay for the entire length of your contract without them. Don't get on the plane without them. That will be my strategy if/when I come back to work here.

Best wishes

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"TNC" ? I think you mean "TCN" which is ARAMCO-speak "Third Country National" i.e. one who is not Saudi or Usanian. A mere mortal. A deeply offensive concept to the politically correct !

But maybe a reflection iof the reality of life ?

McBrainiac · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 61 Location: Somewhere warm

Yes, indeed, Scott, TNC=Third Country National.

I have seen evidence that willingness to help get dependents over here does seem to have to do with what nationality/which passport they hold.

Such is life.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

No, not TNC but TCN.

Are ouy sydxleci ?

passport220 · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 117

The above posts give me a good idea what to expect. Thanks indeed to one and all.

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

Passport, my man, I'd agree that you need to insist that your KSA consulate issues visas for your dw (darling wife) as she must accompany you.

You could ask your university in Riyadh to fax a letter to the KSA consulate. This letter would ask the consulate to issue a dependent visa for your dw. My university in Saudi Arabia faxed this kind of request letter to the Saudi consulate I was dealing with. After visiting the consulate many times and insisting they issue dependent visas, I got a work visa for myself and a dependent visa for dw (and for dd (darling daughter)). dw is also east-Asian but this didn't pose any problem. Your dw being East-Asian hopefully will also cause no problem.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:32 am Post subject:

I must say I too dislike the silly "TCN" acronym. I have only ever heard it used by Americans who work in US pseudo-military establishments here.

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

You need a copy of your marriage certificate certified by Foriegn Affairs in its country of issue and then certified by the Saudi Embassy in the country of issue. If there is no KSA embassy in that country, then it has to be done at the nearest KSA embassy. In my case that would have been Mexico, and they needed it to be recertified by the embassy of the country in question in Mexico, translated into Arabic or English, (also certified) and then they would certify it. As I had nobody in Mexico who could do the running around, I attempted to have it done at the Saudi Embassy in Korea, where my family was then living, waiting patiently for their visas.
The Saudi embassy there said maybe, then asked for more expensive translations, certification from the embassy in Korea, and then after about 3 months turned around and refused to authorize it. I would have gone in there and cut their heads off with a sharp sword, but for the fact I was already in the Kingdom and out of range.
If your wife has a degree they also ask for a copy of that with all the same stamps on it. Ditto if you have kids (birth certificate, not degrees).

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

These things can get complicated when the would-be-employee is, for example, a Canadian with a Mexican wife, working in Korea.

That is why some employers (who shall remain nameless) prefer the simple expedient of insisting that you should be recruited from the country of which you are a citizen.

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

I don't mean to brag.....but.....the Saudi consulate in the Gulf country where I was living never asked for a marriage certificate or any university certificates/transcripts. When I asked the consulate why it was so simple compared to every other KSA consulate in every other city, he said "this is our procedure."