Job Discussion Forums

mccainjohn96 · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 93

I have a degree that was validated by the Saudi Mission in Washington in 2006, in anticipation of working for Saudi sponsor #1.

It has 2 red stamps. A round one that says "Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission to USA," and a square one that you can see here:

http://www.geocities.com/krc0012/stamp.JPG

I now have a new offer under Saudi sponsor #2. The instructions for the visa application say I must send them a validated degree. Time is short, and I'd like to be able to go with the one I already have.

Question: Is the 1st validation tied to the 1st sponsor, such that the 1st sponsor's name is filled in on the stamp, or is it generic and will work for subsequent sponsors? I asked this question of the guy at the Mission who does the validations, and he wants to re-do the validation. Like I said, time is short, and I can't believe he needs to do that. Does he just want to get another fee? I asked the visa section if the 1st validation would do, and they said to ask the Mission. Seems like a classic run around.

Does anybody know what would happen if I ignore the guy at the Mission and just include my previously validated degree as part of my visa application to the embassy?

Can anybody out there read enough Arabic to give me a translation of the stamp? Does it tie the validation to any particular sponsor or have some expiration date?

mccainjohn96 · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 93

How about you, 007?

Asda · Joined: 01 Jun 2008 Posts: 231

OK, from the top (line by line), the red says:

Ministry of Higher Education - American Cultural Mission

Directorship of Academic Affairs

<Something about authentication of the certificate>

Then in black it's written "Wall Street"

I think the 11473 might refer to the number of the cultural mission or the reference number according to them, I can't quite see due to the superimposing of 2 stamps on one another...

Then the Hijri (lunar) calendar date with the corresponding Gregorian date, which was 1st Sep 2006.

Hope this helps. Anything else, please feel free to ask...

007 · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:35 am Post subject:

Well, according to the red text in the stamp and, as Asda translated the first part, this what I read from the red stamp:

----------------------------------------------

Ministry of Higher Education - Cultural Mission in America

Directorship of Academic Affairs

We certify the photocopy of this document/certificate:

To be contracted with: Wall Street (this is in black text)

Registred in the Academic Mission under #11473 (NS)

Done on 9/8/1427 HG correspond to 1/9/2006

Director of Academic Affairs:

Dr Abdel Al-Muhseen Bin Saad Al-Otaibi

Signature:
--------------------
End of translation.

It seems the above validation is tied to a specific employer (Wall street).

Well, it is strange why they tie/relate the validation to a specific employer.
Usually, the validation/cetification of document or certificates do not mention the contractor/employer, it is a validation of the signature of the certificate and the issuing organization, it has nothing to do with your future employer!

mccainjohn96 · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 93

Thanks to both of you.

OK, new question for any US citizen who has had more than one sponsor in Saudi: In spite of the fact that sponsor #1 is noted on your original validation, is the original validation still good for subsequent sponsors, and the note about sponsor #1 considered a mere historical artifact? Or do you really have to get a new stamp with a note for the new sponsor? If you do have to get a new stamp, does the guy really need another set of sealed transcripts and the other supporting documents?

TapRed · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 24 Location: Los Angeles, CA

You need a new set of sealed and certified transcripts etc., for each and every position when you start a new job in most cases. I had (2) sponsors once when working for the Royal Saudi Air Force via a US government contract.

As for Wall Street being in the KSA, that is an accident waiting to happen in my opinion.

mccainjohn96 · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 93

Thanks. What I meant was 2 sponsors sequentially, not simultaneously.

Wall Street has been in Saudi for a while. In 2006 they recruited me for a management position but reneged at the last minute and said I'd be coming in as a teacher with possibility of promotion. So I never went ahead and applied for a visa.

My nephew was recruited for a management job at Burger King once. They started him out managing the fries.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Do the apostille again. Play safe.

mccainjohn96 · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 93

Here's an e-mail I got from the Saudi consulate in Houston:

"In the past, I've suggested to all newly hired ***** faculty members to keep a copy of authenticated degrees if they wish to return to Saudi Arabia to teach again in the future. The authentication of degree was done only once and that's the reason they stamped and wrote authentication numbers on the degree."

Because the above is entirely logical, ignoring the grammatical errors, I'd still like to hear from anybody who has gotten a visa with a degree validated under a previous sponsor.