Job Discussion Forums

[freesoul]

Hey mates,

I need help from Brit ESLCAFers, I will soon need to authenticate my UK degrees for a visa application at the Saudi Embassy in London.
Now from previous posts, I've noticed that it needs to go through:

1. Notarisation: 'Notary Public'. How do I go about notiarising my degrees?
2. Legalisation: www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation. Do they have an office in London? Where?
3. Verification: Saudi Embassy stamp.

Now is the above in correct order? Anything missing?

Urgent help from recently-arrived Brits: is the Saudi Embassy still requesting NOC?

Thanks for your input in advance,

F.

[NigerianWhisper]

I went through this procedure 6 months ago.

You need to contact a Public Notary in the UK. They usually tend to be solicitors who also specialise in this.

Google for Public Notaries in ....(insert county).

Note that Public Notaries in England and Wales are required to verify all Educational documents with the issuing authority/University.

They don,t notarise the degree as such............rather they take a copy then stamp it with a Seal to confirm it is a genuine copy of a genuine document.

They will then forward that to the FCO in London who will issue an Apostille certificate along with a serial number confirming that the Notary is a lawful person who is registered to do this. The FCO themselves do not verify Educational documents.

Your solicitor/Notary will then arrange for that to be forwarded to the Saudi Embassy for their stamps.

Typical cost can vary from Notary to Notary. Get 2 or 3 quotes. Expect to pay in the region of 100-200 UK pounds and allow 4-6 weeks for all of this to be completed.

[Stephen Jones]

The notary public does not verify the authenticity of the degree. He makes a photocopy of the piece of paper you give him and states that is an authentic copy.

The FCO then confirms that this signature that it is an authentic photocopy of the piece of paper you gave him is correct.

The Saudi Embassy then stamps it to confirm that the last two meaningless processes have been carried out correctly.

If you're going to a government school check that they don't want you to get the degree verified at the Saudi Cultural Mission. This is not part of the visa process but government institutions may well send you back home if you don't get it done. The Saudi Cultural Mission takes a photocopy of your degree and faxes off a copy to the university registry. If they confirm it's authentic they then stamp the photocopy.

[NigerianWhisper]

[Stephen Jones]

If you read the FCO doc carefully you will see it is stating exactly what I stated in my post.

[NigerianWhisper]

[freesoul]

Thanks Nigerianwhiper and Stephen Jones,

I am a bit confused whether to send the original copy or a photocopy ( or may be both!) to FCO.

[Stephen Jones]

A notary can check your degree up. That will cost a small fortune. What they normally do is simply certify that the copy is a true copy, which costs around a tenner, and satisifies the Saudis.

[NigerianWhisper]

Stephen Jones, you are a little out of date with your figures.

I emailed several notaries 6 months ago and the fees appear to be around the same mark. Many of the Notaries have websites and are required to quote their fees. (Under the terms of the Archbishop of Canterburys' Faculty Office)

Notaries charge by the hour, typically from 150-250 UK pounds with a minimum fee, usually 50-70 pounds. Typical time spent notarising is 15 minutes.

On top of that is the Apostille fee from the FCO, 27 pounds. Plus the Saudi Embassy fee, 20 pounds..............on top of that are the postage costs, usually Special or Recorded delivery.

All notaries that replied to me stated that they are required to verify degrees.

A tenner is way off the mark now.

[NigerianWhisper]

[freesoul]

Thanks Mattews,
My only concern is that in some Saudi Embassies around the world, they only accept the legalised ORIGINAL degree.

So, I guess in Saudi Embassy in London, I will need to present the ORIGINAL copy supported with a notarised and then legalised photocopy, mm yeah!

[Stephen Jones]

First of all freesoul, are you going to a government or a private school. If the former you will probably need to get the degree verified at the Saudi Cultural Mission.

Secondly if you bring your wife over there is a separate set of degree verifications.

[freesoul]

Thanks Stephen,

There is no harm in taking the papers through the SCM office after all whether is gov. or pvt uni. It's once in a life time stamp.
best,
F

[Richard62]

I've received a job offer from the RC. In the offer letter they mention the following:

Subject to the final approval from Royal Commission Higher Authorities, Labor Department Authorities of KSA, passing of your Medical Tests at specific authorized clinics and subject to the submission of the following documents by you as well:

Copies of your Educational and Experience certificates
Copy of Your Passport and Family Passport

Please note that all the above documents must be translated in Arabic language and attested by your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authenticated by Saudi Embassy/Consulate in your country.

Does this mean I need to get all my qualifications (BA, MA and CELTA) legalized and translated into Arabic? Would legalizing my MA suffice, or do I really need to legalize my CELTA and BA as well ? And also does it have to be a sworn translation? What about experience certificate ? Do I need to attest or legalize that piece of paper as well? I don't think a ministry would stamp a letterheaded paper from my employer. And finally, if I am a British citizen with degrees from other countries, do I take the legalized copies to the Saudi Cultural Mission in London, or to the missions in the countries where I obtained the degrees for authentication?

[ultraman111]

sounds like a whole lot of crap to go through for a job.