Job Discussion Forums

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject:

If you think that's 'harsh' think about how you'll feel standing in the airport, having shelled out a large amount of money for a non-existent job. Said amount does not include the hundreds of euros you paid for a ticket to Riyadh which you won't be able to use, because only those with valid Saudi visas are allowed on flights to that country.

vuloshin · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Buffalo, NY USA

[quote="Cleopatra"]If you think that's 'harsh' think about how you'll feel standing in the airport, having shelled out a large amount of money for a non-existent job. Said amount does not include the hundreds of euros you paid for a ticket to Riyadh which you won't be able to use, because only those with valid Saudi visas are allowed on flights to that country.[/quote]

Your right. I was just kidding when I said "harsh". I wouldn't have paid for the airline ticket anyway. I don't even have the money to do so.
I would have made them buy me the ticket first.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

This is the situation with work visas in Saudi.

The company applies for what is known as a block visa; that is a visa for a certain number of workers in a certain category and of a certain nationality. That is to say they apply for three female or three male US English language teachers. That process takes three or four months from initiation; once the block visa has been initiated it goes to the Saudi Embassy in your country. The process is only slightly different for Institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education.

Then things can be very quick, or not. If the company decides to hire you it writes out a letter of authorization, which it sends you together with a signed copy of the contract. You then do the medical and get all appropriate tests stamped by the doctor and country health authority, and get the appropriate police clearance. If you are doing this in the sticks it can take time. You also have to send copies of your degree and get them stamped and notarized and the notary's signature validated at the State Department. If you are applying for the Education or Higher Education Ministry then you have to get your degrees approved at the Saudi Cultural Mission as well. Then you send all your papers off to the Consolate together with the SAE, or if you have any sense, apply in person. The shortest I have known this procedure take in the US was 9 days with someone who did it all in Washington. The longest was fourteen months for somebody who had a long wait to get police clearance from the LAPD.

But that work permit is only valid for one sponsor. Who is issuing the work permit and who will you be working with? There are by far too many unknowns in this case. Remember your visa expenses will come to hundreds of dollars; have they promised to immediately reimburse?

It is also unusual for them to ask you to get a ticket; the norm is that they send it, and you pick it up from the Saudi Airlines Office.

Taking half a month's salary off you for agency fees is quite illegal, as well as being unheard of.

vuloshin · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Buffalo, NY USA

"But that work permit is only valid for one sponsor. Who is issuing the work permit and who will you be working with? There are by far too many unknowns in this case. Remember your visa expenses will come to hundreds of dollars; have they promised to immediately reimburse?

It is also unusual for them to ask you to get a ticket; the norm is that they send it, and you pick it up from the Saudi Airlines Office.

Taking half a month's salary off you for agency fees is quite illegal, as well as being unheard of."

The guy finally wrote to me that I'd be working with Oxford Academy in Al-Hassa, KSA.
What are the visa expenses to me (so I know in the future)? The guy said already the company spent around 500 USD on issuing the work visa. He just wrote to me again saying I would have to pick up the visa at the Saudi Embassy. He also said he would buy me the e-ticket.

But, as you guys have said taking out half of my first months salary is crazy. I would be only making 9000 SR's per month anyway teaching 30 hours per week.
I wish I never got involved with this scam in the first place.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

These expenses should be paid by the EMPLOYER !

vuloshin · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Buffalo, NY USA

And here is what he just wrote me:

"Sorry forgot to tell you about the visa, the company issues papers to you working permit then you go to the embassy to give you a visa."

I just want to get to the bottom of this scam, maybe other new teachers will benefit from this thread in the future.

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

If the company already has the block visa, then yes it is a matter of you going up to the embassy with the contract and letter of appointment to collect it.

However you will have to pay the medical expenses, and expenses of getting the other paperwork which can come to a few hundred dollars, so you need a guarantee they will be repaid.

If they are issuing you with a work visa, then if you don't take it up it doesn't cost any more. They simply cancel the letter of authorization and give the number to another person. Hassle for them but not expense. You don't have a link to the original ad?

vuloshin · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Buffalo, NY USA

The link to the original ad didn't say too much and was taken off the website it was posted on only a few days after it was posted.

vuloshin · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Buffalo, NY USA

Here is what the guy e-mailed me a short time ago:

"The $500 USD is about 2000 Saudi ryal. The embassy told you that we will need to send you some papers which is the contract and a paper from the ministry, this paper from the ministry cost 2000 Saudi Reyal, this paper is a go ahead to the embassy to issue the working visa. That�s why the company has to pay about 500 USD. The contract is attached please see it and read it through. Now and for the last time. Are you coming or not?

Please let me know as soon as you can.

The company did pay for the work permit 2000 SR they just took a copy of your passport and made this paper for you because we all thought you were serious about coming to work in Saudi Arabia. I told the company yesterday that you may have changed your mind about coming to Saudi Arabia. We need you to be sure please."

So, I might get this authorization letter in mail? I need this and the contract and then I can send the things needed (which I won't anyway) to the Saudi Embassy. I even called the embassy today and they said until I receive a copy of the contract and authorization letter there is nothing I can do. It's funny how he never sent me a contract until now when I asked for one. I just wanted to look it over. I did already, it seems as though the contract is only 5 months and 6 teaching hours per day (does that mean 45 min. or 50 min. classes?) plus 2 hours of administrative duties.

I'm even going to e-mail this Oxford Academy place and see if this whole thing of taking out half of my salary is something they do for everyone. I doubt it.

Another question: What cost will it be to me in the future when I get a legit job for the medical expenses and other paperwork?

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

If it's a block visa for a work permit it may have cost them SR2000 but it is not specific to you, only the job and nationality. If it's a work permit it will cost you hundreds of dollars for the medical and other papers. Remember every test has to be signed and stamped both by the doctor and the country health authority.

This is looking very much like a cowboy outfit.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Is it just me or are the messages from these people almost incomprehensible? I read them twice and they still don't make any sense in English...

VS

BillCowher · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 131 Location: Up in the air!!!

Is it not possible to get an entry visa individually, only with the sponsor's help?

ALL visas must be through a sponsor with the exception of pilgrimage (Islam) ones to Mecca or that other (?) place where non-muslims are forbidden to even visit.

The country cares little or nothing about promoting proper business habits. They have the oil so they have the power & they act accordingly.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Grendal · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject:

Reading this thread thoroughly I noticed Oxford English Academy in Al-Hasa. I did a part time gig there towards the end of my stay at King Faisal University, working at two jobs. Wow how illegal is that? It was only for a week while the university petered out and sent all the teacher folk home.

They gave me part time hours at 30 hours a week and each of those hours were contact hours. The driver usually brought me late to class so I had no pre class prep. time. the classes were 50 min. long leaving 10 minutes to sit down open your book and make a scattered plan in 5 minutes then go to the rest room and smoke for the other 5 minutes because it would take too long to go downstairs to take a break. I only signed a one month contract with them and after the first week of racking my brains out I spoke with the owner and told him this was not going to work for any future full time contract that he was thinking about. The full time he had in mind was 40 contact hours a week. eeeeeeek!!

Well never the less I continued there until my contract was over. With my brain-racking days over I just went with the flow. No prep. No inspiration. No more 10 minute breaks (it became 20 minutes). Letting the class go five minutes early so I can get the driver to come on time. Still didn't make a difference the driver was always late.

Halfway through the contract I was given new course books and told that I was teaching children�s classes that night after my adult class finished. Well needless to say I was surprised but it was a blessing in disguise. I really enjoyed teaching them and it was a change. I forgot that I was having a really miserable time there.

The children were keen on taking their prayer break and using it as a normal break and then requesting to take their normal break after the prayer break. I gladly gave them permission and went out for a walk immediately every day at the same time to the bakalla for a nice cold soda and an ice cream.

Grendal