Job Discussion Forums

destionable · Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 46 Location: wherever

I have just learned that there is a new TEMPORARY WORK VISA for the KSA added to the list below:

1. Employment VISA.....................................the long one.
2. Business Visa with authorization to work.....the fast track one.
3. TEMPORARY WORK VISA...........................good for 6 months...appears to be quick like the business work visa.

Destionable Surprised

Grendal · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject:

.......................... Shocked

johnslat · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject:

Dear destionable,
But work (for non-Saudis) over there is ALWAYS "Temporary," isn't it?
Traveler's Information
Visas
Contact the visa section of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC, or one of the Saudi Arabian consulates in New York, Houston or Los Angeles.

Business Visit Visa
Diplomatic And Official Visa
Employment Visa
Extension of Exit/Re-Entry Visa
Family Visit Visa
Government Visit Visa
Residence Visa
Student Visa
Transit Visa
Hajj Visa
Umrah Visa

http://www.saudiembassy.net/services/

Regards,
John

Grendal · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject:

Business visa - This visa is required if during any portion of your visit you intend to conduct business or commercial activities. Please note such visas can only be issued to travelers not being paid for work by an entity within the Saudi Arabia. If you intend to undertake paid work in Saudi Arabia you will need to obtain a work visa.

G

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I suspect destionable somebody is leading you up the garden bath.

The length of the work permit is one year, two years, or the length of the contract if shorter. This has been true for twenty years at least.

The rules clearly state you can't work for an entity within Saudi Arabia on a business visa. There is not a single government website that says anything else.

destionable · Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 46 Location: wherever

Dear SJ, John and other fine people:

I had no intention of listing all the Visas one can apply for...only the work type visas. To my knowledge and as has been previously debated on this venerable forum...you can work on a business visa if it is authorized by the Min of foreign affairs...people are doing it in the KSA. NOW..WAIT a minute...what the Min of Labour says about this may be another matter. This can't be any more clear.

The final word
Destionable Laughing

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

From my readings here over the years, the knowledgeable posters have always said that there is NO business visa under which it is legal to teach.

Is it done? Obviously so as many posters here have done it - some for years. Was it legal? No.

VS

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

destionable, as we've said before, two of the three visas you've stated don't seem to exist.

What the Ministry of Foreign Affairs web sites states is this:
The referred instruction are not applied on persons who have Professional
business such as the technicians, craftsmen, engineers, Teachers, university professors, lawyers, computer programmers, mechanics and doctors who have commercial business, which Saudi companies and establishments apply for the purpose of effecting temporarily business against a wage. Those who wish to enter such category at the present time shall apply to Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any of its branches.

The problem is that when you go to the website the visas there are the standard ones, and there is no mention of the two special visas you are referring to.

As I have stated people coming for a short time can teach on a business visa (it is the only way you would get people coming into the Kingdom to give training courses) but using business visas for permanent positions would likely ensure a visit from the Ministry of Interior (I know of cases where this has happened).

With regard to the work visa the time taken is that of the employer to get a block visa from the Ministry. This allows him to hire a certain number of professionals of a given nationality within a given job category. Once that visa has been issued the turnover time for you getting a visa from the Consulate after doing the requisite paperwork is between 1 and 72 hours.

JacoMaloney · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject:

destionable · Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 46 Location: wherever

Dear SJ:

Well, I am not disputing what you're saying which is probably correct. I have noticed that some things happen in the KSA that sometimes are not LEGAL but they still happen.

But from the experience and info I have, what I said is also correct... the 3 VISAS I mentioned do exist. I don't pretend to be an expert and I don't want to speculate more or mislead readers any further about VISAS, however....

....in my opinion the KSA remains the toughest and most difficult country to get entry status...and teachers who are considering to come here should be well aware of the hassles with contracts and visas.

The last word.
Destionable Wink

Grendal · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm Post subject:

To all who must needs know:

I do not have it in writing but what was told to us about our entry status was that it would be a business visit visa and during the break between semesters that we would be sent out of the country to apply for our work visa.

Now I don't believe that we will be going back to our country of origin but probably to a neighboring country. Perhaps Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt or Yemen, depending where you are posted for your tour of duty.

Grendal

rigel · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 308

The Lathe of Heaven · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:48 am Post subject:

The bizzilla of visas:

The one year employment visa should be quick if the employer has got block visas issued to the appropriate embassies neighboring the KSA.

TLOH