Job Discussion Forums

[Kalima Shahada]

Dear johnslat,

That's interesting. I've needed my original on my person quite a few times over the years. You must have yours in very special hands back home.

So what did you do for your Saudi work visas? Did you get your degree certified by the Secretary of State at the US Dept. of State and take that document with you to the Saudi Embassy? This was required by the Saudi Embassy in D.C., so I went through the rigmarole.

[johnslat]

Dear Kalima Shahada,

Ah, I first went over in a far simpler time - 1980. I just sent all the stuff (not even originals - just copies) to the Saudi embassy in Washington, D.C.
That was all that was required way back then.

Makes sense, though. I mean, especially these days, when just about anyone can reproduce a perfectly authentic looking "original." The best/safest way for the embassy would be just to contact the university/college.

Regards,
John

[Cleopatra]

[snowsilver]

I post hesitantly as I've never been to KSA, but I've been the mastermind behind getting my son's work visa completed (he IS going hopefully this week if we finally get the visa approved).

We did NOT have to send original copies of his bachelor's or master's to to the consulate. We only had to send copies. We actually hired a service in DC (Travisa) to help us through this horrible process. There is apparently some master web site where you simply go to get your degrees certified by the university (most US universities subscribe). We did have to send copies of the degrees as well as go through this website.

[/i]

[veiledsentiments]

As to the rest of the Gulf, I always carried my originals and copies... for 15 years. So, if you plan to go from Saudi to work in another Gulf country without going home first, take your originals. I was required by my employers to show them in Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE. (both government and private employers)

VS

[reneebcc]

[lucreziaborgia]

Gawd!

[Cleopatra]

[Chthon]

Wasn't this thread originally about the start of the next semester?

[ThaneKerner]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[johnslat]

Dear NCTBA,

I think you've probably described the situation to a TEE. And I'm very sorry to see so many good people being manipulated by all these unscrupulous recruiters/employers.
I mean, Saudi's tough enough to be in for most without all this added grief and unfairness.
Regards,
John

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Now, John, I asked for NO nasty knee-jerk reactions!

We thank you for your support.

NCTBA

[lizziebennet]

Dear NCTBA

This is not an attack just speaking from the other side.

Is SR12 000 ($3200 US) a bad offer for someone without an MA or a BA English major?
We are only getting offers of $2000 at the most in Korea. Same salary as teachers without a CELTA, MA (my hubby has an MA) and 5 years experience).

For me, I always assumed you couldn't get a job in Saudi without an MA that is probably the reason why people are willing to be a bit more patient

As far as the iqama/ business visa goes... for my husband and I we are happy not to have to deal with all that paperwork. Especially from the South African side... It can take 3 months to get an unabridged marriage certificate and a month or two to get criminal clearance... never mind other docs.

In fact we have no paperwork to do for the business visa. We are working for a government uni and the ministry is well aware of the business visa situation.

We have also examined it from the perpective of the exit visa. If you are on a business visa you don't seem to have the same restrictions say you wanna get out of the country. And you get to keep your passport. And you get to go outside the country for visa runs paid for by your employee!

We were never intending to buy a car and are fine being paid into our Canadian account and then some money in cash (which is the way the company works it). We usually do our banking over the internet anyway and pay with our international visa.

[Cleopatra]