Job Discussion Forums

[Seonsaengnim]

Hello everyone,

I've just received a job offer to come to Riyadh, KSA to work at Al-Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University's Preparatory Year Program. Does anyone know if this is the inaugural year of the program?

Contract details are: Basic salary of 12,000 SR ($3200). Housing and transport paid for. 1 month holiday taken after the 11th month of work (hmm) and holidays/university breaks off. No mention of how many sick days... just that medical certificate is required when sick.

Because they are running behind schedule on having instructors there, they are flying me in on a 'Government Visa' and then sending me home during the January university break to the USA to do my employment visa processing.

There are a couple contract items that are giving me quite a bit of anxiety and sending off some red flags.

1) There is a clause in the contract about 'job flexibility' which says that you may be asked to perform duties outside of your normal job function- skilled or unskilled... but the employer will ensure that you have the adequate training to complete the task.

I asked the recruiter (Skyline Global Solutions) about this stipulation, and he replied that that basically means that sometimes you might be required to do consultations with students, academic counseling services, proctoring (one he stated as being unskilled). etc.

My fear is that I will end up having to do maintenance jobs of the facility, such as taking out trash and mopping etc. I had a friend who fell into a similar situation in South Korea due to the existence of a 'job flexibility' clause in her contract.

Is this standard in most contracts in Saudi Arabia and what are other peoples' take on this?

Also, from my understanding, I will not be able to open a bank account on a government visa... am I just going to have to deal in cash for the first few months (not sure I want to be keeping thousands of riyals in my apartment).

Do I have the freedom to travel within the country or to leave KSA during vacation periods?

Do they take your passport on arrival (my biggest cause of anxiety!)

Thanks,
any words or help would be greatly appreciated!
They want me there on October 17th... meaning they want to process my government visa this weekend and fly out next week.

Seonsaengnim.

[Middle East Beast]

[Cleopatra]

[Stephen Jones]

[BillCowher]

You cannot get a bank account without an iquama or work permit. You can send money home via Western Union or some banks IF you can find someone with an iquama to go with you & do it for you.

That Government Visa is a new one on me but since the only valid ID without an iquama is your passport you should probably point that out in the event they wish to keep it from you. A simple photocopy of your passport does not suffice if someone really demands your proper ID. Riyadh is the real home of the religious police so who really knows what goes on in that place???...

[spotz]

dont worry about the religious police. They aren't what they used to be 5 or 10 years ago. Now they just tell you if you are doing somethng wrong (Islamically what they are suppose to do) unless you are doing something major like eating with a woman who is unrelated to you, drinking or drugs. Honestly i have never been bothered by one. I see them all the time they usually try and pick out the saudi youth or Shahbab...

[EFLUndercover]

[rjbsd]

Good Morning. I also have been working with Skyline and first they said a 90 day visitor visa, now they are saying regular work visa. I am supposed to contact a company in DC to help me with the visa and send them money. Is that how you are proceeding?

[funcky1924]

[
Because they are running behind schedule on having instructors there, they are flying me in on a 'Government Visa' and then sending me home during the January university break to the USA to do my employment visa processing.

Gov visa is being issued to Unis this year in-order to make up the number of teachers, the only difference between gov visa and visitng visa is the duration, gov is longer and can be extended. This is the best way of getting rid of teachers not wanted, after the 3 month probation. As regular working visas cost more than a gov visa.

[davt]

why are some people getting straight work visas and others getting government visas through skyline?? anyone have any ideas? is it a crap shoot?

[funcky1924]

[Siobhan 22]

Interestingly, an ESL job at this university is being offered at the same salary - 12000SAR.

MOD edit

[siologen]

Interesting thread. Is it just me, but the business visa just seems to be giving them an option to fire off an FT after 3 months, if they do not cut the mustard? If so, it will still appeal to a lot of take the money and run to SE Asia type FT's, or those looking for a quick cash fix, and seems a bit short-sighted and will surely create the type of problems they are trying to avoid in finding and retaining good teachers surely? Good for those FT's who want the junkets to SE Asia though I s'pose, rofl

[nomad soul]

[siologen]