Job Discussion Forums

Sheikh Abdullah · Joined: 07 Mar 2009 Posts: 54 Location: California, USA

I have finally received my visa from KSA. It has the 90 day probation stamp on it. How long does it take to get an iqama? Could I get one as soon as I land? Would my employer have to do it or do I need to do certain things to make the process go faster? I heard from a friend of mine who works there already that I needed to get my fingerprints done or something. I really want to know because I want to bring my wife over as soon as possible. She is a bit anxious about the whole thing. Thanks for reading!

AB

Geronimo · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 498

AB, as a recent arrival in Riyadh, myself, I'd advise you expect a wait of about 8 weeks for the arrival of your iqama. That appears to be the current waiting period on the basis of the waiting periods experienced by several other recent recruits as well as by myself.

Ask your corporate sponsor to stamp a photocopy of your passport and add a covering note in Arabic to it before you part company with your actual passport for iqama processing purposes.

Bear in mind that transferring money out of Saudi Arabia generally requires the presentation of an iqama. In due course, you will also need a supporting letter from your sponsor to open an account with a Saudi Arabian bank.

I had to provide my fingerprints, and have my mugshot taken, at the police office located in the basement at Riyadh's Int. Airport. The timing of that visit to the police station rests with your sponsor - unless you speak Arabic fluently and are very Saudi-savvy.

I believe that the visit could be organised to coincide with your arrival, but you'd better check with your sponsor!

Also, you may well have to attend for a medical examination at a medical centre inside the K.S.A., (even if you have undergone one for visa purposes already in your homeland).

With regard to your concern over bringing your wife over "as soon as possible", other posters are better placed than I am to respond. However, for what it's worth, I suspect that, on the basis of a few conversations with married colleagues, substantial delays with visas being granted to spouses are to be anticipated - assuming that one is forthcoming.

Geronimo

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Different employer and different location. Less than a week.

Geronimo · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 498

Wow Scot47! That was fast!!! You responded to my post before I could see it in the thread! Shocked

11:57 to an 11:55!

Maybe a few other posters would care to share their experiences so that AB and other new arrivals can benefit from a mean average for the iqama delay period.

As usual - the magic ingredient is vitamin W.

Geronimo

felton · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 41 Location: Sand, sun, and fun

My iqama process took about one week. I believe there are two types of service: normal and expedited. I am not sure how much you have to pay for the normal service, but expedited cost me SR 650. My wife will join me here soon, so I am looking forward to the wife iqama responses.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 2:09 pm Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It is still common for those in government service to pay for the Iqama. The Labour Code states that this cost should be borne by the employer but the assumption seems to be that there is some sort of "Crown Immunity".,

hashim99uk · Joined: 23 Dec 2007 Posts: 47 Location: UK

johnslat · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:46 pm Post subject:

At the IPA, I always had my iqama within a week. Perhaps the fact that the IPA is a branch of the Saudi government helps to "expedite" the process.

Regards,
John

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

It's starting to take longer now because of waiting for the results of the medical tests such as malaria. It used to be a week at most, but now can stretch to two. If anybody is waiting eight weeks it's because their employer is totally incompetent.