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AK
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 36
Location: with God
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 Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:43 am Post subject: family visit visa |
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Hello,
Can anyone give me a rough guide as to how easy/difficult it was to get a family visit visa for a non-spouse?..loopholes, problems, etc...
I'm American and my sister and mother would like to visit for a week or more this coming Hajj Eid.
The Saudi embassy (D.C.) site makes it look relatively easy, but was wondering about personal experiences.
thanks for any insights. |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:17 am Post subject: |
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| Never had to go through that myself, but I can tell you one thing already. The period when they are visiting is high season for visitor's visas, given the proximity to Eid and Hajj. Better get an early start on it, because the immigration people get overwhelmed and very backed up at that time. |
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AK
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 36
Location: with God
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| Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 2:16 am Post subject: |
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Yeh, I hear ya.
Already considering having them come during the work cycle before or after.
Hell, I'm home by 1pm everyday.  |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:01 am Post subject: Re: family visit visa |
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| AK wrote: |
Hello,
Can anyone give me a rough guide as to how easy/difficult it was to get a family visit visa for a non-spouse?..loopholes, problems, etc...
I'm American and my sister and mother would like to visit for a week or more this coming Hajj Eid.
The Saudi embassy (D.C.) site makes it look relatively easy, but was wondering about personal experiences.
thanks for any insights. |
Well, if the rules still the same in the Magic Kingdom, your mother can get the family visa, but your sister I doubt it. And it is not a straightforward process, and sometimes it is complicated and depends on the mood of the guy who is reviewing your visa form. I remember some years ago, and in three occasions for a family visit for my father and mother, one accepted without any problems, the second one refused, and the third one accepted for mother but refused for father without giving any reasons!!!
For your sister, and if she is over 18, then I doubt it if they will accept her to be included in the family visit visa.
Another thing, is that during Hajj period they will not accept/process any family visit visa, unless you do within a specific time before the start of the Hajj period, or after Hajj has finished.
You have to certify your full birth certificate showing the name of your mother and should be included in eh visa family form. All this should be done inside the Magic Kingdom and through the Jawazaat (you cannot do it directly with the embassy), then if accepted, the Jawazaat will send a reference number to you and to the embassy. Sometimes they might put a restriction on the family visa which will make it difficult to get to Makkah or Maddinah (for Mulsim only) if the visa duration still valid during the period of Hajj! |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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This depends ENTIRELY on who you are working for. Some employers will be helpful. For example when I worked fror Saudi Arabian Airlines, they arranged a visa for my father-in-law (and a ticket !). If you areworking for "Dodgy Language Solvers Inc," you are not going to be as fortunate as I was.
As I nhave said on other threads CHOOSE YOUR NEW MASTER WITH CARE ! |
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meyanga
Joined: 02 Mar 2008
Posts: 103
Location: Malaysia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 3:39 am Post subject: |
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I have had family over a few times - parents, family -in -law, and got a visit visa for my sister, although in the end, she couldn't make it. My sister was coming with her daughter but without her husband..didn't seem to matter.
The best thing would be just to try - don't think there is any rhyme nor reason to who can come and who can't.
Good Luck
Meyanga  |
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indirect.object
Joined: 26 May 2008
Posts: 64
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:19 am Post subject: |
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I asked the general director where I work if a family visit visa could be obtained for my sister, who would be travelling with my father (who already has his visit visa) and the director replied that the istigdam would not accomodate such a request for a sister.
After reading this thread, though, I wonder if one could pursue such a visa through some other avenue... |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| indirect.object wrote: |
I asked the general director where I work if a family visit visa could be obtained for my sister, who would be travelling with my father (who already has his visit visa) and the director replied that the istigdam would not accomodate such a request for a sister.
After reading this thread, though, I wonder if one could pursue such a visa through some other avenue... |
Well, one avenue is to use Wasta with the director of Istigdam.
The other avenue, and if your sister is a Muslim, is through Omrah visa. |
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indirect.object
Joined: 26 May 2008
Posts: 64
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Right.
Thanks. |
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trapezius
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:36 am Post subject: |
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Good luck, indirect.object. As 007 said, you can pull some strings if you have any connections, or she could get an Umrah visa if she is Muslim.
It is great, isn't it... "Kingdom of Humanity", but your siblings can't come visit you if you are there! |
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