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Sheikh N Bake
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours
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 Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Precisely. |
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ummkhadija
Joined: 06 May 2010
Posts: 105
Location: ..The resort city of Saudi Arabia..
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 2:39 am Post subject: |
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Dear, bje
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| I thought any 'decent' employer took care of this stuff via visa handlers? Since when are people having to do it all themselves? |
Well I did everything that, Sheik n Bake, stated he did :
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| All I had to do was send in my qualifications, medical reports and passport to a visa handler |
However, SCM wanted me to send my labs back signed by my MD and stamped by the clinic, moreover they also want my employer to specifically write down the names of my family members on the contract. However, this isn't something that was asked before, a female I am conversing with at my place of employment went over wither her family of 5, and she didn't have to do what I was asked to do. So, my employer is going to contact SCM, and see why are they asking for something his university was never asked to do before.
Moreover, the lady I spoke with told me this,
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| they have the discretion to ask for any additional documents, and to deny anyone a visa |
So, I am happy that for both you and Sheik n Bake it went so well, for others it has been a more of a bumpy ride 
UmmKhadija |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 3:32 am Post subject: |
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Ummm...the Sheik's qualifier was 'decent'. Therein lies the rub...
NCTBA  |
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Sheikh N Bake
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 11:39 am Post subject: |
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| As I said, I've done this three times at various times in my career. It was bje with the "decent" reference, but he was right. And any country has the right to deny a visa for any subjective reason, and even entry upon arrival at the airport with a valid visa. I.e., they can turn anyone back. |
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UmmeZahrah
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:50 pm Post subject: Cultural Mission and Visa Process |
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lcanupp1964,
I am so glad you posted the information regarding routing the complete visa package to the SACM and not to the embassy! Who should we address/route it to, though, as there seem to be a great many departments there and not everyone knows what's going on where (for example, when I called, a young lady told me that they only served Saudi students--she'd never heard of the degree authentication department). I'd really appreciate if you could post this information. The visa process has been difficult so far, to say the least. |
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mortalhera
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:45 pm Post subject: visa employment process |
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UmmeZahrah,
This is the address I was given by my possible/if I ever get all of this done/ employer:
Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission
Universities Affairs Dept.
2600 Virginia Ave., Suite 800
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-298-8823
I have found it useful to let the phone ring. The message comes that the voice mail box is full and your call will be transferred. To my surprise, a couple of times, a nice woman answered and was able to help me.
I still haven't sent any of my papers in yet. I'm still trying to get yet another stamp on one of my lab tests.
Good luck. I hope this helps. |
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ummkhadija
Joined: 06 May 2010
Posts: 105
Location: ..The resort city of Saudi Arabia..
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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Dear All,
Well, it seems that the person who is doing my employment visa (and my resdent visas for my family), is new to this position; therefore she is stating that you can only have a PhD to be able to bring your family over. My sponsor called and has spoken with her and her superior and it seems things are moving a bit better, but no green light yet.
So anyone working on their employment visa and family visas at the same time, it would be best that you have your sponsor/future employer call. As it seems they can get more done than you or your visa agency.
Hope that helps
UmmKhadija |
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Sheikh N Bake
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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| PhD to bring your family? What nonsense. I thought you had a visa handler. You've obviously handled every detail yourself. Even if your employer didn't pay for it, you should do so out of your own pocket in future. A good one takes care of everything and you should never have to deal with the Saudi embassy. You merely send requested documents to the visa handler. The medical is not a big deal even if you have family. |
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ummkhadija
Joined: 06 May 2010
Posts: 105
Location: ..The resort city of Saudi Arabia..
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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Dear SheiknBake
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| You've obviously handled every detail yourself. Even if your employer didn't pay for it, you should do so out of your own pocket in future. A good one takes care of everything and you should never have to deal with the Saudi embassy. You merely send requested documents to the visa |
Well, yes and no, the visa agency lets me know all the details on why they need more documentation, and I call myself to clarify certain things, so my sponsor was told that they only allow PhD holders to bring the family over. This is untrue, that is why he is talking to her superior.
I have added the information for others to get things done a bit more smoothly is all. I have paid 575$ out of pocket, I like to be thorough, so even though all you did was get the medical in and all the educational paperwork and had no problems, is great; but reading most of the threads on visas it doesn't seem like it's all so easy like it went for you.
Yes you had a good employer, but this has nothing to do with my employer it has to do with the person handling the paperwork.
The individual that is doing my paperwork is new to the position and does not know exactly was is going on; therefore I am just posting what has been told to me so that other individuals may understand a bit more why they are being told that they cannot bring their family.
Therefore, my advice to others who are hearing that they cannot bring their families with them (even though their employers gave them a visa block number for the entire family) is they should have their employer call, and clarify why this is occuring so that they can bring their family with them.
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| PhD to bring your family? What nonsense. |
It is a nonsense, this is the only reason my family has not been an approved for their visas is because someone at the SCM feels that she cannot sumbit my family's paperwork because I am not a PhD holder  it's not because of my employer, not because of what I have provided, and not because my visa agency has not done its job.
UmmKhadija |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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UK:
All of the difficulties that you and many others cite are obviously because you and the others are either a few steps down from top-tier or going to work for/thru bottom-feeder institutions/recruiters/agents.
SnB, myself, and a few more have gone to top-flight folk who know all of the silliness that their system will put people thru, so they do everything for us. People working for those sorts haven't really gone thru the hoops to which you profess. Personally, I wouldn't use a service as I don't have the patience and am in a different place professionally.
Good luck in yer pursuits and hang in there. The PhD comment, tho, would REALLY worry ME. New to the job or not. That kind of false blanket statement would certainly ring alarm bells!
NCTBA |
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ummkhadija
Joined: 06 May 2010
Posts: 105
Location: ..The resort city of Saudi Arabia..
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Dear NCTBA
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| All of the difficulties that you and many others cite are obviously because you and the others are either a few steps down from top-tier or going to work for/thru bottom-feeder institutions/recruiters/agents. |
Thats all wrong at least for me. I have a Masters degree, three years teaching ESL, and am a direct hire for a university instructor position.
NCTBA you and SnB you have been in the ME for many years, and it seems with no troubles at all, this is nice. I am feel like you guys think we are incompetent people who can't move left or right because we can't get past the visa process, how is this possible--neither of you ever had a problem with another country letting you in or out, how about your spouses?
My sponsor is doing exactly what your sponsors did, the only reason I know all of this (the thing about the PhD), is because my sponsor has told me and he has forwarded me all the communication between the SCM and himself, so that I can fully understand what is happening.
I am relating the information, so if others are being told the same thing, they can tell their employer to call the direct person and get it all squared away. Which is what is occuring now, with mine. Granted it has taken longer than maybe yours or SnB, I received the offer on June 6, received the visa # on June 12, and have had all the work processed, except for my family's visas, and its almost Aug 1, so maybe for you and SnB its been to long, but at least it seems it will be done in at least 2 months time.
My sponsor has provided the visa, will provide the flights, the housing, the transportation, so I think my employer has provided all that you were provided, but I guess because the SCM is having some sort of hiccup, my employer is no good 
I am sorry this situation is so unimportant to you and SnB, but for some of us, its a bit important 
UmmKhadija |
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sheikher
Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 291
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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Arab News, 19 March 2010:
DAMMAM: Government officials have denied recent reports that there have been changes in visa rules for the dependants of expatriate workers. Reports in the English and Arabic media had claimed that high-earning expatriates working in the Kingdom on low-category work visas would be allowed to bring their families into the country on permanent resident visas.
�Those reports are not true,� said a Dammam isteqdam official who requested anonymity.
�The family visa is very much linked to the profession on your iqama. We have issued and are issuing family visas to only those in white-collar jobs such as engineers, doctors and executives. The financial status of the applicant is only one of the conditions.�
According to him, nonprofessionals, such as those who are listed on their iqamas and work permits as laborers, masons, electricians and so forth, will have their applications for family visas rejected automatically. �The rules are clear-cut. Professionals � yes; nonprofessionals � no,� he said.
Interpretation: PhD and/or MA holders recruited directly by universities qualify as white-collar "professionals". Recruitment of undergrads by agencies may imply "laborer" status, perhaps both categories determined according to the daily variable whims of particular embassy officials.
It MIGHT have some oblique covert connection to the current Flavour of the Month: Saudization.
Saudis comfortably ensconced in "favoured" embassies are understandably extraordinarily cautious, I suppose. |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| ummkhadija wrote: |
Dear NCTBA
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| All of the difficulties that you and many others cite are obviously because you and the others are either a few steps down from top-tier or going to work for/thru bottom-feeder institutions/recruiters/agents. |
Thats all wrong at least for me. I have a Masters degree, three years teaching ESL, and am a direct hire for a university instructor position.
NCTBA you and SnB you have been in the ME for many years, and it seems with no troubles at all, this is nice. I am feel like you guys think we are incompetent people who can't move left or right because we can't get past the visa process, how is this possible--neither of you ever had a problem with another country letting you in or out, how about your spouses?
My sponsor is doing exactly what your sponsors did, the only reason I know all of this (the thing about the PhD), is because my sponsor has told me and he has forwarded me all the communication between the SCM and himself, so that I can fully understand what is happening.
I am relating the information, so if others are being told the same thing, they can tell their employer to call the direct person and get it all squared away. Which is what is occuring now, with mine. Granted it has taken longer than maybe yours or SnB, I received the offer on June 6, received the visa # on June 12, and have had all the work processed, except for my family's visas, and its almost Aug 1, so maybe for you and SnB its been to long, but at least it seems it will be done in at least 2 months time.
My sponsor has provided the visa, will provide the flights, the housing, the transportation, so I think my employer has provided all that you were provided, but I guess because the SCM is having some sort of hiccup, my employer is no good
I am sorry this situation is so unimportant to you and SnB, but for some of us, its a bit important
UmmKhadija |
In yer haste to be offended, you took me completely wrong! The difficulties of which is spoken was NEVER experienced by me and mine in the least! I always worked for an employer who had GR people of the payroll who had the right last names and knew the right people. the only thing we were EVER asked to do was take the compensated pre-employment medical in my home country and bring it with me WITH my spouse upon landing. No waits for family, my family landed with me. And, no, my wife NEVER had any problems because of the reasons in this and my previous email...which was meant to clear up an understanding why YOU and others are having, in my case, UNPRECEDENTED difficulties, costs and hoops to be jumped thru.
And, NO, I don''t consider YOU incompetent! I thought that I made it clear that your visa processor is...
Now, sit back and take a breath because, I am not the source of yer woes...
NCTBA |
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ummkhadija
Joined: 06 May 2010
Posts: 105
Location: ..The resort city of Saudi Arabia..
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| Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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Dear NCTBA
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| Now, sit back and take a breath because, I am not the source of yer woes... |
Really I don't think my message implied that at all, I just wanted to make it clear to you, that my employer has been doing what it seems you received and that I was just adding my information so that others, who were possibly going through the same thing, know what to do next..
Trust me no offense was taken..  
UmmKhadija |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| sheikher wrote: |
DAMMAM: Government officials have denied recent reports that there have been changes in visa rules for the dependants of expatriate workers. Reports in the English and Arabic media had claimed that high-earning expatriates working in the Kingdom on low-category work visas would be allowed to bring their families into the country on permanent resident visas. |
Well, permanent resident visa does not exist in the Magic Kingdom.
The Iqama (resident visa) is not permanent, and is renewable according to the duration of your contract. |
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