Job Discussion Forums

John Carpenter · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Saudi Arabia

Before leaving for my summer holidays, I went to the Government Officer at Prince Mohammed University (PMU) and inquired if I needed a new multiple-entry visa and was told 'NO'. Upon return from my holiday, I was first told that a stamp was missing from my visa and then later told my visa had expired. I was given the option of a free trip back to Australia on Etihad (who were fined for letting me into the country without a proper visa) or to go to Bahrain and get a visa before Eid started in 7 days time. I opted for Bahrain and ended up there for 28 days. I have been denied my September pay and will not be paid the $1800 in expenses that it cost to stay there. The individual who was supposed to solve everything did nothing, made himself unavailable and in the end was the decision-maker about my situation, even though I had complained about his disinterest and lack of competence. I have now given 2 months notice and should be home for Xmas. I have been a loyal employee of this institution for 3 years and am one of the few native speakers left in the male Prep area. I have been treated very shabbily but should have expected it as it has happened to so many others here. This is part of the reason why PMU can neither retain old staff or attract new staff. I have lost a lot of money, and expect to lose more but I am not the biggest loser. My integrity is not in question, nor is ability to do my job or to treat others in a fair and even-handed manner. Take care if you are considering applying for a position here. Please feel free to contact me for further information [/u]

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

A multiple entry-rentry visa expires six Islamic months after the first exit. It's quite easy to calculate, and the person at PMU, to whom you presumably didn't make it clear enough when you were coming back, should have explained this, and you should have double-checked.

John Carpenter · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Saudi Arabia

HI Stephen, long time since we were at JIC. The guy who I took my visa to is the guy who is supposed to get me a new visa and he told me I didn't need one. The individual who was so unhelpful was his boss. Visas are a big problem here because the people working in this area are badly trained, poorly motivated and spend more time covering for one another than doing their jobs. We are still waiting for teachers who are experiencing visa problems and these problems will continue whilest PMU retains and protects these incompetent individuals. I have been told that my visa problem was exacerbated because I was with PMU and they have a poor history with this Department. That is why PMU couldn't get a visa in 7 days before Eid started? Why did it take 2 weeks to get a visitors visa after Eid and why couldn't I get my working visa, especially after being so long in the Kingdom? There is more to this than a simple mathematical calculation, Stephen.

ComradeBL · Joined: 28 Aug 2010 Posts: 72 Location: 'stan!

Everything that JC said is true. I was one of JC's colleagues. We both arrived at PUM during the 07-08 academic year just after the TIEC people left. I have followed much of JC's experiences on facebook these past few months.

John, man, I feel for you. I hear that about the only person left is T-Money, and, as you indicated, he's not a native speaker...

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Obviously the guy should have asked you when you intended to come back, and checked that the visa was still valid, but incompetence is common.

I have also heard stories about the inefficiiency of PMU dealing with visas.

What I don't understand is that you claim not to have a work visa, yet to have a multiple entry-rentry visa which is only granted if you have an iqama.

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

Yes, ole JC has put up with a lot over the years. He has been loyal to a fault. He is one of the most stand-up people I know.

It is too bad that PMU has no interest whatsoever in the retention of good people. They have lost a lot of stellar teachers over the last few years, when it would have just taken a slight bit of decent treatment to retain them.

My advice to anyone is the run like hell when they come a calling. Take a job anywhere else. There isn't enough money to get me back in that hell hole.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

So you did not like it at PMU ?

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

johnslat · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject:

Dear isabel,

Both require being screwed, and both are exquisitely painful. But at least with childbirth, something wonderful results.

Regards,
John

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

dubaiteacher · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 8

John Carpenter · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Saudi Arabia

I have just had my October pay put into my Samba account, minus 2707SR - no explanation, no discussion, just PMU abusing and misusing their power once again!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You must have done something to upset them. Maybe it is time to go ?

John Carpenter · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Saudi Arabia

The breakdown for the 2707SR that was deducted is very interesting.
1500SR is for 3 days in Rayan Apartments. I was the only person in Rayan apartments for 5 days and moved out ASAP, but the individual who put me in there did so because it was his friends place, and it cost more per day than I earned. He is also the person who carried out the investigation which never happened
240SR is for the Document Clearance Centre who tried on 19th September to get my visa, and failed. There are no fees for trying to get my visa earlier, like befroe EId, but there is a further 450 to get me a visitors visa on 28th September.
Then there is a further 100 for 4 trips across the Causeway (I only made 1) an insurance form and a document written in Arabic which makes up the rest.
I have been told that even though I arrived back on 27/9, my employment didn't start til 2/10, so 417SR represents the pay I should have got for 1/10. Maybe I should get paid for the 3 days of September I was here, but then what am I thinking of. That is commonsense and would be fair play

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

Why anyone is working there any more is beyond me. If you can tough it through the mistakenly accepted two year contract, mabruk, if you stay past that, then the first two years must have left you seriously addled!

They will eventually screw you. It happened almost to a person with the people I knew there- even the true believers who defended the place mightily eventually had their day of reckoning.

And still they come. The money is rather shabby for the hours taught, the housing is way worse than shabby, and the treatment? Shabby doesn't come close to describing it. And yet new teachers come every year, perhaps believing that the stories cannot be true, and those posting here are just disgruntled old farts.

Enter at your own risk, and don't ever say you weren't warned.