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Eisenhorn
Joined: 25 Oct 2009
Posts: 146
Location: HCT Land. UAE
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 Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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Something that you need to understand.
Even though housing is provided, the cost of living is about 2/3 that of the US/UK. But if you want "western" items, it goes up above the cost of living in the US/UK.
With that in mind, you need to pay attention to what the housing is... Sometimes it is good when provided by the employer, sometimes it is crap.
As a foot in the door it might be a good start... Just make sure you can figure out how to "complete" the contract when you get here... |
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Eisenhorn
Joined: 25 Oct 2009
Posts: 146
Location: HCT Land. UAE
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Goldmeyer wrote: |
THE ONLY PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS:
They want us to have our degrees attested. The CA State Dept. & AEU embassy is quick (3-5 days) however the bloody, US State Dept. is 8 WEEKS!!! If you go in person its 24 hrs. BUT we can't afford to fly there in person to do it.
Unless someone in/near Washington, DC can do it for us (how much would that cost?) ---OR
Unless they fly us out to Washington, DC and we go to the State Dept, and then fly us to Abu Dhabi from there.
*****Would it be asking too much of the school to arrange this?
THEY WANT US THERE IN AD TEACHING BY THIS MONTH! They said they want the paperwork all turned in by the Sept 30th (or they will be fined) !! |
It doesn't take 8 weeks for the US state department.
There are several ways to do it on your own
(the easiest is to nestle envelopes one inside of each other at fedex, so you send your degrees to the State for attestation (put in your checks), then have them forward it to the US state department with the checks, and to then be forwarded to the UAE consulate in DC and finally to be sent back to you or forwarded to your school.
Or there are people who offer the service (about $500) for the entire process... and it takes about 2 weeks. |
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Goldmeyer
Joined: 04 Sep 2011
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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Eisenhorn:
Thanks, you've just given me a ray of hope!
How long would it take if I did it that way (nestle envelopes w/checks, etc...)?
I know its impossible to know exactly how many days but can you give me a ballpark number? |
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Goldmeyer
Joined: 04 Sep 2011
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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I was just on the phone with the US STATE DEPT and the lady told me that it really does take 8 weeks for them to authenticate it-- & it makes no difference if I provide a Fed Ex envelope & have them forward it to the embassy.
She said they are totally backlogged and the only way to get it done quickly is to go in person or have a family member do it. They are not even accepting carriers anymore.
.....sigh! |
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tefllifer
Joined: 13 Jun 2003
Posts: 81
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Contact the school and explain.
Look at the US Embassy UAE website which explains all about authentication.
Send the school any links, info, etc which explain the timelag.
Ask if they will accept a transcript sent direct from your Universities as an interim measure.
They may need to prove your qualifications before they can get the entry visa paperwork done.
Best to call the agent with a list of questions, issues, etc. and see what they say and how they can help you.
I am concerned about the comments re housing - please check you will have your own place and not some sort of shared accommodation.
If they are legit they should understand this situation and have some way of working around it.
The salaries offered are low for expats, so if you do come, try to upgrade your qualifications soonest in order to be able to move jobs. |
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Gulezar
Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Posts: 483
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:06 am Post subject: Too much? |
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"Would it be asking too much of the school to arrange this?"
Yes, I've never heard of any employer helping out with attesting. There are simply too many countries and regulations to sort out. |
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Eisenhorn
Joined: 25 Oct 2009
Posts: 146
Location: HCT Land. UAE
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:17 am Post subject: |
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| Goldmeyer wrote: |
I was just on the phone with the US STATE DEPT and the lady told me that it really does take 8 weeks for them to authenticate it-- & it makes no difference if I provide a Fed Ex envelope & have them forward it to the embassy.
She said they are totally backlogged and the only way to get it done quickly is to go in person or have a family member do it. They are not even accepting carriers anymore.
.....sigh! |
Hi GM
If it takes 8 weeks someone needs to be fired. I had mine done in 72 hours (for the US state department) and back in my hands in 21 days from the start. (sending to my state's dept of state, then to DC for the US state department, then to the UAE consulate and finally back to me) and then forwarded to the UAE consulate in DC. As with many things in our wonderful government... But it is also possible that she might have meant to say "MAY take up to 8 weeks."
There are several companies out there which offer degree authentication services (I don't know any of them off hand, but there is even a thread or two here on daves which provide names and contact stuff).
Or again you can set them up in fedex to be sent from one place to another with instructions and a check/postal money order for each place. |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 5:19 am Post subject: |
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| I'd ask more specifics about the housing too - make sure it is a one bedroom apt/flat for just you and your husband and not one bedroom in a larger flat shared with others. |
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Goldmeyer
Joined: 04 Sep 2011
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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I will ask more questions about the accommodations, as soon as they email me back. They still haven't sent us the full contract, so I will know more if or when they email it to us.
I've already sent them 2 emails explaining the attestation situation and haven't heard back from them yet, its been 3 days. I wish I hadn't asked them to arrange flights for us to Washington. Hope I didn't jinx anything, by doing that. The waiting is driving me absolutely batty! THE WAITING!!!! |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Goldmeyer,
It'd be a good idea to get used to it - the waiting, that is. What you're experiencing now is just a preview of coming attractions. Be sure to pack a lot of patience when you finally get to go.
Regards,
John |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
| Be sure to pack a lot of patience when you finally get to go. |
You may need a suitcase just for that.
MEB  |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:04 am Post subject: |
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| Middle East Beast wrote: |
| johnslat wrote: |
| Be sure to pack a lot of patience when you finally get to go. |
You may need a suitcase just for that. |
Perhaps squeeze in some sense of humor too... always useful.
You do realize that the weekend over there is Friday/Saturday. So, 2 of your 3 waiting days were on their weekend. I would write again if you haven't heard anything in a more couple days...
The key is to never lose your temper and always ask politely... even when it is all you can do to keep from strangling them with your bare hands.
VS |
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