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BretHarte
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
Posts: 94
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 Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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| I've worked with several people who used the business visa to their advantage. It's a great thing to people to just leave when you feel like it instead of having to beg for permission. Then the wait for the exit visa on your employer's terms. Yes, it's unprofessional to go on a midnight run, but since you're contract only applies to you, not the employer, I understand. |
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Sheikennotstirred
Joined: 30 Sep 2011
Posts: 28
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| It's Scary! wrote: |
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| ...it seems there are advantages to having a business visa to be able to make a quick getaway. |
 ...MAN...is that what it's come down to?
I worked with nutters in SA, but none that came over with THAT as an "advantage"!
It's almost beyond words! |
I'm actually already in SA. The clue is in my profile, where it says "Location: Saudi Arabia".
Personally, I have a decent employer, and proper work visa/iqama/multiple entry visa etc, as do most teachers here. But some new teachers this year�Canadians�had to come in on business visas in order to arrive in time for the new term, due to the current diplomatic situation with Canada.
It seems to have worked out OK for them. And their business visas meant they were able to pop over to Bahrain on weekends, while the new teachers still waiting for their paperwork to come through for their iqamas/visas had to stay put for the first few weeks. Personally, I'd say that was an advantage. I also believe there are also other advantages, as well as significant disadvantages. On balance, given a choice I'd opt for the work visa most times, but it needn't be the deal breaker some people make it out to be. And in certain situations the business visa does have advantages over the work visa, whether or not you are a "nutter".
Regardless, my original request still stands:
I'd be very grateful for any information, preferably from someone actually at PNU and with SBC, regarding living conditions and the job.
I'm trying to help out a friend who is wondering whether to take up a position there, and I want to be able to give her as full a picture as possible, so that she can make an informed decision, armed with the full facts (or at least as many of them as it is possible to pin down in this country.)
So any genuine offers of help would be greatly appreciated!
Other snarks also welcome: there's even less to do round here than usual now that the evenings are getting colder... |
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eeliza13
Joined: 27 Dec 2008
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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Yes! Any current account of work/living conditions would be appreciated. I'm leaving for KSA in about 10 days. SBC contract for PNU.
And from what I hear all SBC teachers are being put up at the Hotel Brzeen until the compound is ready.
Top 5 concerns for me....
Will I get paid and will it be on time?
Housing conditions? Can I access a gym and pool?
Working hours? Will my classroom hours exceed 20 hours?
Nutters? Should I include co-workers and employers under that classification?
How long before I get my legit Iqama so I can head to a beach somewhere and enjoy a swim and a cocktail? |
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Fernwood
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 33
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| BretHarte wrote: |
| I've worked with several people who used the business visa to their advantage. It's a great thing to people to just leave when you feel like it instead of having to beg for permission. Then the wait for the exit visa on your employer's terms. Yes, it's unprofessional to go on a midnight run, but since you're contract only applies to you, not the employer, I understand. |
My issue with the business visa is that you are not able to get a bank account and do other legitimate business with it. While getting a check and running to money transfer center is ideal, it's certainly not convenient or expedient in terms of how to manage your finances as there are probably huge fees associated with that type of transaction. Also, I thought it was not legal to work for a year on a business visa. I thought it was only a temporary, 90-day, sort of setup and if caught using it, although rare, the fault was solely on the employee. |
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Fernwood
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 33
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Sheikennotstirred"]
Regardless, my original request still stands:
I'd be very grateful for any information, preferably from someone actually at PNU and with SBC, regarding living conditions and the job.
quote]
Sheik,
I understand this site may be locked out in KSA so not sure how many current PNU SBC teachers will actually respond to you. They may not have access to this site.
However, if you are currently in KSA and you want actual, factual information for your friend, why not just go by there and talk to few of the teachers as they come/go from the building and get the details directly? Seems like you would have the best access to gather details; we are not there as yet and getting data second/third hand so if you're there, do some on-the-ground research and share that information with us. |
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Sheikennotstirred
Joined: 30 Sep 2011
Posts: 28
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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Fernwood,
Thanks for your suggestions. The Saudi forum is indeed "blocked" in SA, but only trivially. I don't know anyone here who doesn't know how to get round it. I'm posting this from my laptop using a public wifi connection.
I'm male, so my access to PNU is limited. Also, I live some way from Riyadh and this isn't the easiest country in which to get around. I am making enquiries amongst my contacts here, and I'll certainly share what I find, but I won't be able to get to Riyadh until next weekend at the earliest.
If anyone finds out anything else in the meantime, do please let us know. |
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BretHarte
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
Posts: 94
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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There will be plenty of employees with iqamas and since there isn't much to do here, they'll take you to a bank so you can transfer money. Schools use border runs and other bits from the wasta pot to get extensions on business visas. I work with people who were here almost a year before they got an iqama.
It's fairly easy to get around the blocked sites here. Searches on this forum also show up on search engines so you can go straight to the thread. If you rent a VPN those are cheap. $100/year or so. |
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