Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Employee has no choice in the matter. (S)he has to follow procedures dictated by employee (or contractor). I have never worked on a "Business visa", and have always advised that the best deal is with an Iqama.

Sirens of Cyprus · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 255

he has a little. they usually ask where he would like to pick up his visa

TheEasyLife · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 57

Of course I will keep everybody updated whatever happens, good or bad.
The iqama process seems to have changed in the last year as every other teacher at my school, Americans, Australians and British all got their iqamas (I have seen the iqamas myself) within six weeks of arrival without having to leave the country.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"they usually ask where he would like to pick up his visa"

Well some do. Others insist on you returning to the country that issued your passport !

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Just got a text message from a friend teaching in Riyadh for a flaky contracting company. She's desperate to attend the TESOL Arabia job fair, but unfortunately, is on a single-entry business visit visa. It's easy for her to leave; however, once she departs the Kingdom, that's it---no reentry, no return. And the company sponsoring her has made it clear that the teachers are expected to stay in Riyadh and work, which means no approval for multi-entry/exit biz visit visas.

TheEasyLife · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 57

IQAMA UPDATE,

I was asked to keep my iqama process updated to help others who want to come to Saudi. I work for Interlink/EGA.

I am British but it is the same process for the American and Australian teachers who work here.

So we flew to Bahrain for a medical - 160 us dollars and we got a 90 day work/employment visa for 95 us dollars.

I have just been paid today for the first time , in cash, and got reimbursed for all expenses plus my February pay. ��

We had another medical in Saudi last week for the iqama process paid for by the company.

Today was the first day back after a break and we gave our medicals results and passports to our site director who will start the iqama process. We have been told by the director and other teachers who have already been through the same process that this will take 2-3 weeks. Then we will get our passports back and our iqama.

After this we can open our bank accounts. The process is very easy and much simpler now than it was for teachers who arrived just 16 months ago when some of their iqamas took 10 months.

Sirens of Cyprus · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 255

The flight cost 160? From where? Dhahran? If so, how did you get into Saudi in the first place? Business visa?

TheEasyLife · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 57

No the medical in Bahrain was 160 dollars.
We got the 90 day work visa in bahrain then flew to saudi.
The company paid for the flights from the uk into bahrain then from bahrain to saudi.

Sirens of Cyprus · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 255

Did any of you get a multi entry-exit visa?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Twice, with different employers, I took the route of an employment contract and Iqama while not resident in my home country. At the time I was resident in a country that did not even have a Saudi Embassy. First employer was Saudi Arabian Airlines and second was KFUPM. Airline processed my paperwork in London and KFUPM did it through Ankara/Istanbul. In the latter case the Cultural Attache in Ankara was very helpful. The Consulate in Istanbul less so - but I managed !

It CAN be done if your employer is a big enough fish. Of course if you are going with some sleazeball trader in human flesh you should not expect civilised treatment

jaffa · Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 403

TheEasyLife · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 57

IQAMA UPDATE!!

My iqama has arrived a massive 8 days after my passport and medical were sent off. I am now awaiting a letter to say I can open a bank account and I can apply for entry/exit visas, both single and multiple. These take a week if I want one at a cost of something between 200 and 300 SAR.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Single is SR200 and multiple is SR 500.

That is per person. Be sure to cancel the exit visa if you decide not to use it. Otherwise there is a hefty fine.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

TheEasyLife · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 57

Well, I'm in Saudi now. I didn't have to have a medical in my own country at all and I did get an employment visa. I got my employment visa in Bahrain in one day and I got my Iqama in a week after I had a medical in Saudi. A week later I opened my Samba bank account and I am already sending home vast amounts of money.

So, to put it simply, you are completely and utterly wrong.