Job Discussion Forums

[currentaffairs]

Things should start warming up in the next few weeks. Government unis and colleges usually want you over there for mid August but this deadline is routinely missed. Teaching starts beginning of September at most places.

Britannia charge 500 pounds for sorting the visa paperwork and the medical so I would expect sterling service... Quite a rip off and someone is making a lot of baksheesh further down the line! They used to do it for about 100 pounds just a few years ago and then the charge suddenly shot up!

[gregsie74]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=105111

Hi all
Saw the above post, which shows you how to apply for visa alone, and basically an agency wants me to interview for a job. The offer looks good, but they want me to pay upfront for fee.( visa/medical). I read somewhere that you should never pay upfront fees when it comes to agents even if they offer you a contract can anyone confirm whether this is standard practice or not.

Thanks

[nomad soul]

[currentaffairs]

For both Saudi employers that I worked for before I paid upfront and it is common practice concerning the visa fees. The fees used to be relatively low so it wasn't an issue. You keep the receipts and you get reimbursed by your first or second paycheck.

Usually, flights are booked and paid for by your employer. But, sometimes you may have to book them yourself.

In my experience, even with the contractors, the flights and visa fees were always reimbursed and you never lost out!

[earlybirdgetstheworm]

[earlybirdgetstheworm]

The new changes have certainly thrown a spanner in the works for recruiters and unis, especially regarding UK applicants.

[currentaffairs]

Yes, I have a direct hire job at a university in Saudi and I have heard nothing yet. No way that I will be there for mid August. I emailed my contact person a couple of weeks ago and he just told me to keep waiting! I haven't even started the visa application process...

[halebob]

Earlybird - I went to Britannia on 6th july and just missed the last batch too.

I have a trinity cert so I had to email someone there to verify my qualification (Britannia gave me all of the info I needed), it only took a day for them to do it. They emailed uksacb and me, I passed it onto Britannia and they did the rest. Just a waiting game now.
They have said it could be sooner than 4 weeks. There's also a guy over from al hussan at the moment who I've spoken to and he said he's going to do what he can to speed things up.

[currentaffairs]

I just got an email today from the Saudi Cultural Bureau.. with details on the attestation procedure. The ball is rolling!