Job Discussion Forums

[johndhorton]

Hi all:

Here is a recent message I emailed to the employer:

"From: john horton [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 14/Nov/2009 3:58 AM
To: waleed
Subject: Status of Contract with John D. Horton

Hi:

I am in receipt of my passport with an apparent 180 day visitor visas to Saudi Arabia stamped in it and $228 remitted by Global Visa.

Please advise regarding the status of my contract with your company?

If you believe that the contract is still in force, when do you plan on providing me with the contracted for employment?

If the contract is not enforce, on what day was it terminated by you?

Thank you.

John D, Horton
Lawton, Oklahoma"

And here is the employer's reply:

"Dear Horton

The contract is only effective if we sign it in SA. However, we were very serious in hiring you as you can say by issuing you a visa. and we promise that we will keep as a priority whenever we have an opening. We have another project in Jubail,SA and we might need more teachers. We cannot guarantee anything but we will do our best to find you a good position.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best Regards

Al-Haitam & Mohawarean

W


The fact that they were able to procure an "vistor" visa (not an employment visa which I think is a lot more expensive and which employers generally only pay to get after you arrive in the country) from the Saudi Consulate in Houston might indicate that they are legitimate since it is stamped in my passport. The visa looks legitimate and it says that it is good for 180 days.

Is there any one on this forum who is or has worked for this company who can vounch for their bona fides?

I emailed the prep-year dean at King Saud University and all he could say is that multiple companies supply teachers and would not say that "Al-Haitam & Mohawarean" and its subsidiary (the subject of this forum) are currently involved with King Saud University.

Thank you.

John D. Horton
Lawton, Oklahoma
USA

(MOD edit: DO NOT POST NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION)

[skullytefldude]

This company is legit. I heard that this is a new but good company from a friend.

[geomood]

Sure, good companies always get you a visa in your passport just in case there might be a job sometime, somewhere, doing something, for someone.

[randyteach]

I too got hired by this recruiter (Intl Co. For Education & E-Learning) to teach at King Saud University, and I did a sign a contract with them. I was told to get the visa (don't ask me which one) from a visa service in Houston.

I haven't done that yet, but I got back to them and asked whether it was KSU and not just the recruiter that hired me. I also asked if I would have single housing, not shared. They confirmed that I would not be sharing housing with anyone, and also that KSU did hire me.

After hearing so much BS from recruiters, I'm fully prepared for the possibility of getting the rug pulled out from under me once I get there. But if that does happen, can I get out fast with little difficulty if any? Has anyone experienced this sort of thing, and should I take the offer and fly out there?

[johnslat]

Dear randyteach,

Like the Hotel California, Saudi can be difficult to check out of. You need an exit visa, and guess who facilitates that: your employer (the government supplies it, but you have to go through your employer to get it.)

Is your visa one that has multiple exit/re-entry stamps in it? If not, getting out whenever you want to could be just about impossible.

Regards,
John

[skullytefldude]

Dear randyteach,

Go ahead and take the position at KSU. This company is new but from what I hear they are good.

[johndhorton]

Dear randyteach:

Do you have some type of English teaching credential? After I had paid for my visa and received my flight itinerary, I was notified by Haroon that King Saud University did not want me because I did not have an English degree or an English teaching credential.

The company apparently has you pay for a visa even before they propose you as an employee to KSU.

This was the sequence of events for me:

1. Sign contract with International Co. For Education & E-Learning.

2. International Co. For Education & E-Learning tells you to pay for a visa from Global Visa in Houston.

3. International Co. For Education & E-Learning then proposes you to the hiring authorities as King Saud University.

4. King Saud University then may or may not offer you a position.

5. If King Saud University doesn't offer you a position, then you demand your money back from International Co. For Education & E-Learning and Global Visa for the cost of the visa.

I was dropped two weekends ago (around Nov. 1)

Regarding getting out of Saudi Arabia:

1. Keep a copy of your passport in case your company "takes" it from you.

2. The American Embassy in Riyadh and the American Consulates in Jeddah and Dharan can issue you a duplicate passport if the company won't give your passport back.

3. You can always drive across the bridge to Bharain and take a flight from there.

Regarding your visa:

1. The visa you are given by the Saudi Consulate in Houston is a 180 day visitor visa.

2. My visa specifically states: "Not permitted to work."

3. There are two "single visit" 200 riyal stamps in the page preceeding the visa page. I don't know what that means.

4. Once you get to Saudi Arabia, the company will try to get you a work visa which costs more and involves medical exams. In the mean time, they will have you work illegally.

I am still waiting on International Co. For Education & E-Learning to find me a position and they have been extremely silent since I threatened to sue them to get my visa expenses refunded when they and King Saud University back out of the deal.

All for now.

John D. Horton
Lawton, Oklahoma
USA

[Zain Syed]

Any update on this. Because they offering me a job but I am reluctant to send my passport.

[scot47]

John

You say -

"1. Keep a copy of your passport in case your company "takes" it from you.

2. The American Embassy in Riyadh and the American Consulates in Jeddah and Dharan can issue you a duplicate passport if the company won't give your passport back.

3. You can always drive across the bridge to Bharain and take a flight from there. "



You cannot just drive over the Causeway to Bahrain with a photocopy of your passport.

I would think very seriously before coming to work on a skanky deal like the one on offer. And generally speaking I would avoid contractors and go for direct hire, unless I was desperate for a job. This advice is repeated on these threads by most serious posters familiar with the employment scene in KSA.

If you pm me I can give you some leads about applying for a job.

[Zain Syed]

Scot

I am new to the scene. I wish to work in KSA or any gulf country. Can you help me out? I am now hesitant because this same recruiter is offering me a job but because of this thread I have dropped them.

[manowur]

Hello all ICEE prospective hires,

I'm working at KSU-PYP (but not with ICEE).

As far as I know, there are roughly 15-20 (could slightly be off though) ICEE guys here and from what I've heard from some of them, the employer is decent. Yes, they are here on government/work visit/business visas (whatever you wanna call it; basically, it's not an iqama) and thus, they get to hold onto their passports. There has been discussion about them getting transferred to iqamas, but nothing has materialized yet.
I don't know what's the story in Jubail (however, I heard one ICEE guy was recently sacked from KSU due to "cultural blunders" - another thing you need to be vigilant about - and was in turn sent to the Jubail vacancy).

One piece of advice though, DO NOT come here (KSU) if you don't have a degree and teaching qualification (CELTA, TESOL, TEFL, etc.). Yes, these idiots will initially hire and go through the hassle of bringing you over, but then sack you shortly after if and when they discover you are missing either of these. I've already seen it happen before my very eyes to a few guys here.
Also, now I don't mean to sound harsh, but with respect to the recently sacked ICEE guy I mentioned above, if you have any other anti-Islamic tendencies/beliefs (e.g., homosexuality, alcoholism, disrespect for Islamic religion and/or Arab culture, etc.), you should also think twice about coming here. The admin/teachers and, more importantly, students are very perceptive and will not stand for what is typically viewed here as deviant behavior (even though you may find some of locals indulging in such actions).

If you have any other particular questions, let me know and I can ask the ICEE guys I know here. I sympathize with you all as I know what it feels like being on the outside trying to get insider info. I recall before I had my job coming here on Dave's to get advice, but with little luck. That being said, I will try doing my best to help those who want it.