Job Discussion Forums

[GB_ME]

Hi all,

I hope you can help....

I've recently accepted a job offer in Saudi and have been told I need to get my degree attested before I can continue the visa process with an agent.

I have been in contact with the cultural bureau and sent them the relevant documents and consent letters etc for the process, however despite numerous attempts to phone through to the department I haven't been able to confirm if they've received the documents (which were sent 2 weeks ago) or indeed if they've started the process.

I realize that these things never happen as quickly as we'd like, but I was hoping someone could give me insight into how long I should expect to wait before hearing back from them. It would be great if I could at least get this part of the process started before Ramadan.

As always any help would be greatly appreciated, this forum has helped me loads in the past, so look forward to your responses.

Cheers!

[Wilsonthefarmer]

If you are based in UK, you need to attest/certify your documents with a solicitor, the foreign office, and then to be certified with the Saudi Cultural bureau in London. I guess the process is the same with other countries.

[nomad soul]

You didn't use a mailing/postal service that included a tracking number?

You might try emailing them instead; from their perspective, it's less bothersome than having to stop what they're doing to answer and/or return phone calls. Plus, I believe they also may still be processing the paperwork for Saudi students who've been studying abroad.

[sicklyman]

see my response to this on the other website you also posted this on

[GB_ME]

Here's an update, In case anyone else is in a similar situation....I received my attested degree back a few weeks ago and have since successfully completed my visa application through Harley Street Medical (Who were fantastic!)

I realised it's better to try and follow things up with your university where you did the degree, rather than bothering the cultural office at this busy time. Worked out quite well for me as they were very helpful with keeping me updated.

So all being well I should be in Riyadh before the end of August!

I can't wait...looking forward to a new adventure!

Maybe see some of you there!

All the best!

[scot47]

We are currently in Ramadan so it is surprising that anything gets done at all.
Things will get back tro normal - Saudi style - after 18 August 2013

[nomad soul]

[powerpuffgirl]

Just a question about the degree certificates: are they physically stamped on the back now by the saudi cultural bureau then the saudi consulate?

[nomad soul]

[powerpuffgirl]

Thanks Nomad :)
.According to the Saudi Embassy London website once the SACM have authenticated the qualification ( i already did this two years ago), it must then be legalized by the saudi consulate ( through a visa agent for uk) at a fee of 6 pounds per qualification. I dont recall this second stage two years ago , must be new step?

[nomad soul]

Who can say---their processes could have changed. Regardless, if those are now the instructions, then that's what needs to be followed.

[GB_ME]

I think it must work differently in different counties, in the UK it's a bit bureaucratic, but nothing too painful!

I contacted the Cultural Bureau with a scan of my original degree which was printed off and stamped. I never had to send my original degree off.

Once the cultural bureau confirmed that I had been offered a job by contacting the Uni in Saudi I was sent further forms to fill out. (The main form being one which the Cultural bureau sent to my Uni in the UK stating that I agree for my information to be released.)

I then emailed these back to the cultural bureau, who then contacted my university to verify that the degree is authentic.

All in all it took about 4 weeks to get the attested degree posted back to me. Along with a power of atterny letter (all in Arabic!) I then took these to a visa agent along with other supporting documents to finalise the process.

I didn't have to pay to get the degree attested, but I obviously had to pay to get my visa done through an agent. (Which only took 5 days!)

Hope this makes some sort of sense!!...Feel free to message me if you're stuck.

Good luck!

[scot47]

For some reason I was never required to do this ! maybe because I was alre3ady in KSA when the university recruited me ?

[johnslat]

Dear scot47,

I never had to do it either - but then, we both started there when dinosaurs still roamed the desert sands. So, perhaps that's at least part of the reason.

Regards,
John

[scot47]

I thought it was because of my relationship to Abdullah St John Philby and King Abdulaziz.