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aimhigh
Joined: 24 Sep 2012
Posts: 16
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 Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 4:41 pm Post subject: Saudi Embassy in America give visa only for English degree |
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| So I hear the Saudi embassy in America is only issuing work visas for those with English related degrees. Does anyone know if this is true and is it being strictly followed? I have my CELTA and bachs in BIO with 3 months experience teaching ESL. |
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Allizwell
Joined: 04 Nov 2010
Posts: 54
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. Currently, there are many reports that the Saudi Embassy in the U.S. (probably at the request of Saudi employers and based on some sort of Royal decree) is turning down visa requests if applicants do not have a degree in English. However, there are some nuances to this new "rule." My personal experience in applying for jobs in Saudi this past year include a recruiter who cancelled my job interview once they saw that my B.A. is in French even though my M.A. is in the preferred TESL concentration and was obtained in brick and mortar fashion back in the U.S. But then another employer actually hired me recently with these same credentials, and the visa has been approved. So, add this to the growing body of anecdotal data and draw your own conclusions. Good luck. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Allizwell wrote: |
| My personal experience in applying for jobs in Saudi this past year include a recruiter who cancelled my job interview once they saw that my B.A. is in French even though my M.A. is in the preferred TESL concentration and was obtained in brick and mortar fashion back in the U.S. But then another employer actually hired me recently with these same credentials, and the visa has been approved. So, add this to the growing body of anecdotal data and draw your own conclusions. |
This is why job seekers should list their TEFL-related education and certs prominently near the beginning of their CV and put unrelated academic credentials/certs toward the end of the document (under "Other education"). Of course, for those who don't have a relevant degree... |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 2:52 am Post subject: |
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| Allizwell wrote: |
| My personal experience in applying for jobs in Saudi this past year include a recruiter who cancelled my job interview once they saw that my B.A. is in French even though my M.A. is in the preferred TESL concentration and was obtained in brick and mortar fashion back in the U.S. But then another employer actually hired me recently with these same credentials, and the visa has been approved. |
Teachers who cannot acquire Iqama employment visas have been able to get temporary employment visas (which are legal) and every 90 days or so renew them in the Emirates. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 3:32 am Post subject: Re: Saudi Embassy in America give visa only for English degr |
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| aimhigh wrote: |
| ...is it being strictly followed? I have my CELTA and bachs in BIO with 3 months experience teaching ESL. |
Unfortunately, your newly-minted CELTA and lack of measurable experience are more of an issue than your unrelated degree. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Saudi Embassy in America give visa only for English degr |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| aimhigh wrote: |
| ...is it being strictly followed? I have my CELTA and bachs in BIO with 3 months experience teaching ESL. |
Unfortunately, your newly-minted CELTA and lack of measurable experience are more of an issue than your unrelated degree. |
From my experience 3 years of ESL is the minimum for even the so called "bottom feeders" to look at you. A considerably better job will require much more.
Why not enjoy Bangkok for a little while then move on to Vietnam or Turkey or wherever you might want to go? It will give you a valuable aspect of what it is like to teach ESL in Asia. You might find better hunting grounds.
Your ESL qualifications are similar to what I started out with. |
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aimhigh
Joined: 24 Sep 2012
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I know someone who went last September with his CELTA bach in Commincation and not a single day worth of experience teaching. So it is possible. But I heard that although without English related degree you can still get Temporary work visas with Saudi. Does anyone know more about this. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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| A temporary employment (work) visa can be obtained for some if you don't have an English degree. That would mean you would have to keep going to Bahrain every 3 months to renew, not a big deal. In some ways they are better than Iqamas. |
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soheeb16
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 57
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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Allizwell, May I ask exactly what it said on your degree? I called the embassy and they told me they accept English and Linguistics degrees, but they said they don't accept education and the rep said she wasn't sure about TESOL.
I find most TESOL degrees read Master of Education, and on the transcript it says major in TESOL. I have also seen Master of Arts in TESOL, but was told again the TESOL would only be on the transcript. Did your actual degree say TESOL on it? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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| aimhigh wrote: |
| I know someone who went last September with his CELTA bach in Commincation and not a single day worth of experience teaching. So it is possible. |
A contracting company that puts inexperienced teachers in classrooms of 30 or 40+ students is not one you'd want to work for. Either the company is desperate or it doesn't care---or both. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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| soheeb16 wrote: |
I called the embassy and they told me they accept English and Linguistics degrees, but they said they don't accept education and the rep said she wasn't sure about TESOL.
I find most TESOL degrees read Master of Education, and on the transcript it says major in TESOL. I have also seen Master of Arts in TESOL, but was told again the TESOL would only be on the transcript. Did your actual degree say TESOL on it? |
Which is why I've said, ad nauseam, that the content/coursework is key and not the degree title. By the way, the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission authenticates degrees (via transcripts and notarized verification from the university's registrar). This is not the function of the embassy, which is why the woman you spoke to was clueless about TESOL. |
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Allizwell
Joined: 04 Nov 2010
Posts: 54
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:46 am Post subject: |
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| My M.A. is in "Linguistics: TESL Concentration" (2nd language acq and methodology courses, a practicum, etc). I also have a graduate TESL certificate (30 sem. units) with a lot of similar coursework to the M.A. May seem like overkill to some, but I wanted to be safe since I knew I wanted to reach the upper echelon of overseas jobs/pay. So far, it has worked out. On my third contract in Saudi. Grateful. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:29 am Post subject: |
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| Allizwell wrote: |
| My M.A. is in "Linguistics: TESL Concentration" (2nd language acq and methodology courses, a practicum, etc). I also have a graduate TESL certificate (30 sem. units) with a lot of similar coursework to the M.A. . |
Sounds sort of English related to me. Apparently the Saudi Embassy thought so too. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:14 am Post subject: |
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| It seems this alledged English-related degree requirement is applicable to certain contracting companies and not to direct-hire situations. If that's the case, perhaps it would be useful for American job seekers to know which companies, especially if that's their only option for employment in the Kingdom. |
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soheeb16
Joined: 17 Jun 2013
Posts: 57
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 4:51 am Post subject: |
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| Allizwell wrote: |
| My M.A. is in "Linguistics: TESL Concentration" (2nd language acq and methodology courses, a practicum, etc). I also have a graduate TESL certificate (30 sem. units) with a lot of similar coursework to the M.A. May seem like overkill to some, but I wanted to be safe since I knew I wanted to reach the upper echelon of overseas jobs/pay. So far, it has worked out. On my third contract in Saudi. Grateful. |
Oh okay. From my understanding, Linguistics degrees are in the clear, whether they say TESOL or not. And I would say having many credentials should be in your advantage and is not overkill. |
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