Job Discussion Forums

McBrainiac · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 61 Location: Somewhere warm

Yeah, that is precisely my situation. I received my degrees before the internet was widely available. They used to have something called "bitnet" solely for the academics, er ah, I mean college and university teachers. However, back in the dark ages, we older guys did not have the benefit of the internet. We lacked e-mail accounts and any other semblance of what people take for granted today.

McBrainiac · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 61 Location: Somewhere warm

To realize that you can remember when people actually "typed" research papers on a manual typewriter before we had the internet, makes ya feel old, believe me!

Grendal · Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 1:21 am Post subject:

I would like an attestation in a sealed envelope from Canadian foreign affairs that the Saudi embassy in Ottawa is legitimate and sane.

Grendal

rollingk · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 212

You gotta just roll on the ground that these folk have become so discriminating when it comes to tertiary education.

davealber · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 13

Hello,

I supplied the envelope that the class I took was in class and not online for my MA (in folklore). Do I have to do this for my BA and TESOL certificate as well?

The company that is processing the visa says they don't need it. "Just give us a copy of the diplomas." The school says "send everything." Since the requirements for the visa seem to be a bit convoluted, I'm not sure what to expect.

Thanks!

McBrainiac · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 61 Location: Somewhere warm

rdobbs98 puts it succinctly and most accurately, IMHO. Good luck to you!

soheeb16 · Joined: 17 Jun 2013 Posts: 57 Location: New York, NY

Well I was two days away from paying for my first semester at Shenandoah (an online TESOL MA) and now I am having second thoughts.

A question: How many times would one have to do this? If you get through the embassy once and get a visa that leads to an Iqama, would you always have to provide these records when renewing your papers?

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

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

I was just recently looking at my documents sent back to me. My Master's degree from SUNY was never attested, no signature from the Saudi Cultural Mission. My Bachelor's in Biology has the markings from the Mission. My Master's was not from an online college obviously. It's difficult to know what goes on in the minds of the people at the Saudi Cultural Mission.

soheeb16 · Joined: 17 Jun 2013 Posts: 57 Location: New York, NY

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I was asking if, when renewing your Iqama, you would have to have your education background screened yet again. In other words, if you do manage to get your degree attested to by the embassy, is that the last you will have to worry about that?

Basically, I want to know if a degree that is okay'd now has any risk of being rejected in the future.

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

I think not, unless you change employers, in which case you have to go through the visa process again. I've heard that iqamas can be transferred without going through the process again, but don't personally know anyone who has done this.

McBrainiac · Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 61 Location: Somewhere warm

I actually tried to do this once, back in 2008. When confronted with the reality of dealing with the bureaucratic colossis confronting you when attempting this, ya have to assume that anyone successful at this intimidating endeavor must have major wasta that is unlikely to be obtained by any mortals anywhere near our paygrade! I kind of think that this is all myth or urban legend! Better to just go through the visa process the way that they tell you!

soheeb16 · Joined: 17 Jun 2013 Posts: 57 Location: New York, NY

So changing employers means starting from scratch? That doesn't sound fun.

rollingk · Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 212

I was asked by the visa agent to supply my previously attested BA from my earlier visa process (of about 2 years previously) with an old sponsor, however, the document wasn't given to me, nor did I think to ask for it at the time. It took more than 5 weeks to get my grad degree attested recently.

So maybe, just maybe, if one could keep the previously attested degree, that might do. However, I think it would depend on the clerk, the embassy, and the wasta of your sponsor. Yet having it could reduce your processing time considerably.

davt · Joined: 07 Oct 2009 Posts: 18

It's simply recruiters and Saudis making it hard for anyone applying for a job. When I worked in Saudi three years ago, there were four teachers at the university that didn't even have a Bachelor's degree. They were found out and allowed to stay. I think the Saudis love the British they seem harder on Americans. But, the funny thing is many Saudi students come to America and take online classes or do online degree programs. It's all a double standard.