Job Discussion Forums

[motarjim1]

es

3 years of experience under my belt in the kingdom and I've finally landed an awesome job in KSA with a reputable company (can't state who for privacy reasons).

A few weeks ago the cultural mission requested that my university write them a letter stating which courses I took online and which ones I took on campus. My university sent them a method of instruction letter which clearly states that the university will not distinguish between the two as a matter of university policy.

The cultural mission then sent over a Distance Learning form, which is basically a form that the university can complete stating whether the student has sat in online courses and which courses if any.

The Registrar responded in another letter to the cultural mission stating that they cannot distinguish between online courses and those taken on campus, and therefore it cannot complete the Distance Learning form.

The cultural mission reported to my visa agent that the university's letters will not be sufficient, and that they must complete the Distance Learning form before I may be issued a visa.

Quite honestly, I have never sat in online courses (not that I have a problem with online courses) and I would hate to lose this job over an issue of policy.

If anyone has any advice or has been in this situation before, your commentary would be highly appreciated.

[trapezius]

contact your uni and tell them they want to know because they don't issue visas to those with online courses.

and then say that since your courses were all on campus, you just want to request them to help you by filling out the form or just stating that all your courses were on campus. tell them it is an issue to livelihood and they should bend the rules a bit, just to help you, especially since they won't be lying.

if denied, contact the uni chancellor/rector/dean.

[nomad soul]

You have to be clear with your university registrar about exactly what you need and why. Additionally, I suggest you ask the registrar what you can provide at your end (e.g., a signed letter from you requesting the university make an exception and waive their policy) in order to expeditiously meet this crucial visa requirement. The registrar's notarized, written response to the SACM should state that 100% of your courses were completed onsite, while the distance learning form should indicate 0 (instead of "Not applicable").

[rtm]

When you say "My university sent them", who do you mean? The registrar's office? Office of the president? Someone else? If the courses were completed on-campus, couldn't you have the director of graduate studies in your department or the department chair write a letter stating that you completed the courses on campus?

[eslteacher2014]

last summer i sent my b.a and m.a for the authenication at SACM.

both degree's where from the same university.

They accepted my b.a , but not my ma because 15 of my 33 credits were done online.

I still submitted my authenticated b.a to the embassy in my visa packet and i got the visa like 1-2 days.

One my coworkers also had the same problem.
His b.a was ok, but m.a wasnt accepted by SACM because of the online courses.

but he still got his visa.

[johnslat]

Dear Grendal,

"What a life you have."

There must be some Internet posting rule that doesn't allow people who are working and living in Saudi from pitying the lives of those who are not.

Regards,
John

[plumpy nut]

[Grendal]

[johnslat]

Dear Grendal,

Isn't Saudi a double negative (or maybe even a triple or quadruple)?

Regards,
John

[motarjim1]

Thanks for your responses everyone, much appreciated.

[motarjim1]

[lazarenoir]

I spoke directly to the registrar on this issue. I had to complete a form giving them permission to release non-public information, and then they wrote up a short letter stating that all coursework was completed on site in classrooms. They gave me a sealed copy for the visa agency, and a copy for my own records.