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What kind of visa is required to bring a wife to SA?

 
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snowsilver



Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 10:45 pm    Post subject: What kind of visa is required to bring a wife to SA? Reply with quote

My son is in Riyadh teaching. My daughter-in-law remained behind to get the house cleared and give notice to her employer (the school was very anxious to get my son there asap).

Now she is trying to get there and has been told she needs a "spousal" visa, but can't seem to find anyone in the US who is proficient in handling such a visa. It seems to me it should be a piece of cake, but she's talked with Travisa and others. She will be leaving from NYC.

Anyone got any advice on who can help with this?

Thanks
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Amerrycan Muslim



Joined: 01 Jul 2014
Posts: 51
Location: KSA

PostPosted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 11:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does your son have an iqamah already? If he doesn't, then the simple answer is she can't. If he does have an iqamah then he needs to talk to his employer's HR dept.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 11:45 pm    Post subject: Re: What kind of visa is required to bring a wife to SA? Reply with quote

snowsilver wrote:
It seems to me it should be a piece of cake.

Don't count on it being quick and easy; the process for sponsorship and legal residence is an "involved" one.
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snowsilver



Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

He does have his iqumah. He also has her visa approved by SA. All she needs to do is from the USA end. But there seems to be some debate as to whether she needs a "residence" visa or a "spousal" visa. She is being told "residence", but can't seem to find a qualified visa agent here in the US to handle this.

She is also taking a dog. Dog's visa is all finished. THAT was the one they were worried about and that went though with not a problem.

She has completed her medical here and she was told that was all she needed. But now she can't seem to find out what kind of visa she should be applying for. And believe me, the employer is no help. They say spousal, but leave it up to her husband to get it done. They will pay for everything, but just shrug off all other questions.

She thought Travisa would be able to handle the whole thing (they did her husband's), but they are saying they don't do residence visas.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This must be arranged by your son... in Riyadh. You may want to direct him to the information in this thread about one of the teachers bringing over his wife.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=106182

I am concerned that since your son's school was in a big rush to get him there, they didn't get him the proper visa, so he won't have the iqama (work visa) required for him to bring her over. (many of these employers take shortcuts that benefit them, but cause great problems for the teacher) Did he do a major medical exam and lots of paperwork with the embassy there before he went? If he didn't, tell her to keep her job and the house... as she may not be able to go at all.

VS
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snowsilver



Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Yes, he has an employment visa. This is his second stint over there so he knew what to do for himself. But he was single last time.

I'm forwarding all this on to them.
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snowsilver



Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 34

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

veiledsentiments wrote:
This must be arranged by your son... in Riyadh. You may want to direct him to the information in this thread about one of the teachers bringing over his wife.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=106182

I am concerned that since your son's school was in a big rush to get him there, they didn't get him the proper visa, so he won't have the iqama (work visa) required for him to bring her over. (many of these employers take shortcuts that benefit them, but cause great problems for the teacher) Did he do a major medical exam and lots of paperwork with the embassy there before he went? If he didn't, tell her to keep her job and the house... as she may not be able to go at all.

VS


I did just check with my DIL. My son has the letter from the Ministry clearing her to come over. All that is needed is for someone here to get her the correct visa and all the agencies are saying they don't know exactly what visa she should get. Saudi is saying "spousal" and the US is saying "residency". The visa agent is saying he doesn't know which one--and he appears to be a Saudi himself as she heard in speaking in that language as he was hanging up from talking to her. He is very short and abrupt with her (which she says is just getting her used to how she will be treated probably when she gets there). However, she has a feeling that he would be working a lot harder on her case if she were a male.

She is under a time constraint as the dog's visa is good for only 30 days. She was informed that her visa should only take 5 days after her medical reports were done (which they are), but now they are giving her the song and dance about not really being sure which visa she should be going over with.

I think you guys probably don't know how to help either, but I knew you were probably the most knowledgeable group I could ask---(I read this forum all the time as I have a son there) and I know how good you are.

Thanks for the time you spent.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hopefully, Sicklyman will see this thread. In the meantime, I strongly suggest you also post on one or more of the numerous expat Saudi forums, which cater to a more diverse group of members---many of whom bring their families to KSA. You're likely to get a faster response if your questions haven't already been asked by others. Do an Internet search on expat forum Saudi.

By the way, your daughter-in-law's timing isn't the best since it's currently Ramadan. Offices are understaffed and many of those who are working tend to be crankier than usual because they're fasting.
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Mushkilla



Joined: 17 Apr 2014
Posts: 320
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:23 pm    Post subject: Re: What kind of visa is required to bring a wife to SA? Reply with quote

snowsilver wrote:
My son is in Riyadh teaching. My daughter-in-law remained behind to get the house cleared and give notice to her employer (the school was very anxious to get my son there asap).

Now she is trying to get there and has been told she needs a "spousal" visa, but can't seem to find anyone in the US who is proficient in handling such a visa. It seems to me it should be a piece of cake, but she's talked with Travisa and others. She will be leaving from NYC.

Anyone got any advice on who can help with this?

Thanks

I think it is called a "family visa", you are required to have a Valid Saudi Iqama, a Suitable Technical Profession that is eligible for applying a family visa as per Saudi Arabian labor laws.

Here is a step by step guide on how you obtain a family visa:
http://prosaudi.com/2012/family-visa-ksa/getting-family-visa-in-saudi-arabia/

More useful info about "family visa":
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.PrintContent&action=Print&contentID=0000000022139
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sicklyman



Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well Sicklyman is here... but alas can do little.

If the guy has the yellow slip (of paper) from an istiqdam office in Saudi which states that the Saudi govt has a visa number for the wife, then all my experience here matches his.

What happens after he has that piece of paper may differ from what happened to my wife and me because I'm from the UK and his wife is in the US.

Basically, the guy in Saudi needs to get the yellow slip to his wife somehow. An electronic copy is fine. The wife needs to take this to a visa agent who will do all the paperwork that side and get the visa (whatever it's called) in her passport. She can of course go directly to the Saudi Embassy but a visa agent, although much more expensive, is highly recommended because it will save a lot of time and confusion. She'll need to have a medical too which will be pricey.

The ambiguity over what the visa is called is probably arising because residency (i.e. an iqama) is not determined until she gets to Saudi and does the paperwork and medical required there. In the meantime, the Saudi embassies issue visas to allow wives to travel to Saudi and then begin the iqama (i.e. residency) process. So, try to avoid saying residency visa when dealing with officials. Instead, say something like "visa for my daughter in law to go to live in Saudi".

However, you'll have to come to terms with one significant factor right away. As someone else has mentioned, we're in the second week of Ramadan. Hardly any official business will take place between now and the beginning of August when Eid finishes. Snowsilver, I'm afraid that even if your daughter in law did have an electronic copy of the yellow slip and had already given that to a visa agent, you'd be sitting around until August in any case.

So, I suggest you
a) make sure your daughter in law gets a copy of that yellow slip
b) find a visa agent somewhere in the US who handles Saudi visas (I'm sure someone on this board can suggest one) and get started with whatever they ask her to do (e.g. medical)
and
c) what until you have the visa in the passport back from the agency before you redo the dog's visa which you will almost certainly have to do because of Ramadan slowing everything down.

Sorry I can't provide anything more encouraging, but do tell her this is great preparation for life in Saudi.
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sicklyman



Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930

PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:17 pm    Post subject: Re: What kind of visa is required to bring a wife to SA? Reply with quote

Mushkilla wrote:
I think it is called a "family visa", you are required to have a Valid Saudi Iqama, a Suitable Technical Profession that is eligible for applying a family visa as per Saudi Arabian labor laws.

Here is a step by step guide on how you obtain a family visa:
http://prosaudi.com/2012/family-visa-ksa/getting-family-visa-in-saudi-arabia/

As I understand it from snowsilver's posts, his son has already completed this process in Saudi and has the yellow slip.

If I'm wrong about this snowsilver then your son would do well to read Mushkilla's links and also a thread on this forum which I posted here:

Getting a dependent's (permanent) visa
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Nabz1236



Joined: 04 Mar 2014
Posts: 54

PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:09 am    Post subject: Documents for Family Visa. Reply with quote

Hi Sicklyman,

I had a read at your step to step guide for getting a family dependants visa.

I am also from the UK and so is my wife both on British passports.

I start a job in Saudi around the 3rd week of August.

I am trying to get things arranged now so there is no delay in getting my spouse over when I am authorised by my employer to do so.

So far I have had my Degree certificate and Marriage certificate attested/legalised as required. I did this through the visa agency BCS in London.

They have advised me I don't need to have my CELTA certificate attested or legalised. Is this correct?

Also they have told me I don't need my degree or marriage certificate translated into Arabic. I see your post says this is required? Where would I get this done? Also I take it the Arabic translated copies don't need any legalisation etc?

Company have told me I cannot bring my wife over till I have passed 3 months probation.

So I had a plan to bring my wife over on a visit visa initially once I had my Iqama issued in Saudi. But apparently to also allow this the Company need to authorise the application for even a family visit visa. They will not allow this till after 3 months have passed.

So I guess there is no other way around getting my wife there any earlier than 3 months. Best I can do is be prepared with all the paperwork.

I have a family friend who is a resident in KSA with his family. They have lived there for over 20 years. But am I right in saying you can only sponsor family relatives for a visit visa not just anyone?

Thanks

Nabeel.
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sicklyman



Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930

PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 9:51 am    Post subject: Re: Documents for Family Visa. Reply with quote

Hi Nabeel... as I don't want to hijack snowsilver's thread, I've responded to your questions on the thread I started at

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=1161540#1161540
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Mushkilla



Joined: 17 Apr 2014
Posts: 320
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Documents for Family Visa. Reply with quote

Nabz1236 wrote:
But am I right in saying you can only sponsor family relatives for a visit visa not just anyone?

Thanks

Nabeel.

Yes.
Family visit visa is for wife, children, father, mother, father in law, mother in law, brother, and sister.
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