Job Discussion Forums

[jmvkjmvk]

Hi all

I am applying for a position (as a woman with a husband and 2 children) in Saudi. I have been hearing mixed 'facts' about the possibility of bringing my hubby and kids along.

I have MSed TESOL with years of uni teaching experience in South Korea, am government certified in multiple US states and have 1 year of teaching English in a public school in the USA.

After applying for a position at Alfaisal UPP, I got an email basically saying that the Ministry of the Interior for the Saudi government has changed the rules for positions that require a Master's degree. Therefore, new employees who hold (only) a Master's degree can still obtain a resident visa (or iqama) but will not be able to obtain one for their dependent(s). Simply put, Alfaisal can hire me, but I cannot bring my spouse or children to Saudi Arabia to live with me.

Any thoughts? Comments?

[scot47]

This may be a new rule from the Ministry of the Interior. It may be that your employer would prefer that you had no dependants and are passing the blame onto the Ministry. The added expense of airfares, housing, medical cover and education allowance could be substantial.

Either way, there is little you can do about it. If they say your dependants cannot come, then you are stuck with that.

[jmvkjmvk]

Thanks for the response.

Passing the blame when there is no change in the law and there actually being a new law is exactly what I am trying to find truth in.

I wonder which source to call/email to ask as I am unfamiliar with Saudi political systems.

[scot47]

You have to accept what the employer is telling you. How will you benefit from knowing whether or not this comes from the Ministry ? How do you think you can change anything ?

Ministries in Riyadh are not in the habit of listening to complaints from outsiders and foreigners. Asking questions like this of an employer, before you get to KSA will have only one outcome. Your application will be filed in the waste paper basket.

[jmvkjmvk]

I am not trying to change anything.

If this is a new blanket rule though, then, I won't waste my time in trying to get these 'benefits' from other employers if they don't or can't exist.

[nomad soul]

[jmvkjmvk]

Basically the text after where I said "I got an e-mail saying blah blah..

Please refer to the OP

[spiral78]

[jmvkjmvk]

Sorry ..my two kids are pulling on my legs. I don't mean to be terse.

Here is a copy and paste..

I got an email basically saying that the Ministry of the Interior for the Saudi government has changed the rules for positions that require a Master's degree. Therefore, new employees who hold (only) a Master's degree can still obtain a resident visa (or iqama) but will not be able to obtain one for their dependent(s). Simply put, Alfaisal can hire me, but I cannot bring my spouse or children to Saudi Arabia to live with me.

Plus I sent the full email to the person asking in a PM

There is a confidentiality statement at the end of the email so I hesitate in posting word for word in public ...or can I?

[nomad soul]

I got your PM. You can quote that part of Alfaisal's email here. Either way, your time would best be spent applying elsewhere in the Gulf.

[jmvkjmvk]

Thanks nomad soul. If you hear anything about whether or not the 'new law change' is fact or fiction I would appreciate a heads up.

If it is a law change, I would hate weeks/months of job searching to end in vain.

Thanks all!

[nomad soul]