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Saudi Work Visa Qualification Question

 
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djstorm1987



Joined: 04 Mar 2015
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 7:53 pm    Post subject: Saudi Work Visa Qualification Question Reply with quote

Am planning on moving to Saudi once I finish my masters. Has anyone been successful in gaining their employment visa by taking only one or two classes online?
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Chiselpoint



Joined: 05 Dec 2013
Posts: 46

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Were the online courses in your MA or your BA? Cause the MA is only a concern of your job. It isn't a part of your visa process as the government does not require it, only employers. So it's irrelevant for your visa.

If your BA has even one or two online credits you might have a problem. Though it likely depends on the wasta of the employer and the mood that day of the visa person.

That said, I'm still going through the process that should have been done 3 weeks ago. So don't quote me.


Last edited by Chiselpoint on Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:18 am; edited 1 time in total
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nomad soul



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

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chiselpoint wrote:
Were the online courses in your MA or your BA? Cause the MA is only a concern of your job. It isn't a part of your visa process as the government does not require it, only employers. So it's irrelevant for your visa.

If your BA has even one or two online credits you might have a problem. Though it likely depends on the wasta of the employer and the mood that day of the visa person.

Shocked

So based on that explanation, an applicant can submit a bogus MA TESOL to the employer for a direct-hire position, and subsequently, receive an offer/salary based on that degree. He/she then submits their bona fide but unrelated BA (their only degree) to the SACM for authentication in order to get approved for an employment/work visa. What's wrong with this picture?
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djstorm1987



Joined: 04 Mar 2015
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My BA was done mostly online as it has been I.T related. Since I am just starting my master degree I was thinking of taking just one online course and the rest in person but wasn`t sure if this would possess a problem for SACM. I`ve heard that people have gotten away with taking 3 and 4 online courses but wanted to hear your experiences.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is no guarantee that you will get a job in KSA.
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nomad soul



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

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 2:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

djstorm1987 wrote:
I was thinking of taking just one online course and the rest in person but wasn`t sure if this would possess a problem for SACM. I`ve heard that people have gotten away with taking 3 and 4 online courses but wanted to hear your experiences.

Don't rely on what you heard about others allegedly getting away with. Do your degree program entirely on campus --- requirements can (and do) change. Plus, you won't have your online BA to fall back on as a qualifying degree.
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djstorm1987



Joined: 04 Mar 2015
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the heads up. Will do
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eslteacher2014



Joined: 08 May 2014
Posts: 66

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i have had 2 jobs in saudi, both on different visas. The first time the cultural mission accepted my b.a but rejected my m.a because half of my m.a classes were online, while the other half were on campus. The most recent visa they accepted both my m.a and b.a........i guess it depends who is working that day.
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djstorm1987



Joined: 04 Mar 2015
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I`ve always thought that they only looked at your highest degree only. They didn`t recognize my BS as the school wasn`t recognized by MOHE. They asked to look at my associates degree which consisted of most classes done online since my I.T Degree required it. That school was well known in the area so it was recognized but not my courses. Now the master degree that I am taking is part of a school that works closely with SACM as most of their Saudi students attend school there. I have heard conflicting answers but just wanted to gain other`s opinion.
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nomad soul



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

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

djstorm1987 wrote:
I`ve always thought that they only looked at your highest degree only. They didn`t recognize my BS as the school wasn`t recognized by MOHE. They asked to look at my associates degree which consisted of most classes done online since my I.T Degree required it. That school was well known in the area so it was recognized but not my courses. Now the master degree that I am taking is part of a school that works closely with SACM as most of their Saudi students attend school there. I have heard conflicting answers but just wanted to gain other`s opinion.

It's the degree that best meets the education requirement for the particular position, which can vary from employer to employer. Obviously, a TEFL-related MA ticks that box.

As for the university you're attending, it needs to be accredited by one of the main regional accrediting bodies recognized by the US Dept. of Education. That said, there was one poster whose degree, although from an accredited private college, was rejected by the SACM likely due to the school's heavy Christian-themed curriculum. No Saudis attending there! Shocked
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djstorm1987



Joined: 04 Mar 2015
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Tue Sep 08, 2015 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The school that I`m currently attending now is recognized by MOHE as many of its Saudi students attend there. I forgot to mention that I have a TEFL certification but highly doubt that they will even look in to that.
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