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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 12:50 am Post subject: Re: Visa blocked, cannot leave! Help, please! |
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Jerusalem wrote: |
hobartwells wrote: |
Basically, this is what happened:
I am in the Dammam/Riyadh area.
Any referral to legal specialist who has helped with such cases before or sharing experience with something like this will help. |
Hello
Try this
https://altowyjry.com/en/
and this http://saudialaw.com/
who was your first sponsor?
Regards |
Have you worked with these before? Have they helped you or someone you know? Or is this some randomly Googled info?
Any particular person to contact there?
The lower one is a dead link. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 2:40 am Post subject: |
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hobartwells wrote: |
It's been five days now. Basically, I could really use some info from a person with a similar experience and/or who knows such a person, who contacted certain people and who has been successful in overcoming such or a similar obstacle. |
I've regularly followed this forum for nearly nine years, and frankly, I don't recall anyone posting about working illegally for another company and having their exit from the country blocked by their initial sponsor. Generally, they'd be deported immediately and blacklisted from returning to KSA for a couple of years. It's doubtful they would have posted about their ordeal after getting booted out.
Rather than hoping a third party can intervene or that you'll get concrete info here, you really need to continue your conversation with your sponsor to find out 1) what the process is; 2) if there are any fines for removing the block on your visa; and 3) when you'd be able to depart (i.e., the time frame). |
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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 5:08 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
I've regularly followed this forum for nearly nine years, and frankly, I don't recall anyone posting about working illegally for another company and having their exit from the country blocked by their initial sponsor. Generally, they'd be deported immediately and blacklisted from returning to KSA for a couple of years. It's doubtful they would have posted about their ordeal after getting booted out.
Rather than hoping a third party can intervene or that you'll get concrete info here, you really need to continue your conversation with your sponsor to find out 1) what the process is; 2) if there are any fines for removing the block on your visa; and 3) when you'd be able to depart (i.e., the time frame). |
I am doing just that. The sponsor went to apply for removal on the 16th of this month, and he said that they said at the immigration that it would be removed. But it has not been. I was stopped at the border today. And yes, I am continuously in touch with them. But what if they cannot do anything still? I need to explore all avenues. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 8:36 am Post subject: |
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hobartwells wrote: |
The sponsor went to apply for removal on the 16th of this month, and he said that they said at the immigration that it would be removed. But it has not been. I was stopped at the border today. And yes, I am continuously in touch with them. But what if they cannot do anything still? I need to explore all avenues. |
Seriously, ask the sponsor to find out when immigration will have the block removal request processed. Maybe it takes days, weeks to a month or more. It's possible there are plenty of other foreigners in the queue ahead of your request. What you did was illegal, which may entail more than just someone at the MOI changing your info in the system. You'll have to be patient. |
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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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My visa expires in the beginning of April. After this, I have to be deported. My question is, will I be able to get deported even with the block? I do not mind actually. I just want to go home. |
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baa_baa
Joined: 04 Dec 2011 Posts: 265
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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I hope thi gets resolved..praying for you |
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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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Block removed. Thank you for your support.
I am in Bahrain now. Celebrating freedom. |
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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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nomad soul wrote: |
hobartwells wrote: |
The sponsor went to apply for removal on the 16th of this month, and he said that they said at the immigration that it would be removed. But it has not been. I was stopped at the border today. And yes, I am continuously in touch with them. But what if they cannot do anything still? I need to explore all avenues. |
Seriously, ask the sponsor to find out when immigration will have the block removal request processed. Maybe it takes days, weeks to a month or more. It's possible there are plenty of other foreigners in the queue ahead of your request. What you did was illegal, which may entail more than just someone at the MOI changing your info in the system. You'll have to be patient. |
They made a mistake and removed another person's block, not mine.
Had to go back there to repeat the whole process with my manager.
Very unnerving. But now it's removed and I have already left Saudi for Bahrain. |
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PC Parrot
Joined: 11 Dec 2009 Posts: 459 Location: Moral Police Station
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2018 9:21 am Post subject: |
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Well done!
There should be a giant Homer Simpson outside every government and municipal building in the Gulf, with a giant inscription above the main entrance door saying ...
”Doh” |
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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
I've regularly followed this forum for nearly nine years, and frankly, I don't recall anyone posting about working illegally for another company and having their exit from the country blocked by their initial sponsor. |
Therefore, you mean, it does not happen. Because you have followed the forum for nine years and have not seen it.
Apparently, this is the new trend.
Quote: |
Generally, they'd be deported immediately and blacklisted from returning to KSA for a couple of years. It's doubtful they would have posted about their ordeal after getting booted out. |
Some may want to, some may not. We don't know what happens in people's heads.
Quote: |
Rather than hoping a third party can intervene or that you'll get concrete info here, you really need to continue your conversation with your sponsor to find out 1) what the process is; 2) if there are any fines for removing the block on your visa; and 3) when you'd be able to depart |
I was lucky that they cooperated. Not all people have been so lucky and may have a sponsor who may not cooperate. Block and not talk to them at all.
It is for such cases and for the sake of those people, that I asked. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2018 1:31 am Post subject: |
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hobartwells wrote: |
Quote: |
I've regularly followed this forum for nearly nine years, and frankly, I don't recall anyone posting about working illegally for another company and having their exit from the country blocked by their initial sponsor. |
Therefore, you mean, it does not happen. Because you have followed the forum for nine years and have not seen it.
Apparently, this is the new trend. |
No... Just that I don't recall a similar situation, and I'm one of the regulars with probably around 9000 posts on this forum alone. We've always warned about the trouble expats can get into by working illegally. Some get away with it, while others get booted out of the country.
That said, there was a poster who claimed to have a 5-year government visit visa. He was a proponent of doing what you did and would argue with other posters about it. |
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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2019 8:57 am Post subject: |
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Apparently, this is the new trend.
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No... Just that I don't recall a similar situation, and I'm one of the regulars with probably around 9000 posts on this forum alone. We've always warned about the trouble expats can get into by working illegally. Some get away with it, while others get booted out of the country.
That said, there was a poster who claimed to have a 5-year government visit visa. He was a proponent of doing what you did and would argue with other posters about it. |
Apparently, some years ago, people were doing that with impunity as the companies just did not care-- it was a hassle for them to cancel the visa.
Nowadays, they report people to the Jawazat. And getting kicked out of the country is a blessing compared to being trapped in it. Which is what the new thing seems to be. They slam a travel ban on you and then you can't leave. No one will hire you with the block, either. Scary. |
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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2019 9:00 am Post subject: |
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Latest development.
I was able to have the block removed after long and painful negotiations with my old company.
Have left Saudi and am in Ukraine now.
Lesson for everybody. Do not go to work on an old business visa with a new company. Ever. You will be blocked and unable to leave. Do not listen to other teachers' anecdotes of " I 've never had any problem". That person may not have a problem, but you may.
The experience was very unpleasant. I am still reeling from it. A mild PTSD is what I am experiencing. |
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baa_baa
Joined: 04 Dec 2011 Posts: 265
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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hobartwells wrote: |
Block removed. Thank you for your support.
I am in Bahrain now. Celebrating freedom. |
Oh good God..Im sooooo happppppy...really even my mother is waving at you.. LOL. good luck with your endeavors.
I hope you have a safe life! |
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hobartwells
Joined: 29 Jun 2017 Posts: 45
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2019 4:11 am Post subject: |
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Just learned that another teacher who also came on a still valid business visa from his previous employer to work for a new one got in worse trouble.
He was stopped at the border when trying to go on vacation and told he had a block on his visa. Then, he apparently went to the immigration, they arrested him, held him in the deportation jail for one week, then deported him.
Do not go to work for new employers while on old business visas from prior employers. Ever!
Does not matter that someone has told you that they " never had a problem." You will be remembering these anecdotal bragging words when sitting in a deportation holding cell. |
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