Job Discussion Forums

[GrizzlyAdams]

The school that has offered me a job is saying that I have to go over there on my own first, and I would then return to take my family over. They say it's a visa requirement.

Why? How long do I have to stay? Is this the norm?

Cheers.

[Mark100]

You have to usually do the 90 days probabion period before your family can come out.
Many places scam you on this family deal and take forever if ever.
I would talk to someone on family status who is working there already to find out what the deal is with your company or institution.

[Stephen Jones]

The reason is that they have to confirm the contract with the Ministry before your family can come. And they don't want to do that until you've passed the probationary period.

It is usual. If you agree to pay expenses you can bring your family earlier, if they agree.

The procedure normally takes a couple of months after you have passed the probationary period. There is a lot of paperwork that needs doing and any you have forgotten will add to that time.

[Paul in Saudi]

All in all, I have to wonder why you would be willing to bring your family over here. While it is true that nothing has happened here in a month, it is also true that locally that sort of means nobody has been beheaded of late.

This place is dangerous and you might want to get the lay of the land before you bring your family here.

Or not.

[scot47]

Planet Earth is a dangerous place !

For families KSA can be BORING ! Okay if you are with one of the employers that caters for families but if not..........................

.......................start reading up on divorce law !

I speak from experience !

[Paul in Saudi]

Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia is in some sort of civil war. Westerners are targets. Women and children are also targets.

The American ambassador (for example) has said that the KSA is a battlefield and that women and children do not belong on a battlefield. The New Zealanders seem to have encouraged their folks to go home. The British and Australians have firm warnings for their nationals.

All in all, this place is more dangerous than most. I have not my wife here. I would not do it.

[jeddahteacher]

Three more white families moving permanently from my compound and the kingdom this week.
At two of the largest shopping malls I counted zero and three white faces this week.
The white Muslim converts are all wearing thobes and gutras now instead of western clothing.
I suspect attacking compounds is no longer profitable to murderers since most are majority Muslim now and would create bad press.

[Saudi4Ever]

why the emphasis on white? the man killed in jubail last year was black i hear. i know whites are obvious targets, but look at iraq... somlia, turks, arabs, asians...no racial discrimination here.

[jeddahteacher]

Irishman Killed in Saudi Office
Arab Television Reports Irishman Killed in His Office in Saudi Capital

The Associated Press



RIYADH, Saudi Arabia Aug. 3, 2004 — An Irish citizen was shot and killed Tuesday when armed men stormed his office and opened fire with machine guns, a Saudi official and a Western diplomat said.
The Saudi official said at least two armed men stormed the office of the Saudi-owned company Rocky for Trade and Construction at 6:30 p.m. and began shooting. The dead man's name was not given.



A spokeswoman for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said she could not immediately comment on the report.

It was the second killing of an Irish citizen by Saudi militants in two months. On June 6, Simon Cumbers, 36, a cameraman with the British Broadcasting Corp., was shot and killed while videotaping a militant's family home in Riyadh. BBC correspondent Frank Gardner, 42, a Briton, was critically wounded in that attack.

Westerners have been the targets of shootings, suicide bombings and kidnappings in the kingdom in recent months in attacks that are seen as an attempt to undermine the Saudi economy, which depends heavily on expatriate labor.

The last terror attack against a Westerner was the kidnapping of American engineer Paul M. Johnson Jr. on June 12 and his beheading six days later.

Two other Americans, as well as Cumbers, were killed in the kingdom in the week before Johnson's kidnapping.

The wave of violence in Saudi Arabia began May 12, 2003, when car bombs targeted three compounds housing foreign workers, killing 35 people, including nine suicide bombers. Since then, the kingdom has suffered a series of suicide bombings, gunbattles and kidnappings.

The attacks have been blamed on groups allied to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror organization. Bin Laden, a Saudi exile thought to be hiding along the Afghan-Pakistan border, wants to topple the Saudi royal family.



Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright � 2004 ABC News Internet Ventures.
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[Mark100]

The lull in activities could not last i suppose.
Looks like it is batten down the hatches.
Any westerner thinking of coming and especially to Riyadh should be aware of the environment they are entering.
It will be very unpleasant.