Job Discussion Forums

[Paul in Saudi]

What is this I hear? Is the KSA no longer issuing work visas to Americans because the US has cut back on Saudi student visas? If so, when this start?

Is this true?

[Stephen Jones]

amazing how rumor spreads!

Both parts of your argument are false. The Americans are trying to persuade more Saudis to come to the US on student visas, and the Saudis are still issig visas for Americans.

It is possible that this particular rumor started because some company didn't have any visas left for Americans (visas are granted by nationality and job description, so if you have a visa for an American teacher you can't use it for an Australian unless you surrender it and reapply), and when it applied for more was told it had to advertise for Saudis first (always true) or even that it would not be granted visas for expants because there were Saudis to fill the job.

[Paul in Saudi]

Well you may be right, but over the weekend I visited with ELTers from a number of other contracts who all report the same sort of problems. Further my Saudi friends say the Foreign Minister made some sort of recent statement promising a tit-for-tat with the US over visas.