Job Discussion Forums

[publixteacher]

I have a contract to come teach at the Al Hada School in Taif. I only have to get my physical and police clearance done. I live in Georgia, not NY or Washington! I need to be flying over by mid August. How soon do I need to get the PHY done in order to have enough time for the Visa to come through?
Also, I have just been reading about people leaving. I guess I am not up to date on the news...what's going on? Right now, I am committed, and, I must admit, excited about going to Saudi to teach. I will be in an apartment on a complex. Is this safer? What about when I land in Jeddah? Should I be alert for trouble? Someone please let me know some answers.
Thanks,
Jana, Publixteacher
PS I would welcome emails!

[Gnome]

I lived at the Al Hada hospital compound for 2 years and am quite familiar with the place and the living conditions. You can PM me for more information or to answer any questions. Hopefully, I can be of help although my info may be dated.

[Stephen Jones]

The medical nearly always is problematic if you get it done outside of Washington or New York. The two main problems are:

The doctor doesn't know where in the States, if anywhere, some of the tests can be done.
You need to get all the results signed by the doctor and stamped by the county health authority; you'll find one of them is missing a signature or stamp.

With regard to the police clearance start now; they may require a fingerprint check, which can take a long time.

[publixteacher]

I live in Savannah, Georgia. We have 3 hospitals-one of which is a MAJOR medical center, and more doctors than you can count! The new form I received is only one page and doesn't seem that complicated, but I could be wrong!
As for the fingerprints, I didn't know I had to have those done. I thought all I had to get was a statement saying I had not been arrested for anything. I wonder if my military security clearance would suffice for the fingerprints? They are recent (within 2 years) and I think I am cleared up to Top Secret.
Thanks for the responses!
Jana

[Stephen Jones]

The Saud embassy doesn't insist on fingerprints but you could find that your local police station won't give you the clearance without checking them out.

With regard to the medical there is only one page but a lot of tests. Some of the things they ask for tests for such as bilharzia, may not be that common in Georgia.

[publixteacher]

I don't remember seeing ANYTHING remotely resembling the "disease" you mentioned! I better get it out and look again!

[Stephen Jones]

They might well have updated the form.

I am simply suggesting you be careful. All the things I have mentioned have ocurred to people coming to us. That doesn't mean they will happen to you.