Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It seems from what I hear as scuttlebutt that these guys will bring new hires in via Bahrain on a business visa. Has anyone else heard this ? And if that is the case how will they bring in dependants ?

Accommodation looks okay - even if the compound is a bit small and somewhat sterile (no greenery).

MIKEBUCHAN · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 106 Location: Russia

Scot47

I've heard this too. That most everyone is going through Bahrain --- the medical and visa are processed in one or two days and then they are driven to the PMU compound.

We will just have to wait and see if anyone brings a wife or husband with them on the same flight.

Bob Gorn · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject:

From what I heard a couple of months back (before I was "rejected"), PMU does a good job of bringing people in quickly on business visas, but they are much slower at getting an actual legal work visa and the all-important iqama. One person does this job, and this person is tempermental. Do not cross this individual and do not mention anything personal that could be held against you at a later date. Good advice (probably for anywhere) is to be very quiet the first few weeks because you cannot trust everyone...many report everything they hear in the most negative light possible.

Some people have had good experiences with visas at PMU, but some papers get processed very slowly for no apparent reason. Having a non-Western spouse (esp. wife) seems to slow things down drastically, and having kids makes it even slower. As I recall, these things were true in most places in KSA....is this the experience of others?

Bob Gorn · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:42 pm Post subject:

BTW, just checked, and many wives do come in on the same flights for PMU employees. My source says most wives who stay behind do so either because they elect to (imagine that with KSA!) or because they are from non-Western countries who have visa problems. If your wife is British or American, no problem. Aussies have had problems. Some Thai or Chinese (can't remember) wives had problems. Most problems seem to have been rather short-term, though.

Bigger problem is keeping the wife happy there. The compound has been sparsely populated up until now, and there were not a lot of other wives to socialize with. I've heard the housing is nice, though, and well-furnished.

rxfaith · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 71

anyone have a link for jobs at pmu?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

For Bahrain there is no problem if you have a US, UK, EU or other "Western" passport. I am not sure how Bahrain Immigration will react to someone who has a 'Third World' passport and no entry visa for Saudi Arabia. Refuse entry ? It is possible. I would be wary !

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

Does anyone here have actual experience at this university? What is the experience like?

What is life like there?