Job Discussion Forums

[Sheikh Abdullah]

Hello all,

I called Skyline Global Solutions today because I saw a lot of posts about English positions. When I talked to the guy about the positions, he said that they do not accept Americans without English or Education related degrees. The reason why is because he said the Saudi Embassy in the US won't accept any degrees except for that. This made me a bit uneasy because I told him I had a Bachelors degree in Sociology and a TEFL/TESL Certificate. He said the Embassy doesn't care about the certificate and only looks at the degree. He said this was a rule they had and that maybe next year it will change. Does anyone have any up to date information about this and if this is really accurate? Please help.

Regards

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Don't ya jes hate it when Saudi recruiters play "hard to get"!

NCTBA

[Chthon]

I guess that may depend on how much wasta your sponsor has. I have a BA in Political Science and a TEFL. Then again, according to my visa I am a "foreign language trainer" rather than a teacher.

Also, keep in mind that when it comes to official processes and policies in Saudi Arabia it's sort of a guessing game. If you ask the same question at two different government offices, you are bound to get two different answers. Nobody really seems aware of the rules.

[Citizenkane]

Hello all! Long time lurker, first time poster.

I have worked with many Americans over the years, some of whom did not have MAs. I reckon it has a lot to do with your job title. If you are working for a university and your job title is "Lecturer", the embassy may insist on an MA. If you are a mere 'teacher', 'instructor' or 'trainer' probably no MA is required.

Kinda surprised Global Skylines should insist on this though. From what I know of this outfit, they do not seem to be the type who is hiring only 'lecturers'.[/quote]

[a_ibrahim]

Hello,

The issue raised probably isn't with the employer. I know of many Americans who had their visa applications rejected in Washington for the very same reason. Many employers will offer jobs to individuals without realizing that their embassy will reject the visa application. You may need to know someone to get around that.

[Sheikh Abdullah]

Yes, they said the U.S embassy won't sign the paperwork even if the employer agrees with everything. This is giving me a lot of anxiety because now I don't know what is going to happen.

[natureguy]

Since the outcome of receiving a Saudi visa is uncertain, my advice is to have more than one job lined up, either in Saudi or another Gulf country like Oman, etc. The employers and recruiters bring this on themselves by not understanding the procedures so you should do what will assure you have a choice in the end.

[Citizenkane]

[Chthon]

From what I have picked up, this is actually not atypical for Saudi Arabia. A British friend of mine once waited for nearly two years before the institute he works at was able to complete the process for his visa and bring him over. It took six months after that to get his family here.

See if you can have something temporary lined up wherever you are living right now. If you want to work in Saudi Arabia, then you need to apply for the job but continue living your life. Employers (even the public universities) are often unaware of the policies and regulations themselves.

[Pikgitina]