Job Discussion Forums

[Twentyplus]

Has anyone been successful having a visa processed outside of their home country of (i.e. in country of temporary residence)? How long did it take? Did the Saudi employers pay you as if you were a national of that country?

[EFLUndercover]

This topic has been discussed before on the forum. So it would help if you used the Search function to find the relevant information that you are seeking.

[Twentyplus]

[eclectic]

its hard luck city for ya I fear, butch. I tried to get she done wit no avail. De boys in de Hejaz say me gotta go back to me capital city yonder, yonder = abouts 20 hours by flying machine, den bring she back anudduh 20 hours in said ting back again, boy. Y day cant shift she over to me current ting in Asia to pick she up is beyond me.

[Citizenkane]

Job rates are based on nationality, not place of abode. This is as close to a 'rule' one can get in KSA. As for your first question, individual answers won't really help you because so much depends on where you are applying, who your sponsor is, what your citizenship is etc.

[Stephen Jones]

It can be done, but is a considerable inconvenience for the employer. What generally happens is that the employer is given a block visa for so many positions for a particular nationality, and that visa is kept at the Saudi Consulate in the appropriate country. When you are given a position they give you a letter to take to that consulate with a number that reduces that block visa by one position.

To issue the visa from a third country requires the Saudi Foreign Office to call it in and then reissue it to another consulate (and that consulate may have its own rules). This can take time.

Some employers manage to do it differently. KFUPM manages to move visas around with little difficulty (I got mine from Colombo in Sri Lanka with no problem) but that may be because the Ministry of Higher Education works to a different system.

[Twentyplus]

Some employers manage to do it differently. KFUPM manages to move visas around with little difficulty (I got mine from Colombo in Sri Lanka with no problem) but that may be because the Ministry of Higher Education works to a different system.[/quote]

Thanks for the replies. Stephen, approximately how long did the processing take (from the time you received your offer to the time you received the visa)?

[rigel]

Yeah, it can be done. It depends on the employer or the agency you're dealing with, however. With the KSA, you'll probably have to travel somewhere long distance if you're back in the USA. You can explain all you want that you live in Seattle, but you may still have to go back to the east coast to get processed. You can be living in the shadow of the Saudi consulate in Bangkok, yet not be allowed to go there for processing. It's ridiculous.

[Stephen Jones]

The processing took time because the offer was dependent on my passing the CELTA, and the goddamn cert took weeks to arrive. The actual processing at the Colombo end, as at the London end when I did it in London, is a matter of getting the medical and any other necessary paperwork done, and handing in the form. Very quick.

[sandersjayfer]

If it is done it is only because some employer has "wasta" up the ying yang. No idea what would happen if anyone ever cross-referenced the dates on the visas against visits to your home country. That would probably be one of those cases where the employer wasta would get YOU gone or fined or both while he just went to Bahrain for more booze & Chinese "company."

[Stephen Jones]

[EFLUndercover]

Stephen Jones is absolutely correct. It can be done.

However, the requester should be cooperative, consistent with follow-ups, polite and patient in trying to work with their prospective employer to get the exception.

Negative attitudes get negative results.