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Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
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 Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject: Government Visa / Business Visa |
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Quick questions for those who have recently got their visas:
a.) On a government visa, do you need an exit visa to get out of the country?
b.) With regards to business visas, what is being offered (90 days, six months, one year)? |
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oops
Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:44 am Post subject: business visas |
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| no replies to your post......so no clues? I'm also arriving on a 30 day business visa and am concerned how long it's gonna take to get the magic iqama |
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tacomaboywa
Joined: 18 Jan 2009
Posts: 194
Location: The Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:50 am Post subject: Re: business visas |
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| oops wrote: |
| no replies to your post......so no clues? I'm also arriving on a 30 day business visa and am concerned how long it's gonna take to get the magic iqama |
If you arrive in the Kingdom on a Business Visa, you will not get an Iqama. People on a Work Visa will get one. So if you are going to KSA to work on a Business visa with any company, it is technically illegal. Check out the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia website:
http://www.saudiembassy.net/services/business_visit.aspx
Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see this:
"Business visas do not grant the applicant the right to work or to reside in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Business Visas are issued in different time periods. I even heard some people are now receiving a 5-year Business Visa. Last year I entered on a 14-day Business Visa. Some people can get a 6 month visa. That's about all I know about that. |
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Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:37 am Post subject: |
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| My questions are still very far from being answered. |
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oops
Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:34 am Post subject: |
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| nor mine! It seems there is no definitive answer and it really depends on how well-connected your employer is. I've been told by Saudi nationals that it's standard practice to bring employees in on business visas and then get the work visa organised. Bit of a wing and a prayer but you've got to assume that it makes no sense to have teachers wandering around illegally - either for the teacher, or the employer who has done the deed. Hope this helps....not sure it does though! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| oops wrote: |
| Bit of a wing and a prayer but you've got to assume that it makes no sense to have teachers wandering around illegally - either for the teacher, or the employer who has done the deed. |
... actually... this might not be a logical assumption when one is dealing with Saudi. In fact, it is an assumption that could get you into a bit of difficulty.
Employers who bring in teachers to work illegally don't much care because any problems will be the teachers... not theirs.
VS |
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tacomaboywa
Joined: 18 Jan 2009
Posts: 194
Location: The Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| oops wrote: |
| nor mine! It seems there is no definitive answer and it really depends on how well-connected your employer is. I've been told by Saudi nationals that it's standard practice to bring employees in on business visas and then get the work visa organised. Bit of a wing and a prayer but you've got to assume that it makes no sense to have teachers wandering around illegally - either for the teacher, or the employer who has done the deed. Hope this helps....not sure it does though! |
It's quite simple. If you're on a business visa and trying to work in Saudi Arabia then you are technically an illegal worker. However, there are many many people illegally working in Saudi Arabia. Last year I was unfortunately one of them. Of all the people I've talked to or heard about. I only know one guy who got a work visa after starting a job on a business visa. They sent him to Bahrain to have it changed. Other then that, most employers simply stick with business visas as long as they can continue extending them.
Just keep in mind that you have no rights in KSA under a business visa. As far as the length of time, it depends on the person and time of day. Never know for sure what they'll give you. But in general it is usually a short period of time.
http://www.tulbah.org/ |
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Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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^ That has nothing to do with my questions. I didn't ask for anyone's opinions about the subject. I'm asking for answers to these questions and these questions only:
a.) On a government visa, do you need an exit visa to get out of the country?
b.) With regards to business visas, what is being offered (90 days, six months, one year)?
I am specifically asking people who have recently gotten these visas and I do mean recent (as in the past few months). I am quite sure there are many people on these visas right now too!!! These people need to know the answer to question a. and some of them should know the answer to question b. |
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Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Employers who bring in teachers to work illegally don't much care because any problems will be the teachers... not theirs. |
Sponsors in Saudi are responsible for the people they sponsor. Experts here can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that sponsors are always individuals (as in Saudi nationals) and if they are found to be in violation of the law, they can be denied the chance to sponsor more people into the kingdom. That is my understanding anyway. On the other hand, crooked agencies can always find more people to sponsor their illegal employees. I'm sorry I got off subject, but I just needed to get a few things cleared up. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I do believe that sponsors are always individuals (as in Saudi nationals) |
They're more usually companies or organisations (ie a college) rather
than individuals.
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| if they are found to be in violation of the law, they can be denied the chance to sponsor more people into the kingdom. |
This is true. You do hear of companies having their right to recruit foreigners limited or even rescinded altogether due to multiple violations of the labour laws. |
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Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Cleopatra wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I do believe that sponsors are always individuals (as in Saudi nationals) |
They're more usually companies or organisations (ie a college) rather
than individuals. |
I worked at a university and my sponsor was some individual I had never met or spoken to. I didn't have any contact details and when I tried to get an exit visa, this was a serious problem. The employer refused to give any of us the contact details for this ghost of a man who didn't even (as far as we knew) work for the university.
All the other expats I worked with were sponsored by individuals. When we applied for our work visas, we had to submit the work contract with his name being at the top of this five or six page document.
Because of the problems I had with getting an exit visa, I never want to work on a work visa ever again, especially to start out as it doesn't have a multiple entry and you have to wait for the iqama in order to get the multiple entry stamp. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, but you also hear of places like MK that breaks all the laws regularly for a few years now and there seem to be no repercussions for them... except posts on Dave's.
VS |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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All the other expats I worked with were sponsored by individuals. When we applied for our work visas, we had to submit the work contract with his name being at the top of this five or six page document.
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I've had several jobs in KSA and in every case my sponsor was an oganisation. I'm not saying you can't be sponsored by an individual - you clearly can - but I do not think it is the norm.
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| Because of the problems I had with getting an exit visa, I never want to work on a work visa ever again, especially to start out as it doesn't have a multiple entry and you have to wait for the iqama in order to get the multiple entry stamp. |
As always, it depends on the employer. I've never had to wait more than 2 weeks to get my iqama, and all my employers have been happy to give multiple exit visas. Personally I wouldn't consider any employer who didn't bring me over on a work visa, or at the very least assure me that such a visa would be arranged asap upon arrival in KSA.
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Yes, but you also hear of places like MK that breaks all the laws regularly for a few years now and there seem to be no repercussions for them... except posts on Dave's.
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Well yes.... if a company has 'wasta' (and they often do) they can get away with all sorts. Even so, I know of some pretty prestigious places who have gotten into serious trouble due to repeated labour law violations. |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Perhaps Kalima could name the University. Her story is certainly not the norm. |
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tacomaboywa
Joined: 18 Jan 2009
Posts: 194
Location: The Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Kalima Shahada wrote: |
^ That has nothing to do with my questions. I didn't ask for anyone's opinions about the subject. I'm asking for answers to these questions and these questions only:
a.) On a government visa, do you need an exit visa to get out of the country?
b.) With regards to business visas, what is being offered (90 days, six months, one year)?
b. |
Well, sorry for adding my "opinion" as I attempted to provide some information. In regards to the "Government Visit Visa", it is similar to the Business visa in that it does not allow for you to reside in KSA or work in KSA. Keeping this in mind, it would not require an exit visa since an exit visa is only required if you are residing in KSA (legally).
FYI:
http://www.saudiembassy.net/services/Government-Visit-Visa.aspx
You're Welcome!
http://www.tulbah.org/ |
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