Job Discussion Forums

Railway3 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 57 Location: UK

Hi everyone
I have had my visa 2+ weeks before and still waiting for tickets....I know another person who is also in the same situation! we cant contact DFA because UoH's phone is not working I think (at least last 3 weeks I couldnt get through) and they are not replying our emails.....does anyone know exactly whats going on?
Last time DFA emailed us was just saying that the agent (ticketing) will contact us withing a week arranging the tickets for us.....we didnt hear anything from neither the DFA nor the agent. I have requested for the agent contact details but as always no reply. Does anyone know anything about the agent? any contact details?
Do you think I should by my own ticket? I dont care if they pay be back or not........only thing I am concerned if they will be happy. I have to stay with them for another 2 years!
any help?

skullytefldude · Joined: 26 Oct 2009 Posts: 17

What type of visa do you have?

Railway3 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 57 Location: UK

Im a direct hire and its a 90 days visa (i think recently introduced)

johnslat · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject:

Dear Railway3,

"Im a direct hire and its a 90 days visa (i think recently introduced)"

I don't think so. All my visas, from 1980 onward, were three-month visas.

When you arrive, they take your passport and issue you an iqama (although I guess you get to keep your passport at some places although I was never able to.)

Regards,
John

Railway3 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 57 Location: UK

Well fair enough. In fact I am not concerned about the visa at this moment......I am worried about the current situation on tickets!

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:38 pm Post subject:

The one thing you certainly should NOT do is buy your own ticket and show up on their door. If they want you to come, they will find you and get the ticket to you. They haven't lost you or your address...this is just the typical level of competence and courtesy that you are going to face for the next two years if you go.

If you buy your own ticket and show up, they will not respect you for it...they will laugh at you. If they didn't really want you to come, they will send you back even faster because you bought your own ticket and acted "impulsively" from their point of view. Just sit tight, and if they send you a ticket, then you go.

I don't mean to be harsh, because I know you are very worried. However, you can trust me on this: if they don't answer the phone, it is because they don't have a positive answer for you yet regarding the tickets. (Or the operator is just asleep on the job Very Happy

) Do you have a personal mobile for the person who is issuing the tickets? Even then, the person may not answer until he can tell you that the tickets have been sent. And if you are a woman and you bother them a lot, they might not pick up because they just don't want to deal with you anymore. None of this necessarily means that they don't want you to come to Hail.

Railway3 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 57 Location: UK

Hi Mia
Thanks for you informatic reply. lets start with the good news and DFA emailed me today stating that I will receive the e-ticket tomorrow! Does tomorrow = tomorrow in KSA? lol
I resigned from my previous job after getting the visa....so last two weeks i was not earning anything plus they didnt show any sign of getting me the ticket quicker.....so I was worried about money ...installment of the student loan plus other day to day expenses......plus alreay canceled the contact for the house....for now started living at friend's house temporarily!..........and ........
Finally I found that I can buy my ticket instead of waiting for them and that the price of ticket is less than what I am losing as salary for the delay!
Anyway, lets hope for tomorrow and see how things go!

johnslat · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 5:27 pm Post subject:

Dear Railway3,

"Bukhara, inshallah" = "Tomorrow, if God wills it." But what it usually means is "In the next few days, perhaps."

But it's better than "Ba bukhara, mumpkin, inshallah," which (loosely translated) means "Don't hold your breath on that; hope you've got a lot of patience."

Regards,
John

Hiawatha · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 62 Location: Oman

If I were you, I would email and phone the head of Dept. and tell him you are willing to buy your own ticket and get reimbursed for the ticket upon arrival.

But in no case would I buy a ticket without their OK.

Be prepared to wait on your salary, and ticket reimbursement when you arrive.

Wish I could be more optimistic. H.

trapezius · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject:

Dear John,

Those would be 'bukra' and 'mumkin'.

'Bukhara' would be the city in Uzbekistan, known in Saudi because there are many descendants of immigrants from Bukhara in Saudi. They can be easily recognized by their last names (usually 'Bukhari') and by their facial features as well: very very fair skin, and features similar to Afghans.

Perhaps you had "Ruz Bukhari" while you were in Saudi? (the reason why a large number of people in Saudi are overweight and have diabetes!)

Worth a read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukhara

And "Ruz Bukhari" is mentioned here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeddah#Cuisine

johnslat · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject:

Dear trap,
Oh, you transliterating devil, you. Twisted Evil

Any quarrel with my interpretations?

Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

johnslat · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

Dear veiledsentiments,

That, I believe, is the Egyptian version. Same sentiment, though.

Regards,
John

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject:

Citizenkane · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 234 Location: Xanadu

Mia,

While I agree that teachers should not buy their own tickets (I refused the one time an employer asked me to do this), I do know people who have done this and got the full fare refunded pretty promptly. However, you should only do this as a last resort and only when the employer suggests you do so. If you just buy a ticket at your own initiative, you may run into big bureaucratic problems when you try to get a refund. This is something you do not want to do!