Job Discussion Forums

jinjinjin · Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Posts: 2

I have a question that I've had a tough time finding an answer to. I'm a dual UK/US citizen, and have been offered a few positions in Saudi, that so far I have turned down. If I find a position that is more appealing in the future, I'm unsure whether to apply with my UK or US passport, or both. Is there any difference in treatment, bureaucratic process, etc? Am I obliged to state that I am a dual citizen? Would it be to my benefit to apply with a specific passport, declare that I have both, etc?

Thanks in advance if any of you can help.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 1:54 pm Post subject:

Dear jinjinjin,

If applying to a British company (e.g. BAE) use the British; if applying to an American company (e.g. Lockheed) use the American.

If applying to a Saudi company, use either (since the pay scales are always the same (to the best of my knowledge). However which passport you use will affect your holiday ticket - and your final exit ticket - so where would you want to go: Britain or the USA? I'd pick the US - the more expensive ticket.

But here's a rule: never tell your employer anything they don't "need to know."

Regards,
John

jinjinjin · Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Posts: 2

Hi John - thanks for the advice and quick reply - very helpful!

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Ditto what Johnslat said. Plus, it makes sense that the country you're residing in at the time (UK or US) would dictate which passport to use because it's where you'd be obtaining your visa.

PeterParvo · Joined: 18 Dec 2011 Posts: 103

Yes, make your point of origin as far away and as far off the beaten path as possible. If you can make Nome, Alaska as your point of origin, then do it.

saharastars · Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 107 Location: Wonderland

But what about visa red tape, processing times, ease of applying for the work Iqama? There are differences in approach..right? The DC Embassy has its own set of rules and the London one also, or so I have been told. I know that the London Embassy requires all applications to go through a visa agent. I would be interested to hear the views of people who have just gone through the process.

Is it true you can apply for the work visa by post meaning you can be somewhere else, geographically I mean?

Thanks Smile

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Use the US passport if possible and claim domicile in the Aleutian Islands. Or one of the US Protectorates in the Pacific. That way your leave and repat tickets will be of a higher value !

A complication is that your employer may have rectrictions imposed on the nationality of his employees. The Ministry in Riyadh specifies what nationality a visa is intended for. There can also be complications in getting visa. For example if you are working in Korea with a British passport and wish to enter KSA on a US passport.

smitty · Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 11

Where I worked, they had a limit on UK passports. They paid a guy to wait it out for 36 days in Cairo until someone quit. They used to hire with business passports and then would move us to Cairo to get a work visa. It usually took 4-10 days.

The turn-over at JEC-PT is amazing.