Job Discussion Forums

teachingstar · Joined: 02 Jan 2011 Posts: 7 Location: 4193

Are there any Canadians here who received their work visa this month?

Bellatrix · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Vancouver

Last I heard from my recruiter, mine was getting processed on Saturday, which would take 4 to 5 days. I was warned that once it came through I would be expected to depart on very short notice, so I'm hoping to be on my way within a fortnight. I hope that estimate is realistic.

I am keeping an eye on the jobs boards for possible alternatives, but I don't see what the agency would have to gain by stringing us along.

BretHarte · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 94

jargonscott · Joined: 19 Sep 2011 Posts: 47

Though most of my co-workers are Canadian, my employer mentioned that the next batch of teachers will most likely be from other countries. Apparently the visa issue between KSA and Canada has become more of a struggle recently. I can only imagine it is holding up the process for a lot of other teachers as well.

Oh and BH's summation is spot on.

c_dange · Guest

I can confirm that within the past week or so, Saudi Embassies in most (if not all countries) have increased the wait time for Canadians to get their visas issued. So previously, we were being sent to a country outside of Saudi to get the visa issued before proceeding to Riyadh. This was a 1-2 day process. Now it will take up to 45 days for Canadians! This is due to a spat between the CND and KSA governments over Canada's longstanding xenophobic attitude towards visitors coming from 'terrorist producing nations'.

In short, SBC is trying to work around this problem because so many teachers (myself included) already had their visas approved and were ready to travel. However, this probably diverted their attention from...uh, answering emails.

So it's not a housing situation afterall. In fact, the housing situation has just improved...teachers have been moved from a hotel to the compound. Where, just as promised, they're sharing 4 to house.

julie.taufiq · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 2

I'm also Canadian and am waiting for my visa for Saudi. I posted in another thread, but this one seems more relevant. I applied for my visa on October 3rd and am still waiting...56 days later.

If anyone has any news or has received their visa, keep us all posted on this thread! I'm curious what's going on for others. My visa consultant told me today that the embassy is returning visas in a random order--people who applied for their visas AFTER I did have been receiving them back, and some who applied BEFORE are still waiting.

In any case, I have posted on my blog my speculations about the whole drawn out process... "Why We Wait": http://pinkjeddahsunset.blogspot.com/2011/11/day-42-why-we-wait.html

We poor Canadians are caught up in the middle of lots of political controversy between our country and Saudi. Inshallah, we'll all make it over though!

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

Captain_Fil · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:30 am Post subject:

Sanctions by the Saudi authorities...

...it's scary!

Shocked

CDAN · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 18

I'm in country and currently waiting to have my iqama renewed. My American colleague's paperwork was submitted at the same time and has already been completed.

I've not heard about visa issues between the two counties, but now I am wondering if this is what is causing the delay.

Does anyone on the forum have any ideas?

Cheers

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

Saudi Arabia responds to Canada in kind, slows down in visa processing
By ARAB NEWS | Dec 2, 2011
(Source: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article541757.ece)

JEDDAH: The Kingdom�s decision to apply equal treatment to Canadians requesting visit visas to Saudi Arabia has taken its toll on the country.

The Canadians will now have to wait for 30 to 45 days to get their passports stamped with a Saudi visa while in the past they used to get the entry visas in a matter of hours, local daily Al-Watan reported Thursday, quoting Canadian magazine �Embassy.�

A manager of a Canadian company that processes entry visas to Saudi Arabia said the Saudi decision to delay the granting of entry visas to Canadians has made things more complicated. �In the past, we used to deliver the passports to the Saudi Embassy at about 10 a.m. and get them back stamped with the visa at about 2 p.m. Now we have to wait for five to six weeks to obtain the Saudi visa,� he said.

Saudi Arabia implemented the new visa policy in September. Canada used to grant Saudi citizens entry visas on the spot, but when it decided to increase its turnaround times, the Kingdom replied in kind.

The magazine said the Saudi Ambassador to Canada Osama bin Hamad Al-Sanousi had been liaising with the department of migration in Canada to ease the granting of entry visas to the Saudi citizens but to no avail.

(End of article)

johnslat · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 5:25 pm Post subject:

Dear nomad soul,

" . . . . but to no avail."

Ah yes - I recall Noah Vale very well, a ubiquitous personage in the Kingdom. Strange though, how often his name is misspelled Very Happy

.

Regards,
John

CDAN · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 18

UPDATE: I have since received my iqama. I assume the delay was SOP in the Kingdom. It does not appear that the political/diplomatic situation is affecting any paperwork in country.

For what it's worth!

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

Do all these delays for Canadian visas mean there are mor ejobs for us Americans?

Im

Betrayer of Hope · Joined: 08 Aug 2011 Posts: 72 Location: in a dark place

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

I think Canadians should stay out of KSA. Enough of those "eh"!