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Post by antemareundae on Jul 29, 2013 17:38:58 GMT
Regarding confiscations (taken from Relocation Guide)
What about some pet food for the rest of the week? Not allowed either?
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Post by kellbenl on Jul 29, 2013 18:42:31 GMT
No worries on computer and batteries, Just put them in your carry on. You can buy pet food at the commissary the next day to tie you over until you find a pet store you like. There are several pet stores close to the compound.
Can't answer the telescope question
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Post by vpainter on Jul 29, 2013 21:39:48 GMT
We bring in our dog food all the time in our checked luggage. 20lb bags at a time.
I have even mailed some dog food here when we were running out prior to my return, no problem.
You can bring your binoculars also as part of your checked or carry on luggage.
They will probably not be looked at or taken. But anything on the list in the relocation guide is subject to confiscation if the custom's agent wants to do so.
I say don't bring in anything you would be heart broken if you lost it.
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Post by antemareundae on Jul 30, 2013 4:28:04 GMT
Thanks guys.
Ante
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Post by BlueSkies on Jul 30, 2013 11:48:31 GMT
You might also consider keeping a backup of your computer in secure cloud stoe, such as Carbonite - assuming you can access that from KSA....
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Post by antemareundae on Aug 7, 2013 19:42:41 GMT
Regarding binoculars I still don't get what is the logic behind optical instruments being taken. Is it because they could be used to spot on people? Noticed by the way no amateur astronomy groups.
thanks /Ante.
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Post by Hadia on Aug 9, 2013 4:54:22 GMT
Issues of security and privacy. You'll understand more about this once you arrive and adjust to the culture here.
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Post by antemareundae on Aug 9, 2013 15:13:07 GMT
Well I'd like to know... so I don't get my instruments confiscated.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Aug 9, 2013 18:28:43 GMT
Unfortunately, as many other people have posted, items that are subject to confiscation may or may not be taken and no-one can tell you for sure before you go what will or will not be confiscated.
As the saying goes, "You pays your money and you takes your chance."
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Post by Hadia on Aug 10, 2013 5:08:15 GMT
Okay, apparently I'm going to have to put this bluntly. Rules on items that may be confiscated exist to safeguard the Kingdom's cultural norms and national security. Coming here, we accept those rules. If you try to bring anything into the Kingdom that is on a list for possible confiscation, you do so at your own risk. Even if you can fully explain how your night vision instrument is for meteorological purposes, there is no guarantee that the customs agent will understand what you are saying, or whether he will be convinced it can't be retrofitted for breaching national security, or even have the authority himself to make that call, but instead be required to pull both you and the night vision instrument offline for further inquiry by supervisors. Each expat has to decide for him/herself what items to risk bringing or not. We are not gov't officials on this forum, but having experienced the border crossing many, many times, and having a full understanding about what it's like living where we are as guests in a country with very strict rules for much of what we do, I do hope you will consider our insight helpful at least. We are guests in another country, and if they say don't bring it in, yet we choose to do so, we have to realize those items may be taken--with or without further info or discussion.
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Post by antemareundae on Aug 12, 2013 15:31:04 GMT
Portable hard drives... wonder if anyone had a problem.
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Post by antemareundae on Aug 13, 2013 20:32:30 GMT
wonder if utility knives (leatherman, victorinox) are susceptible to be taken as well?
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Post by vpainter on Aug 14, 2013 5:19:23 GMT
More than likely your hard drive would be fine. But they could check it if they wanted to.
Utility knives not a problem, you can bring your steak knives and butcher knives, not a problem. My boys carried pocket knives all the time, but of course flying they were always in the checked luggage.
I brought in a whole set of kitchen knives this past January of all sizes in my checked luggage, but I did come through Bahrain. Our original knives all came in our shipment no problem.
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Post by antemareundae on Aug 15, 2013 17:12:46 GMT
Thanks again VPainter... kitchen/butcher knives in checked luggage would be OK then? I thought airlines scan through your checked luggage and may not like that...
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Post by vpainter on Aug 18, 2013 4:27:09 GMT
You should call the airline and verify if they have any restrictions having to do with checked luggage and knives. No one on the forum can give you an official answer. Although, every airline employee may give you a different answer, best to talk to a supervisor and get their name.
I had no trouble with my new set of Wusthof knives in my checked luggage.
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