|
|
Post by JeffSteiner on May 1, 2014 14:57:38 GMT
The whole notion of getting the contingencies cleared BEFORE applying for the visa le seemed a prudent thing to do in the past. My observation is that the process was fairly routine until this past 4-5 month period. There was something of a push last fall to get people on board before the end of the calendar year -- there were vacation/repat allowance and bonus implications in our favour to do so -- and I am pretty sure that no one in Houston/London saw this embargo coming. They were following a tried and true process that turned out to be neither.
I further believe that it would be quite disappointing to have le in hand and then have ASC determine that the medical results were not acceptable! Clearly, passing the preliminary medical questionnaire and the background check are prerequisite to even applying for the visa le and having the medical done in Houston or London along with orientation will ultimately make the whole rush to departure seem much quicker with le-in-hand. Just listen to how much some of us have been whining about the delays!
|
|
|
|
Post by erdna_oaoj on May 1, 2014 16:27:04 GMT
JeffSteiner,
Indeed normal procedure is to request visa le after all the contingencies are cleared including the medical ones. That's why we did our visa medical first time before AOC requested the visa le, then due all the delays we had it done again.
Normally it gets around 4-8 weeks to get the visa blocks, what we are dealing now is I guess a unusual situation.
|
|
|
|
Post by pierce3215 on May 1, 2014 18:32:28 GMT
The process as of late, or at least how it was communicated to me, is that they request the Visa le upon your acceptance of the offer. After they receive it, you then do the medical and orientation.
My relo agent said that they have received an update from the consulate stating that they should receive a block in the next 2 weeks. Sounds like the same thing everyone else has been hearing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Washingtonian on May 1, 2014 19:21:54 GMT
Well, I hope this 'next two weeks' is not starting again.
'Within next two weeks' is what I was told two weeks ago. Awfully frustrating!
|
|
|
|
Post by erdna_oaoj on May 1, 2014 20:02:05 GMT
Again, as remarked before Saudi embassies and consulates does not issue visa blocks, Saudi Arabia labour Minitry is the eny that issue / release the visa blocks and returns them to Aramco in Dhahran...
|
|
|
|
Post by 290811 on May 1, 2014 21:39:50 GMT
So my two cents worth is visa medical a will be done after the visa le is secured by the relo. I also heard from my future boss that he heard May was indeed the month when processing would start up again. That jives well with the chatter and rumor mill here on the forum.
Anybody know if degree attestation can hold up visa processing or is that just for iqama. I guess my 165 year old university doesn't participate in some attestation program and somebody somewhere is jumping thru hoops to figure out what to do. I don't pretend to understand what the issue is.
Anyway, realistically it's looking like Late August or early September for arrival assuming visas are stamped by mid June and given their 90 day validity. That's good enough for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by David_and_Nita on May 1, 2014 22:10:17 GMT
Lots of chatter with the relo advisor today (Houston). She said early next week. The les ARE released to Aramco but they get doled out to the candidates in some electronic system and it takes a couple days to do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by erdna_oaoj on May 1, 2014 22:21:34 GMT
To 290811,
I'm sure you'll need that degree attested for iqama for the visa it's not necessary but you cannot travel without that attestation as you should provide that doc when you apply for your iqama.
|
|
|
|
Post by goatlast on May 1, 2014 23:40:04 GMT
erdna_oaoj
attestation of your degree certificate is a must to get the visa, for bringing your family in to Saudi Arabia and to register with the Saudi Council of Engineers for visa processing
|
|
|
|
Post by 290811 on May 1, 2014 23:59:28 GMT
Alas, I hold no such engineering degree, just a simple BA. About the only thing I engineer is a cup of coffee every morning. But, yes I figured that the attestation is necessary sooner rather than later. I'm in good hands I think.
|
|
|
|
Post by aussie hopeful on May 2, 2014 2:48:22 GMT
Email received from relocation adviser this morning confirming they have been advised the visa block has been released and they should start to receive VIL next week. Hopefully we are one that comes through, if not at least it's a move in the right direction!!  |
|
|
|
Post by erdna_oaoj on May 2, 2014 7:10:14 GMT
goatlast and erdna_oaoj,
I've got it attested as soon as they asked it, then I was told to hold on to it and bring it to KSA for Iqama processing (I'm an Engineer).
290811, first you need to check with the country were your diploma was issued KSA embassy what are their requirements for attestation, from your university you'll probably only need your original diploma.
|
|
|
|
Post by 290811 on May 2, 2014 14:21:42 GMT
Washingtonian Sent you a pm. Thanks guys for the insight on attestation.
|
|
|
|
Post by sadique on May 2, 2014 17:52:08 GMT
Thanks to all the contributors for sharing your experiences.
Can you tell me if your original degree parchment was stamped at the Saudi Cultural Bureau?
They refused to stamp a copy that was certified by the university and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ireland.
|
|
|
|
Post by David_and_Nita on May 2, 2014 20:09:42 GMT
Got the call-my le's assigned.........
Passports going to the consulate on Monday
|
|
