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Post by aussie hopeful on Apr 27, 2014 12:02:38 GMT
Hubby is still awaiting the visa block!
* Once he arrives, how long does it normally to take to get his Iqama
* Once he has his he then needs to apply for mine and our children how long does this take!
* even if the visa block is released he will probably not get there until middle of June! :? What is the impact of ramadan on his time frames?
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Post by vpainter on Apr 28, 2014 6:16:17 GMT
Getting an iqama can happen in 10 days to 2 weeks and rarely up to a couple of months.
Clarification - once he has his, he needs to apply for mine and our children's.
if you are talking about iqamas and you are coming with him, he will apply for them all at the same time.
If you are coming later, you must be asking about your visas? Iqamas cannot be applied for until you are in kingdom. Applying for the family visas if you come later can take 3 to 6 months.
People come during Ramadan all the time. Sometimes that means things move slower, sometimes not.
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Post by aussie hopeful on Apr 28, 2014 10:26:14 GMT
Thanks vpainter, yes I was meaning our visa, hubby will travel first then apply for ours, we have been told he can apply for our visa as soon as he gets his iqama.
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Post by sh90620 on Apr 28, 2014 18:26:54 GMT
vpainter:
Thanks for your responses. They are very helpful. I was just wondering what are the things one cannot do without Iqama. What are the restrictions? Travel outside KSA? Also, how long Iqama is valid for? Is this something that has to be renewed annually?
Regards,
sh90620
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Post by vpainter on May 1, 2014 1:17:54 GMT
Sh90620, somethings you cannot do without your iqama: open a bank account or buy a car. You can lease a car, if one is available, through Majestic with your Aramco ID, even the temporary one issued at the airport.
Some cell phone plans require an iqama.
Since it would be your first iqama, you would be unable to travel outside KSA because you would also not have your multi-entry/exit resident visa either. Both will be applied for when you arrive.
Our iqama is good for a year. Resident visa valid for 360 days at this time.
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Post by Coocoodry on Jul 5, 2014 10:12:53 GMT
"Since it would be your first iqama, you would be unable to travel outside KSA because you would also not have your multi-entry/exit resident visa either. Both will be applied for when you arrive."
So, I have read to obtain an exit visa employer consent is required. Is consent easily obtained and is it tie into your probationary period etc...?
Can anyone share their experience on the subject, thanks.
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Wutz
Senior Member
Posts: 143
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Post by Wutz on Jul 6, 2014 2:36:44 GMT
Coocoodry,
At least at Aramco, consent is a foregone conclusion and not tied to the 90 day probationary period. Note that at least some supervisors are reluctant to grant 'L' days (days off) to new employees during probation. So it's a given that you could go to Bahrain on the weekend once you have a multi-entry visa, but not a given that you could take vacation to go somewhere within your first three months.
Wutz
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2014 7:05:06 GMT
Hi,
I arrived in KSA last Monday.
Then I met many new hires from different parts of the world whose dependents (wife, kids) got their visa at the same time as they did.
During the orientation session, I asked the question why I was advised to come to KSA, get my Iqama, and first then start the process to sponsor my wife in order to get her visa.
The personal mannager asked me where I am coming from and when I told I am french, he said this is something specific to the E.U.
Not true however, because the dutch guy sitting next to me during the session and whom I had talked before in the bus has got the visas has well for his dependents.
Then the P.M. explained this must be related to some specific countries and France should be one of them.
There is obviously no clarity on this point.
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Post by Coocoodry on Jul 6, 2014 8:24:09 GMT
Thanks Wutz
What's the general turnaround time for the multi-entry/exit visa to come through and are there many hoops to jump through.
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Wutz
Senior Member
Posts: 143
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Post by Wutz on Jul 7, 2014 2:37:24 GMT
Coocoodry,
Well - it's been almost two years since I went through the process, so I don't remember exactly how long it took & things have changed a bit in the process too. But I do know that I had my entry/exit visa within six weeks of arrival, and it may have been in as little as a month. There are things like your Iqama that need to happen first, and if you're an engineer that can be delayed a couple of weeks to get through the Saudi Council of Engineers process.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Jul 7, 2014 7:10:05 GMT
If you're talking about the time from first arriving in kingdom to getting your first exit/re-entry visa, it may well take 4-6 weeks. But almost all of that is down to getting the iqama.
Once you have an iqama, the company can get you an exit/re-entry within as little as two days (especially since they went to the e-visas). However, if it is a busy time of year (in the run-up to either of the Eid holidays, for instance) or during Ramadan, it may take longer. The passport office says to allow 10 days for processing (I think) but for me personally it has never taken more than 5 days from applying to getting the visa.
YMMV
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Post by David_and_Nita on Jul 7, 2014 17:44:13 GMT
Concur. We arrived 06/01. My Iqama took 3 weeks (thank you engineering registration grrrrrrr), family iqamas and all entry/exit visas were ready 07/02.
The family iqamas and visas are dated 5 days apart. Includes a weekend and start of Ramadan.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 4:02:19 GMT
For does those wondering about the slowness to get their visa block, the story does not end when you are in the Kingdom.
The Aramco advisor who welcomed me at the airport took my passport and told me I will get my Iqama within 2 weeks.
After two weeks in Kingdom, I went to the HR division, who told me they received my passport the day before, and since it is Ramadan time and the government is closed, I will get my Iqama in two weeks time, AFTER the end of Ramadan. So now it will make 4, if not 5 weeks later.
Have to wait for it before I can:
- sponsor my wife and request a visa for her;
- open a local bank account;
- request a local driving license...
An HR advisor told me to consider a minimum of 2.5 to 3 months for my wife's visa.
Since Eid celebrations will see many saoudis going on vacation, whereas nothing will happen for several weeks, then I am not expecting this process to be fast.
Another 4 to 5 months of waiting...
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dimk
Senior Member
Posts: 114
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Post by dimk on Aug 4, 2014 10:13:47 GMT
atactic,
may i ask how long the iqama is valid for before renewal? same question for the multiple exit/entry visa.
thank you
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Post by Cookies on Aug 24, 2014 15:48:19 GMT
My husband started work here 7 weeks ago, and still no sign of his Iqama. There are all sorts of officious i's to dot and T's to cross, and re sending copies of degree certificates etc etc to go through first.
Make sure that you have at least 3 copies of every bit of paperwork that they asked you for copies of in the first place...because they will ask you for it all again at each stage of the process....and counter signed etc etc.
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