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Post by UK_Finance_Applicant on May 27, 2014 12:35:05 GMT
Hi All
I'm having a bit of a challenge dealing with my assigned recruitment advisor in London.
No offence to her (whose name I will not mention), but she appears to be new to the relocation scene at Aramco.
I fully appreciate she has an extremely tough job in having candidates progress through each of their contingencies, and then she is dealing with several applicants - all have different challenges and are unique cases on their own.
My particular case is perhaps one of the more challenging one, where my degree needs to be attested from Pakistan, for which I need visa block slip (which I'm still waiting for), and after visa block is received my relocation advisor tells me I will have 3 months to enter the kingdom , but the attestation process can take upto 2 months, without which I will not be given the go-ahead to resign, and that my current employer's notice period is 3 months, and that extensions cannot be given once visa block has been received, etc etc ....
So before my rant continues, basically I've gathered some very useful insights from this forum and through discussions with people who have overcome hurdles, which I'm going through, and have successfully relocated to KSA!
However my relocation advisor is sticking to the book - which I have a feeling is not getting me anywhere.
A very kind gent, with similar background as mine, and who is currently in KSA gave me some tips and even suggested I speak to the relocation advisor he had, who is aware of way-abouts and alternative steps, etc. This more experienced relocation advisor is my relocation advisor's boss (which I found out by mentioning his name to my relocation advisor), and my relocation advisor told me that she will consult with him. But I have a feeling (a hunch) she is really not doing anything and is just sticking by the book!
My question really is, can I directly get in touch with this more experienced relocation advisor (the boss). My only fear here is that I may offend my current relocation advisor.
Not sure is someone has been in a similar situation before, and how they have resolved it.
Not sure how much of it is the relocation advisor's responsibility to have your contingencies cleared.
Rant over!
Any tips would be much appreciated...
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EHS
Member
Posts: 18
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Post by EHS on May 27, 2014 14:03:38 GMT
Hi,
Sounds like we are in a same boat except my degree verification is from UK and should be straight forward while her advice got me in to some thing way off the track, i won't be surprised if we have same RA,
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Post by snafou on May 27, 2014 14:33:04 GMT
Hi UK_Finance_Applicant
The visa block is not limited in time and not nominative and you need to apply for your personnel visa and for that one you need 3months to enter KSA.
For my diploma attestation (in France) the agent asked contract signed by the foreign ministry in KSA, finally I give them the ‘certificate of success of the diploma’ (attestation de success not the final diploma).
Hope this help
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Post by MissingSki on May 27, 2014 20:18:59 GMT
The same frustration here.
I sent the Method of Study letter to my rel. adviser two weeks ago. I downloaded the PDF file from the link given by the US university where I received my Master's degree. it can be opened from my computer with Adobe Reader. After I sent the file, I didn't hear from the rel. adviser. I waited for two days, then called the adviser and left a message. No reply. I understand there have lots of documents and clients for the adviser to deal with, so I constrained myself from contacting the adviser too often. one week later, I called again. Automatic voice mail again.
Then two weeks after I sent the file, I received an email saying the file can't be opened from their computer. I am really angry, this is just not the normal business etiquette to be so poor in response.
I replied back and controlled my temper, suggested the Adobe Reader may not be the updated version and provided with another solution. I really worry that the adviser will slowing down my process already being lengthy so far.
any thoughts?
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Post by infquery on May 27, 2014 20:30:41 GMT
UK_Finance_Applicant
My understanding is visa block and actual visa are not the same thing. To apply for the actual visa (the one that will be stamped in your passport) your degree must be attested and you need to complete the visa medical. Reading the forum there was a visa block released a couple of weeeks ago, AOC and ASC are waiting for new one. Waiting list is kiiiind of long so you might not be included in next one. If you are (hopefully) relo will be able to generate the letters you need to attested your degree, when degree is ready (with the circunstances related) you send it inmediately to her, she might schedule visa medical after that, maybe before, when medical is clear she will give the letter to ressign. Here is when things get tricky, they are aware of the looong notice period europeans have, but the lenght of the temporary visa is not under their control, is a saudi law matter, so my advice is to negotiate with your employer to reduce this time at least to 2.5 months so you can make it to KSA and apply for your iqama. The times "by the book" have nothing to do with who is your relo, the rules are placed by kingdom laws, and they have very little, not to say absolutely no control or influence
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Post by vpainter on May 27, 2014 20:42:00 GMT
All the lengthy timelines are normal with Aramco, no matter who your relocation advisor is. It seems to be Aramco culture not to answer emails or phone calls until they feel they have something concrete to tell you. Most of the time it is out of their hands and it is actually in the hands of Aramco in KSA or in the KSA government's hands. They are the go between in a constantly changing environment.
Even though, this is not how things are handled at other major companies and it does not seem professional at all by other's standards, with Aramco it is the norm and it is the way things are done.
I know it is frustrating and it can be nerve racking as you have no information or updates and no way to find out what you feel you need to know because no one is answering. It is stressful and can cause much anxiety. Try to relax and just wait while carrying on with your current life.
This is why it is repeatedly stated: coming to work for Aramco takes patience, patience and more patience. This hiring process prepares you for the patience you will need to work in the different culture you are coming to. Frustrating as it can be, it is their company and they can run it the way they want to, no matter how it feels to us. They have been doing this the same way for many years. It is their way and it doesn't matter what any other company does.
If you want to work for Aramco it takes time and patience. Most people once here, feel like it is worth the wait and effort.
Take a few deep breaths, attempt to stay in regular contact with your contact person, even if you get no answer. Know, because everyone who has ever come has gone through it, it will eventually all fall into place.
There are times these visa timelines just do not work with the circumstances people find themselves in. Aramco will redo the visa medicals and reapply for the visas if they have to. They try not to, but it happens. They have even had to change flight dates after the tickets have been purchased.
It eventually all gets done and you arrive.
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Post by MissingSki on May 28, 2014 1:18:50 GMT
I am just thinking any time in the two weeks after the rel. adv. received my documents, a confirmation email should be sent to me. After two weeks, they found out the PDF could not be opened at their computer. In the meantime I was worrying if they ever received my files. I am absolutely fine that if there is no updates on status then no email. But at least let me know the files were received and up to the requirements. Well, Vpainter is right. This is the first ordeal we have to go through before arrival at KSA. Bear with me everyone 8) . This place seems to be a good vent. Now I am feeling better.  |
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Post by vpainter on May 28, 2014 5:11:07 GMT
Just a note: Aramco is bringing in about 70 families/employees a month. That means each month the relocation advisor is juggling a lot of people each month who are in different stages of the hiring process.
Yes, it seems like the relocation advisor would be able to confirm acceptance of every form or email from everyone of those people, but that is nearly impossible with regards to time.
With everyone's timeline overlapping, compounding that inital 70 per month (which has been going on for about 2 years now), each relocation advisor could be dealing with hundreds of people at a time and doing the best they can keeping everyone moving forward.
And imagine if the relocation advisor is new and has picked up someone else's already established load and/or would within a few months have their own load of people they are keeping up with.
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Post by Ray786 on May 28, 2014 7:25:53 GMT
Just curious . Does anyone know the requirement for Visa block ?. If Job description says computer science or computer engineering , is it required to have same degree discipline or if degree is in mechanical engineering but have relevant experience required for the job /all industry certification asked in the job . Would be possible to request visa block using different degree but relevant experience and certification ?.
Is anyone has similar experience in the past ?.
Ray
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Wutz
Senior Member
Posts: 143
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Post by Wutz on May 28, 2014 8:52:40 GMT
Ray - in the past, it was definitely possible. My own visa & Iqama are for a 'General Chemist', even though my BS was Chemical Engineer, with an MS Computer Science and an MBA. I never have been a chemist, nor am I ever likely to act as one.
But I believe that the Ministry of Labor is beginning to scrutinize things much more carefully than in the past. So what was true two years ago probably no longer is.
Wutz
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Post by Ray786 on May 28, 2014 16:10:14 GMT
In my case i have 15 years of relevant IT experience for the job , and have all the certification asked in the job . Only thing is my engineering degree not matching with requirement list . I read in same forum , they can request visa block by changing a requirement to include engineering degree plus 10 + years of experience and certification required for this job.
I heard as longs as 4 years engineering degree that should be good enough to get visa block provided you have all relevant experience, is this not true any more ?
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Post by vpainter on May 29, 2014 7:14:31 GMT
In the past year, the government has been having a major drive to correct visa les and they have to match the new approved government list including le, education and gender.
One problem many Aramco residents found an issue with is the government removed Houseboy from the approved list - only Aramco has houseboys. We worked for months to get our Houseboy's visa and iqama renewed because the only term on the new list to cover what he does was maid and maids had to be women according to the list. It was a mess. They were missing their vacations that had tickets already bought, etc. They had friends scheduled to work for their employers while they were to be gone, but the months all ran together and even their covering for each other became a problem.
It took about 6 months for the government to figure out what they would agree to call them on their visas from all the les on the list.
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Post by UK_Finance_Applicant on May 29, 2014 11:28:25 GMT
Thanks All for your replies and guidance...
Indeed key is patience, patience, patience and more patience...
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Hero55
Advanced Member
Posts: 90
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Post by Hero55 on Sept 16, 2014 17:52:35 GMT
UK_Finance_Applicant,
I bet the we have the same RA !!!
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Post by peteboytaxis on Sept 17, 2014 12:28:04 GMT
Hi,
I'm new to this site and what a great resource it is - well done and thankyou!
I'm just starting my journey and have been reading a lot recently about housing shortages...can anyone update me as to the current status and where people without kids tend to live? I'm 36, not married, no kids.
Would anyone like to estimate typically the timescale from interview to offer and relocation...I'm based in London, British (from Northern Ireland originally)....
Thankyou in advance for your time to reply.
Peter
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