October is the cutoff for annual allowance ?

October 1 is the cutoff to be eligible for annual bonus and its prorated. If your start date is after that date, you will be eligible for the bonus the next year. I'm not sure which embassy your passport went into, but Houston embassy took their sweet time with our visa, took more than 3 weeks of waiting before it was stamped. We called and they said because of the hajj season, they're a bit backlogged.

Fortunately, I've had the pleasure of dealing with the best relocation advisor I could. I imagine with all the new hires, they're really busy with working on each file (and they each have many new hires), so sometimes even my relocation advisor doesn't respond to my emails until she has information. But she always works on my quirky requests I make.

You're almost there, after this step, you will file your resignation letter with your employer and you will be given a range of dates to choose for your flight. I believe you can still make it before then Oct. 1st, you still have some time left. The process is almost done. All the best.

Sure, no problem:
Annual Repat cutoff: January 1
Annual Bonus cutoff: October 1

Thats weird but it may be something being dictated by the department ... just taking pot shots here. I figured after the visa, only the final approval is required, which usually is pretty quick. Once the visa comes in, you can try to push the fact you'd like to leave before October 1st.

Anyhow, much brighter days ahead, I hope everything else goes smooth for you. Hope to see you in KSA.

Dimk,
I sent you pm, please check

Hero55,

We relocated within two weeks of receiving final letter that contingencies had all cleared. This came two weeks after the (individual) visa was stamped. We organised our own shipment and had no notice period at work.

Maursh,
This is exciting to hear. I didn't realize that there was a final clearance letter. We've made preparations to go as soon as passports are stamped, but currently waiting on Visa le. Yours is the fastest relocation timeframe I think I've seen on this forum.

I am self employed so no requirement to give notice at work. We're taking cash in lieu from the US and planning to throw the mother of all yard sales to get us down to three checked luggage items a piece (me, spouse and two pre-k children)once we get the green light:)

-Was it difficult to get Aramco to get you there within two weeks or was that within the window your relo. advisor gave you to make the move?

-Others have talked about your relo advisor giving you a window if dates to choose from for your relocation. How much sooner do you think Aramco could have sent you, or is it just a question of them buying tickets and you getting on the plane from Aramco's perspective once they send you the final clearance letter?

-Were they willing to book flights as soon as you received the confirmation? Did they let you know the confirmation letter was in the mail?

-Thanks in large part to this forum, I've had answers and information ready to provide to recruiters/relo advisors before they ask for them at each stage of the process(although the contingency packets were quite a bit bigger than expected). From the phone call/letter telling you that all boxes were checked(contingencies and Visas) to getting on the plane, can you share what was discussed with Aramco people and any advice on being ready to help Aramco get you there as quickly as possible?

Thanks!