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Post by kennyshtia on Jun 29, 2022 1:24:17 GMT
Hi, I have received offer (family) and I have few questions please:
1- what is Shipping allowance value to ship my items from Australia. Also settling-in allownace (I know it is one month base) what does this allowance include (i.e. buying furntiutre, etc)? and are both granted by Aramco?
2- Lots of hidden expenses out of pocket I read about here and not clarified in my offer such as paying for my visa and my family visa, can you please let me know about any other expesnes I will have to cover myself and not supported by Aramco (hidden costs)?
3- written in my contract that I can't travel before completion of one year! I don't see this fair, is everyone having this and will it be hard to travel during my first year?
4- Are you still strugging with housing there? I should be working in Dharan and they said most likely Dhahran compound.is there plenty of houses available?
5- Are you paying rent to Aramco for housing if you stay in Aramco provided housing? and how much? and is uiles covered by Aramco?
Thank you very much
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Post by BlueStaff on Jun 29, 2022 3:23:14 GMT
1. Talk to your relocation advisor, it is entirely dependant on your base salary and includes a seperate multiplier for each of you, your wife and children. If you want to ship items, its at your cost. Otherwise if you opt for cash payment it is a generous allowance and more than enough to cover the cost of furnishing your home.
2. You receive a 200 SAR payment for a single exit visa yearly as part of Repatriation allowance. If you wish additional travel outside of kingdom then those visas are at your cost. Dependents fee for Iqamas is 500 SAR per month per additional family member (you do not pay for yourself).
3. Never heard of this - perhaps you are confusing "not travel within first year" with your Repatriation travel and allowance. Repatriation travel and allowance will be available in your first complete calendar year for use. You can travel freely out of kingdom after completion of your trial period (or within trial with approval if your Supervisor), and will be awarded vacation credits on a pro-rata basis for the year based on your arrival date.
4. So far as I know there is no housing issue at present. Talk to your relocation advisor.
5. Yes you pay (very reasonable) rent.
Currently water and electric are covered. Again talk to your relocation advisor for typical costs.
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Post by kennyshtia on Jun 29, 2022 6:11:36 GMT
Thanks for your valuable reply, I have talked to my HR advisor but still two points are vague for me:
1- He mentioned "The settling in allowance and cash in lieu (for shipping and logistics) are 2 separate cash components." does that mean I will get two independent cash payments?
2- Is Iqama you refering to is the Visa fees which is included in my travel allowance? I am accompany my spouse
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Post by BlueStaff on Jun 29, 2022 7:29:26 GMT
1. Settling in allowance is a 1-off payment on arrival. I can't remember the exact multiple of salary, but you can process it as soon as you have computer access. Cash in lieu of shipping is exactly that. So far as I know Saudi Aramco no longer ship your personal effects, and you have to arrange shipping yourself using the allowance. There is a time limit of 6 months i think on claiming shipping allowance. 2 seperate allowances.
Aramco will pay the cash to any bank account you stipulate.
2. Visa fees paid by Saudi Aramce are limited to a single exit visa which covers each of you for 1 trip of up to 2 months. Dependents fees are 500SAR per dependent per month, payable yearly in advance. If it is just yourself and your spouse then it will be 12*500 SAR per year for their Iqama. Saudi Aramco pay for your Iqama only.
Visas are 200 SAR for single (2 months) plus 100 SAR per additional month and 500 SAR for multi (3 months) plus 200 SAR per additional month.
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arcticengineer
Senior Member
Posts: 175
Job Status: Accepted Aramco Job
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Post by arcticengineer on Jun 29, 2022 16:36:54 GMT
I suggest you ship a minimal amount of personal items, clothing and any special momentos or photos. I would not ship furniture.
You will receive one additional months pay as a settling in allowance, and each family member will receive a cash in lieu of shipping allowance. I highly recommend you take the cash in lieu and buy what you need in kingdom. You can buy used items from people leaving camp and pocket the difference, or spend lavishly decorating your home.
There are no hidden expenses, iqama and visa fees are clearly spelled out in the relocation information Aramco provides. It is confusing, and it seems rediculous, but it is explained.
Traveling freely out of kingdom, now that covid restrictions have been lifted is true, but... You can travel freely once you have your Iqama and pay your entry/exit fee, but you cannot take leave whenever you want. You will likely find that you will have to be flexible with when you take your leave based on your supervisor and his staffing needs. Especially popular times are immediately before or after the EID holidays and the end and beginning of the year.
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Post by kennyshtia on Jun 30, 2022 5:26:43 GMT
Thanks for those advises. but I am still confused about Iqama and visa since I never had to pay that for my work.
Can you let me know how much will I have to pay if the case is me and my wife and I will apply for multi-entry visa so we can travel freely?
TIA
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2022 8:04:34 GMT
Thanks for those advises. but I am still confused about Iqama and visa since I never had to pay that for my work. Can you let me know how much will I have to pay if the case is me and my wife and I will apply for multi-entry visa so we can travel freely? TIA Two things here. 1) the exit visa cost. Yes you have to pay to leave the country. That is 2000SAR per year or you can apply as/when, most popular option is 500SAR for 90 days. Aramco won’t pay for this unless it’s a business trip or part of the repat, in which case they’ll pay for the 30 day variant. 2) the dependant iqama fee, aka the tax on expats resident in KSA. Aramco pay for you. Anyone you bring over under your iqama has to be paid for 1 year in advance (the first 60 days are gratis). Then it will cost 4800SAR per year, per dependant. |
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Post by kennyshtia on Jul 1, 2022 0:22:17 GMT
Thanks alot mcshane
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