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Post by expat2023 on Dec 18, 2022 19:18:11 GMT
I am travelling end of month to start working. My wife would like to accompany me on a tourist visa. Will she be able to stay on the Dhahran compound with me during her stay?
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jsam
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Joining in March 2023
Posts: 261
Job Status: Aramco Employee
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Post by jsam on Jan 18, 2023 5:19:33 GMT
I have the same plan. I will be moving to RT and my wife and infant will have to travel together. I would be keen to keep an eye on this post and also update once i have better clarity.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2023 4:55:06 GMT
I have the same plan. I will be moving to RT and my wife and infant will have to travel together. I would be keen to keep an eye on this post and also update once i have better clarity. This should be ok, you need to tell Aramco so they can get her a pass to enter the community. Make sure they are aware before you arrive. The tourist visa lasts 90 days, she’ll have to leave then won’t be able to return within the year unless you get her a new family visa or do the iqama route. |
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jsam
Senior Member
Joining in March 2023
Posts: 261
Job Status: Aramco Employee
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Post by jsam on Jan 19, 2023 5:02:32 GMT
I have the same plan. I will be moving to RT and my wife and infant will have to travel together. I would be keen to keep an eye on this post and also update once i have better clarity. This should be ok, you need to tell Aramco so they can get her a pass to enter the community. Make sure they are aware before you arrive. The tourist visa lasts 90 days, she’ll have to leave then won’t be able to return within the year unless you get her a new family visa or do the iqama route. Thanks. My plan is to get her and child RP (Iqama) asap once we reach there. I hope they wont have to exit and enter again for Iqama. If needed, Bahrain looks promising option for a day out of country. |
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ao
Member
Posts: 29
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Post by ao on Jan 19, 2023 22:40:43 GMT
Hi expat2023,
I asked the same question on a different platform and got the following response which may be useful:
"Whatever you do do not bring family on an E-visa. I did that having been told it was a year long visa with max stays of 90 days at a time. Not the case so returned on day 89 to start residence process and as expected told could not leave until paperwork ready etc. After 3 months told could not get visa as E-visa still active (year visa) but 90 days exceeded as it was 90 days max in 365 days so had to leave to cancel visa. 9000 SAR fine, lots of hassles and another 3 months to get Iqama. What we should have done was…
1. Wife moved to Saudi with job
2. Wife gets Iqama ASAP
3. Wife finds Accomodation
4. Wife applies for my Iqama
5. Apply for visa in country of residence (UAE at time)
6. Return on Visa
7. Convert to Iqama
Step 2. max 2 weeks
Steps 4. To 7. Approx 2 weeks"
Then, I asked: "can my family get their visas from a country other than my home country? Are there conditions for doing that?"
The answer was: "You have to hold residency in that country. We moved from UAE so visa’s still live which enabled us to do medicals and applications in Dubai.
I guess if you have dual citizenship that may also be an option but as part of the process is a Police Clearance Certificate from where you are currently resident that might exclude dual citizenship? Perhaps someone else can clarify that point"
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Post by kyle1639 on Jan 20, 2023 3:44:53 GMT
I asked the question during my onboardjng if my family can come visit and was told its best they stay at home whilst the visa process takes place.
They would definitely have to leave to get here on their 90 days residential visa provided by aramco, and the point of entry is by flight, not by land border.
I know the thought of leaving your family for an unprescribed amount of time is devastating, but if you have all your paperwork in place and are proactive in getting your own iqama then family visa, they'd be here with 8 weeks. I could have had my family here in 6 but needed to fly back home to travel to Saudi with my wife and kids
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
Posts: 655
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Post by tamsin on Jan 20, 2023 8:17:07 GMT
I asked the question during my onboardjng if my family can come visit and was told its best they stay at home whilst the visa process takes place. They would definitely have to leave to get here on their 90 days residential visa provided by aramco, and the point of entry is by flight, not by land border. I know the thought of leaving your family for an unprescribed amount of time is devastating, but if you have all your paperwork in place and are proactive in getting your own iqama then family visa, they'd be here with 8 weeks. I could have had my family here in 6 but needed to fly back home to travel to Saudi with my wife and kids This. We did it in 4 weeks, and it would have been less of we’d been luckier on when things came back but it kept landing on weekends. |
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ao
Member
Posts: 29
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Post by ao on Jan 20, 2023 14:18:12 GMT
I asked the question during my onboardjng if my family can come visit and was told its best they stay at home whilst the visa process takes place. They would definitely have to leave to get here on their 90 days residential visa provided by aramco, and the point of entry is by flight, not by land border. I know the thought of leaving your family for an unprescribed amount of time is devastating, but if you have all your paperwork in place and are proactive in getting your own iqama then family visa, they'd be here with 8 weeks. I could have had my family here in 6 but needed to fly back home to travel to Saudi with my wife and kids This. We did it in 4 weeks, and it would have been less of we’d been luckier on when things came back but it kept landing on weekends. Could you please advise with the steps to make my family catch me after my my arrival in a short time? |
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Post by kyle1639 on Jan 20, 2023 14:27:31 GMT
This. We did it in 4 weeks, and it would have been less of we’d been luckier on when things came back but it kept landing on weekends. Could you please advise with the steps to make my family catch me after my my arrival in a short time? Bring your attested marriage and birth certificates of all dependents and copies of passports. You will be given family visa (RVA) paperwork during onboarding. Once you have your iqama, submit all your family visa package and documents at Al-fifa, including a copy of your Aramco ID. This will be sent away to be translated here in Kingdom. Create an Absher account and use a local Absher machine to register and verify your account by fingerprint. Be sure to open a local bank account and make the family visa payment via SADAD. Once the package is ready (you'll receive an email) you need to make an appointment at the Istiqdam Office in Dammam via Absher. Take your completed package with you to this appointment. Once your paperwork is reviewed, if everything is present and correct, you'll be issued a yellowslip (family visa). Take this and send a digital copy by email, and a physical copy to your RA. Once this is received, and your dependents have completed their visa medicals in your home country, the visas can be stamped in their passports. Hope this helps. |
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ao
Member
Posts: 29
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Post by ao on Jan 20, 2023 15:25:47 GMT
Could you please advise with the steps to make my family catch me after my my arrival in a short time? Bring your attested marriage and birth certificates of all dependents and copies of passports. You will be given family visa (RVA) paperwork during onboarding. Once you have your iqama, submit all your family visa package and documents at Al-fifa, including a copy of your Aramco ID. This will be sent away to be translated here in Kingdom. Create an Absher account and use a local Absher machine to register and verify your account by fingerprint. Be sure to open a local bank account and make the family visa payment via SADAD. Once the package is ready (you'll receive an email) you need to make an appointment at the Istiqdam Office in Dammam via Absher. Take your completed package with you to this appointment. Once your paperwork is reviewed, if everything is present and correct, you'll be issued a yellowslip (family visa). Take this and send a digital copy by email, and a physical copy to your RA. Once this is received, and your dependents have completed their visa medicals in your home country, the visas can be stamped in their passports. Hope this helps. Thank you so much kyle1639. The info you provided looks detailed and well written. I have a couple of questions: - how long does it take to get Iqama of the Aramco staff issued? - Can employees complete paperwork for their iqamas and their families' visas during their work time? How they arrange for that? |
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jsam
Senior Member
Joining in March 2023
Posts: 261
Job Status: Aramco Employee
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Post by jsam on Jan 20, 2023 15:44:55 GMT
Hi expat2023, I asked the same question on a different platform and got the following response which may be useful: "Whatever you do do not bring family on an E-visa. I did that having been told it was a year long visa with max stays of 90 days at a time. Not the case so returned on day 89 to start residence process and as expected told could not leave until paperwork ready etc. After 3 months told could not get visa as E-visa still active (year visa) but 90 days exceeded as it was 90 days max in 365 days so had to leave to cancel visa. 9000 SAR fine, lots of hassles and another 3 months to get Iqama. What we should have done was… 1. Wife moved to Saudi with job 2. Wife gets Iqama ASAP 3. Wife finds Accomodation 4. Wife applies for my Iqama 5. Apply for visa in country of residence (UAE at time) 6. Return on Visa 7. Convert to Iqama Step 2. max 2 weeks Steps 4. To 7. Approx 2 weeks" Then, I asked: "can my family get their visas from a country other than my home country? Are there conditions for doing that?" The answer was: "You have to hold residency in that country. We moved from UAE so visa’s still live which enabled us to do medicals and applications in Dubai. I guess if you have dual citizenship that may also be an option but as part of the process is a Police Clearance Certificate from where you are currently resident that might exclude dual citizenship? Perhaps someone else can clarify that point" Thanks for the information. Problem is I currently live in a company township and we will have to vacant house. We don't have any other house at the moment anywhere on this planet.. hence trying to figure out best possible option. |
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
Posts: 655
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Post by tamsin on Jan 20, 2023 16:10:33 GMT
Bring your attested marriage and birth certificates of all dependents and copies of passports. You will be given family visa (RVA) paperwork during onboarding. Once you have your iqama, submit all your family visa package and documents at Al-fifa, including a copy of your Aramco ID. This will be sent away to be translated here in Kingdom. Create an Absher account and use a local Absher machine to register and verify your account by fingerprint. Be sure to open a local bank account and make the family visa payment via SADAD. Once the package is ready (you'll receive an email) you need to make an appointment at the Istiqdam Office in Dammam via Absher. Take your completed package with you to this appointment. Once your paperwork is reviewed, if everything is present and correct, you'll be issued a yellowslip (family visa). Take this and send a digital copy by email, and a physical copy to your RA. Once this is received, and your dependents have completed their visa medicals in your home country, the visas can be stamped in their passports. Hope this helps. Thank you so much kyle1639 . The info you provided looks detailed and well written. I have a couple of questions: - how long does it take to get Iqama of the Aramco staff issued? - Can employees complete paperwork for their iqamas and their families' visas during their work time? How they arrange for that? Kyle is spot on. Anything from 4 days to 8 days. Just depends how busy they are, you can help by getting your urine and stool samples in asap. Settling in paperwork and stuff, appts is pretty much all people do at work the first few weeks, it’s a given, usually. Very soft landing, |
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ao
Member
Posts: 29
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Post by ao on Feb 10, 2023 14:06:31 GMT
Thank you so much kyle1639 . The info you provided looks detailed and well written. I have a couple of questions: - how long does it take to get Iqama of the Aramco staff issued? - Can employees complete paperwork for their iqamas and their families' visas during their work time? How they arrange for that? Kyle is spot on. Anything from 4 days to 8 days. Just depends how busy they are, you can help by getting your urine and stool samples in asap. Settling in paperwork and stuff, appts is pretty much all people do at work the first few weeks, it’s a given, usually. Very soft landing, Hi tamsinCould you please advise which original documents I need to take with me to KSA on top of the attested marriage and birth certificates of my wife and kids? |
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tamsin
Senior VIP Expat
Posts: 655
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Post by tamsin on Feb 10, 2023 17:00:08 GMT
Kyle answered further up.
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ao
Member
Posts: 29
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Post by ao on Feb 10, 2023 21:15:03 GMT
Kyle answered further up. Thanks! |
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