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Post by CanadianExpat on Jan 25, 2023 19:33:00 GMT
Greetings all. Hope this message finds you well. I will be arriving next week ( willing) and would like to bring my family on eVisa. My wife and kids had the eVisa (we travelled to Saudi last year), the visa will expire on March 14. My wife has a critical illness, which delayed our original travel plan from December till now. My questions are as follows:
1. What are the risk factors for family travelling on eVisa? Does it interfere with the residence visa application process?
2. I understand that until the family receives their visa stamp, they will not be able to access the JHAH. Will they be able to see private clinics if required? For instance, ongoing treatment for my wife as soon as we land? I am ready to pay out of pocket initially till they get access to the JHAH health system. If anyone has gone through similar situation, I would greatly appreciate if you can share your experience. Please feel free to direct message me.
3. What is the current timeline to get the iqama?
4. How soon can we apply for family residence visa after arrival? What is the current timeline for the resident visa to get approved?
5. The eVisa portal doesn't allow to re-apply for the evisa until the existing one expires. If the resident visa takes longer than 5 - 6 weeks, we may need to get renew/re-apply for the family's eVisa. Will it cause any problem with the existing resident visa application?
6. Does anyone know if kids can enroll into the school before they have their residence status (i.e. while the application is in process)?
7. Houston office asked me to initially book a hotel for my family till I get the visitors pass for my family to move into the residence. How soon can we the visitors pass to move them in?
8. What is the transition process from eVisa to residence visa? Do they just travel outside of the country, like going to Bahrain, and re-enter with the residence visa?
If there is anything else you guys can think that I should be aware of before travelling, please let me know. We have been delaying our trip since November due to my wifes surgery and we must now travel by mid-February. The RA team from Houston has confirmed the housing and just waiting for my final confirmation to book the flights. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank-you!
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ao
Member
Posts: 29
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Post by ao on Jan 25, 2023 22:54:36 GMT
Hi,
I asked almost 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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jsam
Senior Member
Joining in March 2023
Posts: 261
Job Status: Aramco Employee
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Post by jsam on Feb 6, 2023 5:28:30 GMT
I would also light to throw some light as I will soon be moving to KSA and my plans are also to shift with my family. They will be on e- tourist visa. I spoke to another friend of mine who joined Aramco few months back and he invited his family on e-visa to visit them. Visa was for an year with max stay of 90 days. After their short visit in KSA, they went back to UK and processed their residence visa without any issue.
In summary the information I have so far is:
1. Move to KSA with family. (family on e-visa)
2. start joining process and medical etc. for yourself.
3. register in engineering council if you are an engineer.
4. get Iqama for yourself.
5. apply for yellow slip (a document which is required to start family visa process).
6. family moves back to home country or place where they have residence permit.
7. they undergo medical (HR arranges).
8. apply for visa in embassy (take couple of days).
9. travel back to KSA.
10. get their Iqama.
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ao
Member
Posts: 29
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Post by ao on Feb 6, 2023 14:42:54 GMT
I would also light to throw some light as I will soon be moving to KSA and my plans are also to shift with my family. They will be on e- tourist visa. I spoke to another friend of mine who joined Aramco few months back and he invited his family on e-visa to visit them. Visa was for an year with max stay of 90 days. After their short visit in KSA, they went back to UK and processed their residence visa without any issue. In summary the information I have so far is: 1. Move to KSA with family. (family on e-visa) 2. start joining process and medical etc. for yourself. 3. register in engineering council if you are an engineer. 4. get Iqama for yourself. 5. apply for yellow slip (a document which is required to start family visa process). 6. family moves back to home country or place where they have residence permit. 7. they undergo medical (HR arranges). 8. apply for visa in embassy (take couple of days). 9. travel back to KSA. 10. get their Iqama. Are you sure about that? I'm double checking as I got a completely different story which is opposite to your friend's story. |
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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 Feb 6, 2023 17:58:19 GMT
To reconfirm, just spoke to my friend and his family entered KSA again last week
Hence,my proposed way forward is doable.
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samlia
Advanced Member
Posts: 65
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Post by samlia on Nov 14, 2023 4:54:14 GMT
I would also light to throw some light as I will soon be moving to KSA and my plans are also to shift with my family. They will be on e- tourist visa. I spoke to another friend of mine who joined Aramco few months back and he invited his family on e-visa to visit them. Visa was for an year with max stay of 90 days. After their short visit in KSA, they went back to UK and processed their residence visa without any issue. In summary the information I have so far is: 1. Move to KSA with family. (family on e-visa) 2. start joining process and medical etc. for yourself. 3. register in engineering council if you are an engineer. 4. get Iqama for yourself. 5. apply for yellow slip (a document which is required to start family visa process). 6. family moves back to home country or place where they have residence permit. 7. they undergo medical (HR arranges). 8. apply for visa in embassy (take couple of days). 9. travel back to KSA. 10. get their Iqama. Are you sure about that? I'm double checking as I got a completely different story which is opposite to your friend's story. I endorse this. My friend did that even without sending the family back-home (Canada). He just mailed their passports along with forms etc to Canada Saudi Embassy from Saudi for new visa issuance. But the catch is, he had done all the pre requisites ( Medical (3 months validity), Degree, Birth Certs, marriage cert attestations) before travelling to Saudi. |
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Post by canadianmomexpat on Nov 17, 2023 21:23:40 GMT
Thank you Samlia,
Did your friend send al documents to be certified at the certification bureau in Canada on your own or upon request of RA?
Thank you for your help!
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samlia
Advanced Member
Posts: 65
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Post by samlia on Nov 20, 2023 6:26:53 GMT
Thank you Samlia, Did your friend send al documents to be certified at the certification bureau in Canada on your own or upon request of RA? Thank you for your help! RA won't tell you all this until you ask or they will mention this after your Aqama issuance. Ask RA that you want to expedite the process and would like their documents to be attested in advance to save time at later stage. You can also do it yourself without even asking RA (Just get them attested from Foreign Affairs Canada and Saudi Consulate). These documents are the requirement for issuance of Family Aqama and you would need those during that time. You should use the same person/company who is helping you getting your degree attested. You can also do it yourself or use any companies in Canada. Just google it. |
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