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Post by bramme on May 15, 2024 14:03:06 GMT
Hi all, I am currently interviewing with Aramco. I am excited about the role and the idea of living in the Kingdom. However, as I am currently researching the more practical side of things, I have a few questions regarding the Iqama for my dependents and the multiple exit and re-entry visas as me and my wife would also like to use the opportunity to discover the gulf region and leave the country regularly to explore more of the region and world. - How long does it usually take until me and my wife would receive the Iqama.
- Can we apply for an exit and re-entry visa for the same duration of the Iqama rather than extending it over and over again?
- Are those processes digital now and are they processed swiftly?
- These processes likely are associated with fees and costs - are these manageable in comparison to office workers' salaries?
Any other things we need to think about as a relatively young married couple that would use this opportunity of living in the Kingdom to explore both the Kingdom itself, as well as the wider world?
My wife likely become stay-at-home and wishes to enroll in online degrees at foreign universities. Is this possible?
Hope to join you all soon!
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arcticengineer
Senior Member
Posts: 180
Job Status: Accepted Aramco Job
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Post by arcticengineer on May 15, 2024 16:58:33 GMT
The iqama process can take from a few weeks to over a month for you. Once you receive your iqama, you can open a back account, and once you have a bank account you can pay for your wife's iqama which will take around a week and I believe the annual cost is a bit over 4000 SR per year. Entry exit visa's can be anywhere from 2 months to the duration of your iqama (you cannot extend it past the expiration of your iqama) you can look up entry exit visa fees online.
You have to submit a request through HR to get your entry exit visa after you have paid the fee through your bank account via an app. You can get your wife's entry exit visa directly through the government app after you have paid her fee. Entry exit visas are issued quickly, sometimes the same day you submit the request, seldom more than a day or two. I advise against submitting your request on a Thursday especially later in the day as someone the support departments seem to start their weekends early and may have forgotten your request when they return back the next week.
If you look at your travel allowance for you repat trip as covering your wife's iqama and entry/exit visas, the fees aren't overwhelming. It's just more of a pain in the but to remember when things expire. If you're not traveling out of kingdom every month then you can save money but just getting entry/exit visas as needed.
One of the perks of the job is international travel. Just realize most locations require several flights so it's often not practical to take a trip shorter than a week. Also realize depending on the department you are in, your vacation schedule is often a game of negotiation with co-workers and you might get frustrated that you won't get to travel when you want. Everyone wants to leave for the summer, many people want to bridge their repats with one of the Eid's
There are lots of opportunities to explore the kingdom, but assuming you will be in the Eastern Provence realize it's a huge country and many locations are just too far of a drive for a weekend.
I don't think there would be a problem with at home studying, but I have never looked at what is offered from other countries universities.
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Post by bramme on May 16, 2024 6:49:14 GMT
The iqama process can take from a few weeks to over a month for you. Once you receive your iqama, you can open a back account, and once you have a bank account you can pay for your wife's iqama which will take around a week and I believe the annual cost is a bit over 4000 SR per year. Does this mean that my wife and I will not be able to move to KSA together? |
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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 May 16, 2024 6:56:34 GMT
The iqama process can take from a few weeks to over a month for you. Once you receive your iqama, you can open a back account, and once you have a bank account you can pay for your wife's iqama which will take around a week and I believe the annual cost is a bit over 4000 SR per year. Does this mean that my wife and I will not be able to move to KSA together? Where are you coming from? In most cases you will come first. She will be able to come here after around 2 months |
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Post by bramme on May 16, 2024 7:43:53 GMT
Does this mean that my wife and I will not be able to move to KSA together? Where are you coming from? In most cases you will come first. She will be able to come here after around 2 months From the EU, but she has a Chilean passport. |
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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 May 16, 2024 8:36:28 GMT
Where are you coming from? In most cases you will come first. She will be able to come here after around 2 months From the EU, but she has a Chilean passport. You can bring her on tourist visa but advisable is to wait and sort out all formalities |
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