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Post by Marademadrid on Nov 3, 2011 14:25:45 GMT
o!!
I am María, from Spain. I have been following the forum for months since my husband got an offer for Aramco. First, I would like to thank you all for your tips, which are being really helpful.
We will be settled in Ras Tanura. He is starting now the visa process, so he is supposed to travel by the end of the year and I expect to join him as soon as possible.
We are a bit nervous but eager to start this new adventure. While making plans for moving house, some questions have arisen. I appreciate any suggestions you may have.
1) We would like that my family come to visit us. Do you know how long does it take to get the family visa approved? And how many times a year could they visit us?
2) Though we have chosen payment in lieu, planning to buy all the staff in The Kingdom, I would like to know if we should take something from Spain. I think that appliances are not worthy taking them from Spain since all of ours are on 220v. Anyway, what would you recommend to bring? Is it possible to buy on line and get it shipped to the compound? Because we have seen most of the shops are located only in Riyadh (e.g. Zara Home).
3) To my understanding, we can change the electrical installation to 220v. But perhaps we would like to make some other changes in the house such as painting, wooden floors, etc. Would it be possible? Would we need to ask for permission?
Thanks in advance for your help. Looking forward to join you soon.
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Post by vpainter on Nov 4, 2011 20:00:00 GMT
1. Once you get your resident visas and your iqamas you can apply for a visa for your family. Aramco will help you with this process. We try to allow 6 months, but have done it in 2 or 3 months, but that can be nerve racking, getting the visa at the last minute; and there have been some who haven't received it in time. So 6 months is a good time to begin. They could come as often as you could get the visa through and are willing to pay for the visas.
2. Since Aramco is installing 220V plugs in kitchens - you may want to bring your favorite small appliances. But they are also available here. Zara Home is located in Dhahran Mall.
Shipping to SA is a challenge; it can work just fine, but once (in 10+ years) we did have something we ordered not get here. We had to pay twice to receive it. Postal insurance did not cover inside SA. DHL, UPS, and FED EX does deliver inside KSA. Don't know if any of those are in Spain.
3. You are allowed to make changes. You can paint, build in your gae and patios, etc. If you get housing's approval, then you don't have to undo the changes. If you make the changes without approval, you just have to return the house to original condition when you leave. Wooden floors are being installed in some homes.
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Post by Marademadrid on Nov 4, 2011 23:44:23 GMT
Thank you so much for your reply, vpainter.
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Post by treeclogs on Nov 8, 2011 22:40:05 GMT
changes to the electrical system is not allowed and quite honestly is not worth the headache since most electronic stuff (tv, pc, dvd etc) run on dual voltage, except kettle, blowdryer, iron etc but those are pretty cheap anyway.
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Post by vpainter on Nov 9, 2011 5:17:05 GMT
treeclogs, actually maintenance is installing 220V plugs in the kitchen for some people. If at first you get a no, ask again and again. They are installing these for some people.
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Post by Carolina on Nov 9, 2011 11:31:09 GMT
we are now running on 220 volts and have no complaints.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Nov 27, 2011 11:26:40 GMT
At least in Dhahran, it apparently depends exactly where you live. I had three conversations with Community Services last week. First time I called, they said 220V was not available. Second time I was told they would have to check and get back to me. Finally, I was told they are not currently installing 220V in our area but will be at an unspecified future date and our house will be placed on the list of those wanting it.
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Post by Carolina on Nov 29, 2011 3:55:20 GMT
o
It is really the luck of the draw at present i.e. we know of a new hire that has walked into a house here on RT with 220 sockets in his kitchen - you have to bear in the mind that ALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES are being phased out in the kingdom that have 110 volts also when I arrived here I brought nothing with me and it was a headache having to go to Khobar in between prayers and buy a kettle/toaster etc etc - I bought them in Khobar from SACO and they soon went faulty so I went to Bahrain and visited Lakeland in the City Centre Mall a great British shop and invested in good quality kettle, toaster, iron etc etc and I have no problems now.
I would recommend that you do bring over your electrical appliances i.e. 220 volts and you can pm me and I can help you out further about this ongoing problem converting to 220 volts - I have already posted that Aramco are too far slow with their conversions to 220 volts even those from USA as they are now unsure whether to take their appliances over which are 110 volts.
It is such a problem at present.
My washing machine is run on 220 volts but my dryer is run on 110 volts and as is not a very good dryer I will need to buy a new one soon so that will mean having to buy a dryer that will be 220 volts I will probably buy it in Bahrain and take it back over the causeway better quality there for sure.
Yes we have ZARA home here in Khobar but stock is very limited and IT IS VERY IN FACT ULTRA EXPENSIVE so do bring with you from home good quality sheets/bedding/pillows/towels yes one can buy almost everything here but it takes time and when living here in RT adds on to your journey and good quality items here are very expensive.
Sorry I have not been in contact with you but I am just getting over pneumonia but now on the mend at last.
Hope this helps as I said please feel free to PM me for further advice on the problem of 220 volts etc.
I also hope this helps all new hires as this is quite a dilemma.
Kind Regards
Carolina
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Post by soverydeb on Nov 29, 2011 6:53:29 GMT
I am on RT and have heard that as people rotate out, and the homes are renovated THAT'S when the 220 conversion will happen. A slow process, but, truly, one that makes sense here.
So, if you are coming from the US by all means bring your 110 appliances! I have both 110 and 220 sockets in the kitchen (most houses here on RT do), but 110 throughout the rest of the house.
And yes, they are phasing out 110 appliances here FOR SALE. You can still ship/bring in 110 appliances for personal use here.
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Post by Marademadrid on Nov 29, 2011 22:24:55 GMT
Many Thanks Carolina. You are a great help in the forum indeed. Hope you are completely recovered from your pneumonia.
I have tried to send you a pm, but it has been impossible. I don't know if I must have some kind of privileges in order to pm.
Could you please tell me how to pm?
My husband is getting to KSA next 23rd December, and I am eager to join him as soon as possible.
Thanks again
María
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Post by Carolina on Nov 30, 2011 7:14:42 GMT
o
Just as a gentle reminder Maria is coming from Spain and will have all 220 volt appliances and I would even advise her to bring her 220 V hoover as well - because if the worst thing happens i.e. 220 volts in the kitchen but not in the living room or bedrooms then I am sure or certain that Aramco will accommodate this - as the previous posting has stated slowly Aramco are switching over to 220 volts when houses are being renovated to be ready for new hires.
We are off to Bahrain tomorrow to buy a decent hoover again bought one from SACO and it barely lasted one year - so another investment to make - yes it will be 220 volts but no use in buying anything else that has 110 volts?
So although the previous posting has stated do bring over 110 volts appliances if one is from the USA but what does a new hire do with them if they find that their new renovated house has been converted to 220 volts and so the debate continues?
Kind Regards
Carolina
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Post by soverydeb on Nov 30, 2011 9:54:07 GMT
Also, if you live on RT and find you need more 220 sockets you can put a request into housing and they can convert/install up to 3 at the present time.
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Post by Colts18 on Nov 30, 2011 16:17:29 GMT
Anyone know if the homes in Dhahran are also being converted to 220v during renovation? I would hate to find out that we brought all our appliances but can't use them!
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Post by Julz62 on Nov 30, 2011 16:41:04 GMT
I have not seen them doing that yet in Dhahran. We have a few by us that they are renovating but not replacing electrical, just floors, doors, paint, etc.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Dec 2, 2011 12:01:14 GMT
Based on several conversations I had within the last 10 days with Community Services, they are not currently converting houses to 220V but may consider installing some 220V outlets on request, depending on the area where you live. As I mentioned earlier, it seems that if 220V is not available right now in a particular area, you can request your house to be added to a waiting list to get it in future.
I was also told they do expect company houses to be converted to 220V eventually, but not at this time, and they also do not have any estimate when this might happen.
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