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Post by Colts18 on Nov 23, 2011 20:38:44 GMT
Are there any pro's / cons to coming with your family versus the delayed family option? I have pm'd some of you but thought I post the question on the forum as well. Appreciate your responses as always.
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Post by vpainter on Nov 25, 2011 10:48:39 GMT
If you arrive without your family and they join you after 90 days; you will first be given bachelor housing. Then when your family arrives you can get a list of available family housing you are eligible for and choose one. Also, you will have learned your way around a bit before they arrive. If they join you within 90 days, you will be assigned your family home on arrival.
That would be the only advantages of not coming with family that I know of - to have a choice in the assigned family housing and you having already settled in.
The advantage of them coming with you is they get to travel with you in business class on the flight. The family gets to stay together and you make the transition together.
If you don't like your assigned house, you can get on the bid list for a different house after 2 or 3 years. (someone newer can probably tell you exactly if its 2 or 3 years to get on the bid list)
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Post by Colts18 on Nov 25, 2011 14:40:41 GMT
Thanks vpainter. Here's what I've put together so far from searching the forum and individual responses:
-You wrap up things together in your home country (my case, USA) and family travels with you, giving you added peace of mind.
-You get family housing right away (but you may not have a choice, see below).
-Your may have to finalize things quicker (list your home, sell cars, etc) b'cos of your start date which = stress.
-If your family joins you within 90 days; There's less of a lag time before your personal effects arrive. (I've heard the temporary furniture is quite sub-par)
-After 90 days: You get bachelor housing, but maybe you have more options to select/influence the family housing (pls. correct if i'm wrong), before the family gets there.
-Depending on the time of the year, your kids get to finish their school year in your home country. Although, their arrival during summer and when SAS is out, may be tough on the kids. I've heard the camp is a ghost town during summer.
-If your spouse doesn't work back home, they may not have medical covee temporarily.
-Option to split the cash-in-lieu if family arrives later (?)
Please kindly let me know if I'm off base here on certain items. Also, if I missed any perks/benefits depending on the option you choose.
Thanks.
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Post by SugarLandTX on Nov 26, 2011 5:10:32 GMT
Colts18,
I will not recommend selecting bachelor option with family joining after 3 (or more) months. If you want your family to stay back and take care of selling/renting the house etc., far better option will be to select family status right away and inform Aramco that family will join within 3 months. Here are the advantages:
-Request Saudi visas for your family right now before you travel to Saudi. Once they have the visa stamped you can come to Saudi with peace of mind that they have the visa and can travel anytime in next 90 days.
-Your spouse will still have up to 90 days to finalize things (list the home, sell cars, etc).
-You get family housing right away. Yes, you may not have a choice but atleast you will have a house. Dhahran is almost full and it is very difficult to get a house. I know cases where the employee could not bring his family (and have to wait) because a suitable house was not available.
-As you mentioned if the family joins you within 90 days; there is less of a lag time before your personal effects arrive.
-Your family will have medical covee.
-Option to split the cash-in-lieu.
-Also note that the guide is wrong where it state that family will travel Economy class if they join later. My family travelled after I came to Saudi and they were given business class tickets.
-It will be easier on your kids to make friends if they arrive well before summer break.
-If you can come in December 2011, you will get Expat leave travel allownace in 2012. If you arrive in Jan 2012 or later, your first allowance will be in 2013.
Good luck.
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Post by Mrs. Khan on Nov 26, 2011 22:00:30 GMT
SugarLandTX
As u said in your post that one should request Saudi visas for his family right before he travel to Saudi but in my case, relocation officer assigned to my husband told him that it is not possible at this stage. It is only possible after he get his Iqama and that will happen after his arrival to KSA.
Is it correct or there is any other option ??
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Post by Tremblent on Nov 27, 2011 2:58:34 GMT
If an employee is hired from North America, then only employee can come with his family for others it is not. There are always exception to get OOP (Out of Policy) approval.
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Post by Colts18 on Nov 27, 2011 3:24:41 GMT
Mrs Khan,
I would echo tremblent's comment as well. It seems many of the hiring rules apply differently to people from different parts of the globe.
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Post by waywood on Dec 5, 2011 11:03:59 GMT
We came on family status, my husband coming first and we followed after 11 weeks. This gave him time to settle, to buy a car, pick up some bits and pieces to make the house a little more homely as the shipment took another 3 months after we arrived, and most importantly, he was able to get his paperwork all sorted and could start on ours. It meant that we obtained our iqamas and multi-entry visas (essential for trips to bahrain) within 3 weeks of landing. For those who arrive with their families, this process could take up to 4 or 5 months (depending on the time of year amongst other factors). It is hard for families to be separated for a period of time, and I know not all families are prepared to do this. For us, 3 months was a short period of time to be apart in the scale of things and it gave me time to empty the house and pack without him being under my feet!! :lol: It is a matter of personal choice and only you know best the answer to this one.
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Post by Colts18 on Dec 5, 2011 13:34:16 GMT
Thanks waywood. That brings up another concern: If one's family comes in April, then does it mean they're highly unlikely to get their Iqamas & multiple entry visas by say July? The wife & kids are planing on returning to the US for summer.
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Post by Julz62 on Dec 5, 2011 17:19:53 GMT
They should have them by then without any problems. I know lots of people that had them in two months time.
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Post by GroveWanderer on Dec 6, 2011 10:56:54 GMT
The latest new hire in my dept just got her iqama in less than a month. YMMV.
I have to say I've never heard of it taking 4-5 months. 4-6 weeks would be more normal.
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Post by vpainter on Dec 6, 2011 11:49:13 GMT
I agree the normal is 2 to 6 weeks, if there was someone who it took 4 to 6 months, that is definitely an exception.
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Post by hakim on Dec 7, 2011 15:41:33 GMT
We have been specifically advised that Iqamas take 15 days of processing after the blood test which happens in the first couple of days after arriiving in the Kingdom. Don't worry about it. You can follow up and they can process it quickly for you. Its not a big deal for Aramco.
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Post by shab786 on Dec 13, 2011 16:29:02 GMT
o-
My 8 week old son and I are departing next week to join my husband in Dhahran. I am hoping to meet people quickly to make the transition a bit better for the baby and me.
I was wondering since I am coming a month after my husband has arrived is there an orientation for me? Also, if anyone knows of any mommy and me classes on the camp?
Thanking you and nervous to start this new journey!
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Post by New2 on Dec 16, 2011 7:27:46 GMT
o Everyone,
To Mrs Khan,
Not like any other company in KSA, Aramco has capability in processing your family Visa eventhough your husband has not get his Iqama. In fact, Aramco could arrange so that you can come along with your husband on his first arrival. And this has nothing to do with nationality. For this, your husband need to obtain his Department approval.
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