|
|
Post by Eric Stone on May 4, 2012 22:05:32 GMT
Timing of it All...
I have been told that I will be receiving an offer shortly, for a full family status, move to KSA as a Survey Engineer. However its taken 3 weeks just to get the signature required to send me the offer, Houston has said next week.
From reading the various posts, I take it that once I receive the offer via email.
Except it... they will then overnight me a package of papers to sign..
Next I'll be assigned a Relocation Advisor... who will schedule a trip to Houston for me and my spouse for medical and briefing... but this will likely take another week.
My questions are:
1) Is it a sound practice to "negotiate" when receiving the official offer or is it better to just accept it as it stands? (and if yes... what can you push on if anything)
2) Once I accept the offer and start signing the papers they send me overnight, is there anything I should look for in particular? (I saw the suggest to photocopy everything)
3) How soon after the medical check can we expect to have a start of work date?
(I saw on another blog that it can take 2-3 weeks just for a back ground check)
4) I already have a 5 year visitors Visa for the KSA, but I will need those for my family (all have passports already), but how long does it take to get a workers VISA, or will they let me start work with the Visitor Visa?
5) When will I get the first pay check... (this ties in with when I give my notice to my current employer) is it after two weeks of working in the KSA? or?
6) As I understand from a previous blog, we will be assigned our first house, there is no choice then until 3 years later when we can opt up?
7) I have been told that I will likely be in the Dahran Camp, from the blogs they say Golf Carts aren't allowed on the streets as transport... what about large ATV's with turn signals, and power steering (capable of 50mph)?
8) I've seen pictures of the Horse stables... do they have riding classes for kids?
9) I am have been Scouting my whole life, I run a Cub Pack now, and my wife a Girl Scout Brownie Troop. Any info on these?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on May 9, 2012 3:59:20 GMT
1. People have negotiated salary when its not been up to what they currently make or if they have gotten a raise during the hiring process. I personally only know of those applying to the medical side with Samso, a few have not been able to negotiate and had their offers withdrawn.
6. The timeline now is 2 years in your assigned first home, then you can get on the bid list.
7. Motorcycles are allowed, I don't know if they would allow an ATV with signals and mirrors. I've never seen one being used.
8. There are horses that are all privately owned, you would have to join the Dhahran Horse Association as an associate member (non horse owner) and find someone to allow you to use their horse for lessons or buy your own horse.
|
|
|
|
Post by GroveWanderer on May 9, 2012 12:11:19 GMT
4. I believe your "official" work permit is granted along with your Iqama which usually takes less than two weeks, these days. However, you will normally start working as soon as you get here - or within a day or two at the most.
7. I seem to remember seeing some ATV's around camp a couple of years ago, but not for a long time now. I've a feeling that they were banned, at least on public roads on camp. I saw a document "Safety Rules for ATV's" that was issued by Loss Prevention recently. It states, among other things,
9. There are lots of cub, scout and brownie troops on camp. I'm sure you'll be able to get involved - most activity groups are always looking for volunteers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hadia on May 9, 2012 17:44:21 GMT
2. I wouldn't just photocopy the documents. I recommend scanning them. We ended up having to email a lot back to ASC and even after arrival, when we found out that some were MIA between Houston and Dhahran. Made for instantaneous ability to resend to necessary offices in Dhahran. Handy to carry everything on a flash stick as backup, easier than a stack of papers. We had so many personal papers to bring. Anything we could scan and just bring digitally, we did.
Also, scrutinize the details closely on ALL documents you get. They're busy, and mistakes do occur. We had family name misspellings, wrong gender of children, airline ticket wrong info -- stuff to watch for. Just stay on top of your details and if you see discrepancies, talk to your contact immediately, and document the issues in writing, by email.
3. It took at least 6 weeks for BI to clear for my husband. He has multiple degrees in various countries, and that may have been part of the delay. Also, I think there were people on holiday on both ends, US and KSA, so the file may have sat on some desks, too. Made for a real nail-biter, LOL, but that's just the way it worked out. It was a lot longer than 2 weeks, in other words. And no update or anything while it was happening! Looong weeks, those were. Don't forget -- there are other contingencies to be cleared before you have a real travel date. Space in the school for kids, if applicable; housing assignment; ability to obtain visas, stuff like that. Plus there's the pack date and move date from shipping company. Bunch of stuff. You could fill some of the down time by assessing what you'd want to ship vs. store vs. sell/donate. Never too early to start thinking about that giant task. Spring cleaning!
5. I don't have the Relocation Guide in front of me, but I believe there's a section in there that describes the policy on first paycheck. As I recall, we timed it such that we would be in-Kingdom for my husband's first day of work to be before the 20th of the month so that he would get a paycheck at the end of that first month. After that date, I believe the policy is that you get paid at the end of the following month. Someone, check me on that if I've got it wrong or if it's changed in recent months...
9. I saw a flyer posted recently -- looking for Scout leaders. Your family's talents will be greatly appreciated here, I'm sure.
Best of luck, Eric!
|
|
|
|
Post by Overland on May 9, 2012 23:03:22 GMT
Hadia is correct about the pay. Payday is on the first. If you arrive on or after the 20th, you will not get paid for the 10 or so days until you reach the first of the month. Those days will roll over to the next month when they will pay for all accrued time (10 +30) on the next first.
The book says to be prepared to bring along 2 months salary to carry you through. That may be extreme as you will only need living expenses and money for those endless incidental purchases to carry you through. We will likely do that in addition to bringing funds to buy a car. Car rental is EXPENSIVE, but necessary. Other costs are pretty moderate in my experience as a contractor. I spent all of January there in the hotel and managed easily myself on 100SAR a day.
|
|
|
|
Post by gareth0127 on May 10, 2012 12:52:00 GMT
I arrived on the 20th August and was lucky enough to get the pro rata salary and the settling in allowance paid at the end of August
|
|
|
|
Post by Herewego on May 13, 2012 18:05:59 GMT
I am going to respond the the scouting question. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are all huge here. They will welcome any involvement and volunteering you would like to do!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Eric Stone on May 24, 2012 20:01:43 GMT
Thank you all, for your advice and words of patience.
given how long, in comparison to hiring in the states, this process is taking, as long as the salary meets the minimum expectations... I'm grabbing it. Mainly for fear that it would take half again as long to go through the process.
Mainly I just want to get started, the company I work for presently is rather parochial in its perspective... just too small for me, and I really don't want to have to wait through the July/August holidays to get started there.
Perhaps someone can illuminate me on the subject of holidays... does the company just shut down when they come? Or do people stay on and work through them, especially if you are not Muslim?
We were talking to someone who belongs to the Yacht club at the Aramco beach... and they said to join, you have to have a boat, but that it took 8 months to find one for sale. I also heard from the parent of someone who works there, that it is cheaper to buy a boat state side and ship it there, than get one there. Is that true? Does anyone know what the moving allowance is for weight or size ( I mean could I ship my fathers little used sunfish?)
|
|
|
|
Post by Hadia on May 25, 2012 3:40:15 GMT
During Ramadan, everything is not shut down entirely, but hours of operation and wait times to get things done may be different and ultimately backlogged. Muslim employees can work a short day during the month of Ramadan. At the end of Ramadan, there are five company holidays for the Eid (Aug 18-22 this year). During Eid, shopping gets more challenging with different store hours (not always consistent with each other, and not always posted). Taxis are harder to come by during Eid, particularly late in the day.
With regard to the yacht club, I've heard a wind surf board qualifies, but someone should check me on that. Seems like a small, affordable boat to ship...
|
|
|
|
Post by Julz62 on May 26, 2012 4:03:40 GMT
Sent you a pm.
|
|
|
|
Post by GroveWanderer on May 26, 2012 4:54:21 GMT
Oil production does not stop for holidays. Neither does the company. Also, it doesn't matter whether you are Muslim or not, employees are only allowed to go on vacation based on the Dept's operating requirements.
I'm not sure what you mean by "holidays," but basically there are only two major holidays on the calendar here, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha which are normally 4 or 5-day holidays for Aramco. Although, when rescheduled days off, earned weekends and bridging rules are taken into consideration you can sometimes extend this to 8 or 9 days. While some people take holiday at this time, many do not.
In all the departments I have ever worked for, whenever you go on vacation, there has to be someone to cover for you. For instance, some depts will only let each person take one of the two main holidays off per year, to ensure there is always enough holiday covee.
|
|
