Since this seams to have become the de facto place to put your personal timelines, I'll do my part and add mine thus far. I'll update as I go...
United States Candidate:
Mar 31, 2015 - Directly submitted CV to Saudi Aramco for Consideration
Apr 20, 2015 - Contacted by Recruiter for interview (via Email)
Documents received and requested to be completed:
- - QR, Application for Employment
Apr 26, 2015 - Submitted QR (via Email)
Apr 29, 2015 - Conducted video interview via Glowpoint with team in Saudi Arabia
May 14, 2015 - Notice received from recruiter that they wish to extend an offer (via Email)
Documents requested:
- - Two recent pay stubs
- - Copies of all Certifications
- - Copies of all Diplomas
May 18, 2015 - All requested documents submitted (via Email)
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May 26, 2015—June 9, 2015 - Huge Flood in Houston takes out office for a couple weeks...
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<>June 17, 2015 - Notice of Official Offer (via Email) (
but held pending verification of requested documents)
Documents requested:
- - Official (sealed) Transcripts
June 18, 2015 - Official Transcripts Mailed (via FedEx)
June 23, 2015 - Notice of Receipt of Official Transcripts (via Email)
June 25, 2015 - Second Notice of Official Offer (via Email) (
but held again pending receipt of requested information for benefit package)
Requested information:
- - Full name as it appears in your passport and Country of Passport
- - Permanent mailing address
- - Current mailing address (if different from perm address)
- - Date of Birth (for purpose of Benefits Calculation)
- - Telephone
- - Email
- - Dependents information: Dependent Name / Relationship / DOB
- - Will family join you immediately – within 90 days or post 90 days?
June 25, 2015 - Requested Information for Benefits Sent (via Email)
June 25, 2015 - Notice of Receipt of Requested Information for Benefits (via Email)
June 26, 2015 - Official Offer Received (via Email) (Offer valid for 7 days)
Forms required to be physically sent for Offer Acceptance:
- - Offer Letter
- - Terms & Conditions
- - Conflict of Interest
Pre-Employment Contingency Forms Received:
- - Saudi Aramco Background Screening (the BI)
- - Candidate Pre-Placement Health Questionnaire
- - Dependent Pre-Placement Health Questionnaire (1 form per dependent)
- - Saudi Aramco Expatriate Schools Dependent School Information (1 form per child)
- - Saudi Arabian Laws, Customs and Traditions
- - Visa Application (1 application per person residing in Saudi Arabia)
*Note 1: BI and Medical Questionnaires must be emailed to a secure address, and originals must be mailed. These can not be sent to the recruiter or adviser.
*Note 2: Supporting Documents requested are shown on the attachment below.June 26, 2015 - Lengthy Phone call with Recruiter regarding terms of the Official Offer
June 29, 2015 - Offer Acceptance (via Email)
June 29, 2015 - Notice of Receipt of Offer Acceptance (via Email)
July 1, 2015 - Relocation Adviser Assigned, and Aramco Badge number Received (via Email)
Pre-Employment Contingency Forms Requested (7 days given to render them...):
- - Saudi Aramco Background Screening (the BI)
- - Candidate Pre-Placement Health Questionnaire
- - Dependent Pre-Placement Health Questionnaire (1 form per dependent)
- - Saudi Aramco Expatriate Schools Dependent School Information (1 form per child)
- - Saudi Arabian Laws, Customs and Traditions
- - Visa Application (1 application per person residing in Saudi Arabia)
*Note 1: BI and Medical Questionnaires must be emailed to a secure address, and originals must be mailed. These can not be sent to the recruiter or adviser.
*Note 2: Supporting Documents requested are shown on the attachment below.
*Note 3: Even though they said all contingencies must be received in 7 days, they told me to send them as soon as I could and not worry about the 7 days ( I took a couple weeks)July 16, 2015 - Contingency Documents Sent (via Email)
July 16, 2015 - Automated Notice of Receipt of Contingency Documents Sent (via Email)
July 20, 2015 - Contingencies and investigation initiated by Relocation Adviser
July 22, 2015 - Contacted (via Email) by Investigator for Request of Documents for Pre-employment Background Investigation
Requested Documents (related to current employer):>>> PLEASE NOTE: This is a brand new part <<<
A. Aramco Services Company, Saudi Aramco and affiliates require verification of your current employer through the Human Resources (HR) Department.
If you choose not to give us permission to contact the HR Department at this time, provide any three (3) of the following four (4) items:
- 1. Name, phone number and email of at least 3 people that can verify your employment (preferably co-workers). They cannot be family members.
- 2. A copy of the most recent performance appraisal or a copy of the offer letter.
- 3. A copy of your first and most current pay slip. The pay slip will be used for employment verification purposes only.
- 4. A notarized employment verification letter.
And, one (1) of the following two (2) items:
- 1. An email from your office account. The email can be very casual in nature (i.e. – Hey (ASC investigator’s first name), How are you doing? I haven’t heard from you in a while….)
- 2. Verification from your bank of your payroll direct deposit. This requires that you contact your bank, authorize the ASC investigator to access the information and provide us with the name and contact information of the bank officer. I (the ASC investigator) will contact the bank officer and confirm the direct deposit from your employer.
July 24, 2015 - Documents Sent to Investigator (via Email)
Documents Sent:
- - Offer Letter from Current Employer
- - A copy of my first and most current pay slip from my current employer.
- - A notarized employment verification letter.
- - An email from my office account at my current employer.
July 29, 2015 - Notice from Investigator (via Email) that Investigation is complete and has been sent to headquarters for approval.
July 29, 2015 - Notice from Relocation Adviser (via Email) to schedule a date for Orientation and the Visa Medical Screening in person in Houston
Relocation Forms Received and Requested to be Completed:
- - Point of Origin
- - Payroll Deduction (if taking Cash In Lieu, do not choose an item)
- - Relocation Guide Acknowledgement
- - Shipment New Hire Acknowledgement
August 11, 2015 - Notice of Background Clearance and Medical Approval (via phone conversation)
WooHoo!August 13, 2015 - Orientation and Visa Medical Screening in Houston.
Please Note: The medical screening will require collection of Blood, Stool, and Urine. (be prepared). It also requires a chest x-ray too.August 13, 2015 - Submission of all signed original contingency forms in person in Houston.
August 13, 2015 - Submission of Visa Application in Person in Houston.
August 13, 2015 - Received Benefit Declaration Forms in Person in Houston (e.g. insurance, 401K elections, etc.)
August 15, 2015 - Submission of all Relocation forms (via Email)
August 15, 2015 - Submission of all Benefit Declaration Forms (via Email)
August 20, 2015 - Notice of Visa Medical Clearance Received (via Phone Call)
August 20, 2015 - Shipped Passport (for Visa) and Original Benefit Documents to Aramco (via FedEx)
August 24, 2015 - Method of Study Letter (for degree attestation) Completed by University, and sent to Relocation Adviser for approval (via Email)
August 24, 2015 - Notice of Approval of Method of Study Letter Received (via Email)
August 24, 2015 - Sealed copy of approved Method of Study Letter Sent to Relocation Adviser (via FedEx)
August 26, 2015 - Notice of Visa Filing received (via Email)
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August 31, 2015 - Radium Compound Fire Tedy...
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<>September 4, 2015 - Notice of Visa Issuance (via Email and Phone)
September 4, 2015 - Final Clearance Letter Received (via Email)
September 4, 2015 - Departure Date Set (via Phone)
September 8, 2015 - Notified that there is a delay in relocation due to the Radium Compound tedy. (via Phone)
September 21, 2015 - Final Clearance Given Again. New Departure Date Set (via Phone and Email)
September 22, 2015 - Plane Tickets Received (via Email)
September 30, 2015 - Departure Date
October 1, 2015 - Arrival in KSA
WooHoo!October 1, 2015 - Assigned housing in the Rakah Compound (
much nicer than expected)
NOTE 1: It's hot here, but you probably know that. But I can say it is definitely more humid at Rakah. Make sure to bring appropriate clothing. It was over 90F (32C) late last night, and the dew was dripping off the windows outside because the humidity was so high.NOTE 2: I have elected to just take Aramco buses for awhile rather than renting an overpriced POS. So far it is working out well. October 4-5, 2015 - KSA Orientation
October 5, 2015 - Attained Sim Card at the Al Midra building during orientation.
NOTE: you can do this without an Iqama, it only costs 30 SAR at Mobily. For an extra 100 SAR you get 2GB of data with it. You need to get a Saudi number as soon as you can.October 6, 2015 - First day of real work.
NOTE: every department is different, but I got loaded up with work the very first day.October 6, 2015 - Stopped by the mailboxes and attained a personal mailbox.
NOTE: This is another thing you need to do as soon as you can.October 7, 2015 - Attained my 90 day temporary ID badge (bldg 325)
October 8, 2015 - Submitted my Saudi Engineering Council paperwork (via website)
October 8, 2015 - Paid the SADAD fee for the engineering paperwork (via NCB Deposit ATM)
NOTE 1: For engineers, the Saudi Engineering Council certification is required prior to issuing your Iqama.NOTE 2: This first fee is 500 Riyal for all engineers.October 10, 2015 - Received my Saudi Engineering Council approval (via text)
October 12, 2015 - Paid the second SADAD fee for the engineering paperwork (via NCB Deposit ATM)
NOTE: This second fee is 750 to 2300 Riyal depending on level.October 20, 2015 - Placed name on e-bid system to hopefully get a home in Dhahran (insha')
October 21, 2015 - Received my Iqama
NOTE: My Iqama, and numerous others had errors on it (especially in the Arabic name). Be sure to have it checked, and turn it back in immediately to have the corrections made.October 21, 2015 - Forwarded Iqama to SCE, and paid the third and final SADAD fee for the engineering paperwork (via NCB Deposit ATM)
NOTE: This third fee is 100 Riyal for all engineers.October 22, 2015 - Returned my Iqama to have it corrected...
October 25, 2015 - Submitted my Attested degree and Attested marriage certificate to personnel for counter-attestation. (in-person at Midra Bldg.)
NOTE 1: This was required because my wife is a non-US citizen. So these documents must be attested before I can apply for her visa to join me in Kingdom.NOTE 2: Counter-attestation is 75 Riyals per document.
I will continue to update through the settling in phase and my families arrival.
... continued
