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Seeking a Saudi attorney to clarify my status

Can anyone recommend a Saudi attorney who handles employment and immigration matters? I’d like help checking my status and understanding whether I can return to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.


I'm an American citizen who lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for five years. Last year, I left because of an urgent family emergency. My employer approved my exit/re-entry visa, but I never returned. My current status on the MOI website shows “Absent from work.”


Before leaving, I closed all my bank accounts and had no outstanding bank debt. At the time, HR told me they would file a case against me to recover money related to the remaining term of my employment contract. I don’t know whether a case was actually filed or how much they might be claiming.


I have no plans to return to my former job. My only reason for visiting would be to perform Umrah. Before making travel arrangements, I’d like an attorney to check for any cases or restrictions in my name and explain what steps, if any, I need to take.


I’d appreciate recommendations from anyone who has worked with an attorney on a similar situation.

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@sunsolaris

Because you left because of a legitimate family emergency and your employer originally approved your exit/re-entry visa, your best course of action is to try to correct the.  Reach out to your old company's HR department. Since they originally approved your exit, they may be willing to log into the Qiwa Platform or Muqeem portal to formally update your record or request a final exit clearance, provided your contract has reached its natural conclusion. record rather than applying for new visas.  As an American citizen, you can contact the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C. or your nearest Saudi consulate. Present your case, documentation of the family emergency, and proof that your departure was authorized by your employer to see if they can grant an official waiver or instruct you on filing a remote appeal through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD).

Good luck with your process.

Isaac

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