Visa for my wife

Bonjour!

comon cava CED?
(I'm trying to learn French, but not much support)

okay, there is a temporary way, and there is the permenant way.
but before that let me explain something about the Visa's to Saudi Arabia. there are two main types of visa and a sub type, Visit Visa for visitors and Work Visa for permenant residents staying for over an yaer to something like forever (which is the case for many expats. "many, not most.) and also a sub visa for the work visa holder's dependants "family visa".

now we explain the two methods of getting your family;

Temporary way

if your coming on a visit visa, you can have your wife and children (if any) also come with you at the same time with a visit visa of their own, ofcourse your hiring company has to do this, and the process will take a at least 6 working days.

Permenant way

your company has or will get you a work visa directly, in that case you will have to leave your family and arrive in Saudi, wait for a two week period (average) untill your residence permit has been authorised by the goverment, then apply for a family visa through your company which will also take a couple of weeks to be processed (actually it depends on how efficiant your company staff is) and after that, if you have your residence ready for your family, just book the tickets and pull them here

I do reccomend that while your paper work is in process make sure you have secured a residence for your family instead of booking them a hotel room while you look.


if you need further clarification just ask, sel vou plae "or something was it?"


Salman

Dear Salaman,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply.

I will be going on a business Visa first and the Cie should arrange everything after the probation period.

I will let you know my schedule and maybe will have the opportunity to meet in Ryad.

I will give you some help with your French.

Take care and thanks again.

Ced

I honestly apreciate the offer, and humbly accept it as well, merci bocoup .

I'll be waiting for your arrival.

Salman

Dear Salman

As a Human Resource specialist could you please tell me:

I am working in Riyadh. I dont have a family status. My wife is a post graduate and one international school in Riyadh offered her a job visa for teaching. Is she eligible to bring our child with her with this teaching visa ??

Kindly advise ...

Hi Sharaf,

it seems you went through my profile, your not a detective are you? just kidding , thats what I put it there for
about your question, it depends on your wife's Visa profession, and also the approval of the school she's going to work for (or the sponsor if its other than the school) and it also depends on the age of the child, the younger, the better your chances are.

can you give me more details on;

your Visa profession, your child is a girl boy? (if it's a girl, again its easier) also childs age and finally your wife's official visa profession. It helps getting a clear picture.


Salman

Dear Salman,

I have carefully read your posts and you seem a very knowledgable man.

My husband is moving to Riyadh at the end of the month and will then go through the process of acquiring visas for us.  Thank you for explaining the global time scale.

For me the worry is him finding accomodation before I arrive.  This has not normally been his "job", but mine.  Perhaps I'm a bit of a control freak
Although I have tried doing some research online I have not had much success.

Any and all pointers would be helpful.

We are really looking forward to this move, but have a lot of unanswered questions.

Hi Ellen,

I'll take knowledgable as a complement thanks

okay, I will start asking before I answer
How long will it take you to join Mr. Alan, I mean your husband (yes I've read your profile too )
Will your girls be visiting or moving in with you in Riyadh?
and obviously your looking for a compound not an external villah, correct?

you can also create a new thread for your questions if they are not related to visas so others can easly benifit from your posts as you might have from this one

I hope I'm not asking for too much, but just trying to keep it organized. by the way, do you want me to provide a list of compound contacts?


Salman

Hi Salman,
Dear Mr. Omrani,

I am an American citizen and my wife is a Korean female citizen. Before moving to Saudi Arabia we lived in Korea. I will go to Saudi Arabia on 90 day employment Visa and  my passport will then be processed for a work visa. I am scheduled to arrive Kingdom in a week. Employer said they will help me get my wife to the Kingdom within 2 months after I get to Saudi Arabia and I get my Iqama.

My question to you is how do I bring my wife to Saudi Arabia. What are the paperwork requisites  to get my wife to Saudi Arabia. My company said they will help me get her into the Kingdom. However, I am concerned of a few things. In Korea, wife keeps her family name even after marriage. Only her children take last name of the husband.  What paperwork  is required in Saudi Arabia to get my spouse into the kingdom. It would be easier if we both carried the same last name.  Even though I lived in Korea before accepting position in Saudi Arabia I had to travel to USA to process my Employment Visa in USA since I am a USA citizen. They could not process my visa in the Saudi Embassy in Korea. Since we both have different Nationalities I am concerned about the process to bring my Korean wife to join me in Saudi Arabia. Please advise. We have one son in College so he will not be coming to Saudi Arabia.

Hello Pedro,

(by the way, no need to address me twice )

basically its the same old procedure, the only thing you have to be sure of in my opinion is a valid marriage certificate... if thats fine then every thing should be OK, don't worry about that name factor, the marriage certificate is enough (even in Saudi women don't change their last name after marriage. plus she won't have to go to the states or anything, her papers should be done through Korea .. the rest should be taken care of by your company.

Salman

Hi Salman,

I am new here and just posted a question in the beginning pages of the forum -- and then found this!

Could you inform me of how long to bring my daughter (nearly 2) and husband to ksa?

I just didnt understand why I was unable to bring my daughter with me to Jeddah?  What if I had been a single parent -- where would I have left her?

You mentioned the temp and permanent way -- anyway to get them here temporarily and then re-apply for their permenent family visa status once i get my iqama sorted?

Could it be as simple as them having to leave and re-enter?

I have been away from them a month already and may be looking at a further 2 months? Btw, I am not in KSA at the moment -- I had to return to my home country to file everything!

Thanks in advance for your help!

(moderated: off topic)

Assalam Alaikum,

My husband is currently in Riyadh (been there 2 months). He is trying to process a family visa for me and our daughter, however, The agent in my country says that the letter from his work place has to be attested by the ministry of foreign affair in Riyadh for it to be processed by the saudi embassy in our country (pakistan). The Ministry of foreign affair says UFWAN, its not for them to do. So we're sort of stuck.

I wanted to know if the ministry does actually attest this letter...like our agent says they do...if they dont, and my husband applies a visit visa for us, Can we do Haj and Umrah on a visit visa?

Thanks..

I do not think that any letter has to be attested by the ministry for getting a visa in the home country. What you need in the end after processing everything in Saudi is a yellow slip of paper which has the dependents names. Your husband has to send you his slip after getting the visa and then you have to approach the embassy to get things done.

If I remember correctly you have to provide a copy of the marriage certificate, medical reports, copy of the ticket to saudi along with photos etc. My wife applied for visa in Oct but I do not think she was asked to provide a letter from anyone.

I think Salman needs his own sub-forum...

Great advice!

If I remember correctly you have to provide a copy of the marriage certificate, medical reports, copy of the ticket to saudi along with photos etc. My wife applied for visa in Oct but I do not think she was asked to provide a letter from anyone.

Incidentally, this all needs to be notarized by the appropriate agency in your home country, then translated into Arabic by an "official" interpreter before submission.

My wife is Thai, I had our documents translated into English, then certified, then translated into Arabic, only then were they ready for submission.

After all that, I changed jobs and we decided she was better off staying at home.

Hi all,

Assalam Alaikum.

I got an offer from Riyadh with family status. My wife is non muslim(Hindu). We have legal marriage certifiace as per special marriage act. Do my company provide sponsor to my wife?? Whether this legal certificate is valid as per saudi law?? Please explain.

triyaz786 wrote:

Hi all,

Assalam Alaikum.

I got an offer from Riyadh with family status. My wife is non muslim(Hindu). We have legal marriage certifiace as per special marriage act. Do my company provide sponsor to my wife?? Whether this legal certificate is valid as per saudi law?? Please explain.

It is valid but you need to get it translated into arabic when you submit documents to the visa office in riyadh.

Hi....

Am new to this forum..... I would like to know about the job opportunities for women in riyadh. Help me......

Check out the classifieds Jothi. Most womens jobs are confined to Hospitals and Schools here. However, banks and other private sector investment, ISP, and IT companies are also now hiring women for specific types of jobs related to Customer Service, Call Centers, Web Designers etc.

jothichalam wrote:

Hi....

Am new to this forum..... I would like to know about the job opportunities for women in riyadh. Help me......

Also, you would get more of a cohesive response if you started your own thread, rather than injecting a new topic in someone else's thread.

Hi Salman,

I want to ask you if my profession allow me to obtain permenant Visa for my wife.

My profession on Iqama says "Electroni Saiyanah Ijhzah tl Itsaal" (Arabic), working as an accountant in Riyadh and my kafeel is in Qaseem.

Thanking you in advance.

Wow Salman! You are in HIGH demand!!!! 
I have a 'demand' of my own. Actually id really appreciate if you can answer a PM. I dont feel confortable posting the company details on the forum.
My husbands in Riyadh on a 3 month Multiple Entry/Exit Visa ...(using Bahrain) there are issue with the govt hence the work permit. I read a answer where it was mentioned that the compamy gets the work visa .... as far as we were told...Hubby has to comeback to Islamabad and apply for the work Visa from here, the company will only give a letter...then he has to head back to Riyadh ...get the Iqama made and then apply for the Family Visa... like every other 'half' left behind...im desperate for a smaller time frame...which ofcourse it outta our hand...Advise?

Hi Salman,

I want to ask you if my profession allow me to obtain permenant Visa for my wife.

My profession on Iqama says "Electroni Saiyanah Ijhzah tl Itsaal" (Arabic), working as an accountant in Riyadh and my kafeel is in Qaseem.

Thanking you in advance.

my answers depend on yours.

is your sponser a person or a company?

what is your official educational degree?

what is your basic salary?

Wow Salman! You are in HIGH demand!!!! 
I have a 'demand' of my own. Actually id really appreciate if you can answer a PM. I dont feel confortable posting the company details on the forum.
My husbands in Riyadh on a 3 month Multiple Entry/Exit Visa ...(using Bahrain) there are issue with the govt hence the work permit. I read a answer where it was mentioned that the compamy gets the work visa .... as far as we were told...Hubby has to comeback to Islamabad and apply for the work Visa from here, the company will only give a letter...then he has to head back to Riyadh ...get the Iqama made and then apply for the Family Visa... like every other 'half' left behind...im desperate for a smaller time frame...which ofcourse it outta our hand...Advise?

okay, one method that might help is to ask your hubby to have his company get you and kids if any a visit visa so you can be with him until he gets your permenant paper work done.

its tricky but can be done if sponser cooperates.

if not, then you have to go with the routine procedure im afraid

Thanks for the complement.

MisterStretch wrote:

I think Salman needs his own sub-forum...

hehehe, thanks MS, i suppose thats a flattering idea

Salman

^ In a way it is.  I had one myself on an earlier forum as I specialized in visa and contractual issue in the country where I trained TEFL teachers.

It makes sense...you are the HR guy that has your finger on what is current.  A subform "Ask Salman" would probably be overwhelming...but flattering, nonetheless.

my answers depend on yours.

is your sponser a person or a company?

what is your official educational degree?

what is your basic salary?
______________________________
My Sponser is a Person.

I have a MBA Degree (all the attestation had been done).

and my basic salary is SAR 5,000/-

Ok Saad rafiq,

here's the good news, your eligible, your salary is adequate and your qualifications are all in order, BUT here is the part where it gets easier or more dificult for you. your sponser is not a company, plus I can guess you dont work for your sponser either.

but here's the deal, your proffesion will allow you to get a visa, just dont get caught up with vampires who want you to pay 10,000 SAR to get a visa for your family. you can get it done for around 2000 SAR which is goverment fees, unless your company is willing to pay that for you. you will have to apply online to the MOFA and complete the paperwork from there. you will how ever need your sponsers information to complete your application and when application is complete you will have to get it stamped and signed as well as attested from the Chamber of Commerce before you can follow up with MOFA (ministry of forigen affairs).

but the answer in short is.. Yes you Can

MisterStretch wrote:

^ In a way it is.  I had one myself on an earlier forum as I specialized in visa and contractual issue in the country where I trained TEFL teachers.

It makes sense...you are the HR guy that has your finger on what is current.  A subform "Ask Salman" would probably be overwhelming...but flattering, nonetheless.

That'd be kinda cool, though I am a bit lazy, so I wouldnt know how it work out you know MS? you remind me of Simon Cowell sometimes hehehehe.


Salman

Dear Salman,

Thank you very much for the prompt reply.

I need a little more guidance about the process.

1. where I need to submit the MOFA form (along with the documents) in Istqdam office (HARA) or in MOFA (Nasriya)?

2. And how will I know it's status?

https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/eDefault.asp

All that can be found out from here. good luck


Salman

hi salman
u r doing great job
i was wondering if u can help me out too

my husband is a permanent resisdent and working in riyadh for last 10 years on labor permit i think, now he want to take me with him as v got recently married.his company support family visa.actually i just wanna ask wat will b the procedure for applying and how much time is taken to get visa and to reach there. please help me out too
awaiting for ur reply
thanks dear

Very good informative stuff here. I am also having this difficulty, I am living here alone and my family in Pakistan. Currently my profession is labor and I did everything to change it (education cert.. attestations etc) to computer programmer. Now the case is with maktab amal, I hope it will take one month or more to fix this issue. I hope after that I would get my family visa easily.

I feel it will be too much queries for Mr. Salman to reply. I suggest if it is possible to arrange this information under a single thread or multiple threads and redirect people to that specific thread when they ask questions on this topic.

Hello everyone...

Hi,  Salman

I am new here on expat-blog...
I was just checking the post and it is really informative...
I wanted to know regarding Family visit Visa... could you plz provide me some information, (other Members too Plz)

- I am in Riyadh since 2008, working in a Company and Iqama is not yet transffered, Still on my Kafeel,
- My sponser is a Person(on Iqama only person name), he is having an Establishment
- My profession in Iqama is Malayes , I think it means MASON.

I need to know is my Profession is Valid to get Visit Visa for my Wife.
I beleive i can get a Letter from my Sponser...

If you can provide me more details, I really need to know.

Thanks in advance..

Hi,

after coming to saudi Arabia. your sponser will issue a permit residance. after that you can bring your wife. Also it depend in your positions . must not be labour. or tailer or normal worker.

it must be Engineer or doctor or consultant or technician or something simillar.


contact me if you are arrive to saudia

Waleed

Tear in the Ocean,

anyone is eligible for a visit visa, at least for wife or mother. (father can be a bit tricky sometimes)

as you've read the replies above your paycheck would of been helpful information. but not essential for my reply. all I can advise you for now is to visit the MOFA link I posted up there and apply, best of luck.

Salman


PS:

Waleed40,

who are your replying to? O_O

Hi, Thnx for you comments/ replies

Waleed .. I'm a bit confused with you comments.. could u be more specific...

Salman..
thnx for ur rply, i have visited here https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/VisaFamilyApp/FamilyApp.asp

I believe this is place from where I can Apply for Visit visa.

I didnt submit yet anything online, jus need little more info..
- Do I need details of my Wife's Passport (coz it's not yet ready /recieved)..
- is my Iqama Profession is Valid (Asking again, coz confused by some other comments)
- wat if I apply and rejected.. can I apply again after changing Prof. in Iqama.


I hope you will help in this regards...
thnx in advn.

...

Hi Salman ,

AOA, I have a few question that i want you to answer as you have been living there in riyadh for a long time. My husband has been offered a job in riyadh the company is calling him on a business visit visa and will later on convert it to a work visa .My husband want to take me and my son as well on a visit visa as he doesnt want to leave us in pakistan alone due to the law and order situation here . Could you please help me how can we get a visit visa for my son and myself as we want to travel with him. I shall be really thankful to you if you could help us out as i have seen you have really helped others in this regards earlier.
I shall be waiting for your reply

Thanks
AAK3

As salaam alikeum

One Quick Question Is it possible to convert a family vist visa from mofa to Iquma i work in Semi governement Company..

Millions of thanks in Advance

Syed Ali

Dear Salman Omrani,

My husband is working in Riyadh and he's going through the process of acquiring visa for me (estekdam) but the problem is that he doesn't have his diploma.
So what should we do? :S
Any idea ??
Thanks in advance.

Joyca, you can come on a family visit visa for starters. its will help you for at least four to six months.

as for full time visa. he either needs to finish his diploma. or ask his company to help him through. or even offer a plead letter to the Mayors office. like Prince of Riyadh in the Riyadh Municipality office. http://www.alriyadh.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.aspx

there are ways under the table, but I wouldn't recommend them. they are very costly and insecure and your husband can get in trouble or even deported if caught..

^
and the same goes to anyone who thinks Visit visa's can be converted to Iqamas. No.


Salman

Helloo Mr. Salman,

This thread got lengthy but very informative !!! ok  back to my qs
I got my Yellow paper on March 24th. Now tell me how much maximum time wife can stay in Pakistan.

What exactly i mean is after you get YELLOW paper how many days you have to get visa in Saudi Embassy and then how many days Saudi embassy give you to leave for KSA (30/60/90) ??