I THINK WE CAN PICK ON HIM

Most of the millions of followers I have on this blog site have heard some condensed version of the visa saga that takes place in Saudi Arabia. Well this blog is the definitive explanation of that process, and more importantly, the shining example of what expat adventure is all about.

If you want to visit a country, there may be a small fee at the airport for a visit visa that lasts 30 days, there may be restrictions that disallow you from traveling in that country at all, or there may be no need for any sort of visa to visit and tour around. However, in all countries that I know of, if you are going to work permanently, you have to obtain a work visa. Saudi Arabia is no different.

When I first landed in Saudi Arabia, I thought that I could obtain my work visa through our partners in a fairly systematic fashion. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. The work visa is the gateway to every luxury available while living here:

• It allows you to obtain your resident visa
• Your resident visa allows you to obtain a local bank account, thus avoiding bank fees
• Your resident visa allows you to obtain a drivers license
• YOU CAN ONLY IMPORT YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS WITH A RESIDENT VISA

Yep, the work visa is the first step to obtaining a resident visa, which opens up new wonder worlds, like having the stereo you packed months earlier, or even, brace yourselves, having more than 1 week of work clothing…it’s a tiresome effort matching those 4 ties and shirts everyday….

 So here I am in January, starting this process, and quickly realizing that my quest for stability at home is a ways in the distance. To put the task in perspective, here, for the first time on Mr. Baroski’s Blog, is the work-resident visa process:

• The sponsor company obtains permission from Saudi government to hire a non-Saudi resident into their workforce.
• Work visa permission is obtained and the application for the employee begins
• An employment contract is drafted for the employee
• A form is completed for the submittal of the contract and work visa permission
• Saudi government provides clearance document allowing a work visa to be processed
• I take all documents back to the USA (Houston) for processing at the Saudi consulate
• In Houston I am required to present the documents given to me in Saudi, plus:
• Complete a full medical exam
• 8 vials of blood tests
• Chest x-ray
• Stool sample
• Urine sample
• Physical
• TB Test
• Police report verifying I do not have a criminal record
• Diploma certified by the Saudi educational minister based in Washington DC
• Full transcripts from my college
• Written letter from the Office of the UC Registrar, with phone number, stating that all transcripts are correct
• Seven photographs
• All documents are presented to the Saudi consulate via forklift
• Saudi consulate cancels all outstanding visit visas and inserts a work visa in my passport
• I now have 90 days to return to Saudi
• Once in Saudi Arabia, a new contract is drafted
• A second set of medical exams is required in Saudi Arabia
• Documents are presented to the Saudi Labor Ministry and a resident visa is awarded
• Finally, an entry-exit visa is processed with a 6-month life. This allows me to leave the country and has to be renewed every 6 months.

So that’s it. I came back to Saudi on April 14th and immediately had the Shoaibi’s processing paperwork. They are great. As of last Saturday, all that stood between me and a resident visa, and clothes, was a medical exam. No problema for Mateo’, I just passed the US exam with flying colors….

The Saudi medical exam is basically a microcosm of the US exam. I cruise into the hospital, get a physical, give one vial of blood, do a chest x-ray, drop a little bowel, and I’m done. “Come back in 4-5 days to pick up your medical report for your Iqama.”

I was singing songs of joy until my check-up invoice came back with “Need to See Doctor” written on it.  What is this all about? I cautiously head back to the hospital. Once there I bring up my invoice copy with the note and ask to “See the Doctor.” “You sit there. He call you.” OK, I can do that. About 5 minutes later the nurse asks me into the Doctors office.

 “You have hypertension before? Your body show chemical dkals; dasfdlk mumble, mumble, mumble..” “Excuse me what was that? No I have not had any hypertension before.”

“Mumble, asdmf, that may affect your kidneys.”

“Excuse me, could you repeat that.”
“dfaskjjdsa, kidneys. I need you to take another urine test and take 24 hour urine test. You come back in 2 days when done.”

Well this isn’t good at all. I get my little assignment paper from the nurse and head off to the laboratory. Prick – Ouch! Another nicely misguided shot to the arm and some blood-letting; a small cup to pee in again; and what is this? Oh, a humongous jug to take home! The nurse, surely smiling beneath her veil lifts this large canister and places it into a bag. “You discard first urine, then rest of 24 hours, go in here. Return to hospital tomorrow.” Now this was no Gatorade bottle, this was like a keg. Take a look at how big the bag was; at least I got a bag to drag out of the hospital. What a haul.

By the time I got home, all the embarrassing thoughts had left me though. I was a little worried. What kind of stress am I putting myself through? I gulped water and went to the bathroom all night, eventually filling up this bad boy. It kind of made me proud.  Look at that jug…got my name on it for identification purposes.
 
 

The next day I turned in the pee-bucket and began the toil of waiting away. I couldn’t believe that I might be facing some serious health concern. I finally told Altaf at work. “Oh, no worries; why didn’t he sign the paperwork for you? This is nothing.” Well, it’s a little more than nothing I think. The next day I had lunch with the Area Manager from Smith. “They have to be taking some extra money from you. You passed the US tests.” Well now that made sense, but I wouldn’t know until I talked to the doctor.

I skittered into the hospital today and the receptionist looks at me and says, “Two signatures need. Come back in 1 hour.” So that’s it?! Yep, a full on shakedown of the white man; an extra $38.50 was the tag, but I am glad that it’s passed. I’ve never jumped so high at being ripped-off.

So now I’m onto the final stages of the process, expecting to soon have my personal items as a full-fledged employee in Saudi Arabia. Keep them prayers up! They’re awesome.