Saudi Arabia: Banking in saudi arabia

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If You In Labour Class In Saudi

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 6:53 AM Posted by Saudi Arabia

Banking in Saudi Arabia
Cost of Living in Saudi Arabia
Passport and Iqama
About Contract
More About Visa
Changing Job in Saudi Arabia
Woman in Saudi Arabia
Telecommunication in Saudi Arabia
Attestation formalitites for Indians
Employment contract in Saudi Arabia

Looks like some diseases are highly infectious. No, I am not talking of those which strike the human body. This disease is called 'labor-phobia'. Expatriates working in Saudi Arabia have long been used to being 'classified' based on their visa professions. Never mind that you might be the General Manager of a company, but if your iqama says that your profession is "labor", then all hell breaks loose. To begin with, you can't sponsor your family. Since you cant bring your family, you are forced to stay single. Which means that you would be treated differently the moment you step out of your home.

Let's say it's weekend and you want to go to the nearby mall. Nothing wrong in this, isn't it? You got it all wrong, my friend. You are single, without your family and hence would not be allowed into the mall. It doesn't matter that you are going to pay the same as a "family man" would, for whatever you planned to buy. No family, no admission. But why? Don't ask questions, this is the way of life. Okay, how about a walk along the corniche? No, you got it wrong again. You are supposed to restrict yourself only to the "singles" section. You aren't supposed to enter the "family" zone. Fine, now how about a visit to your dentist or the nearby dispensary? Nope! Same story again. You better not go and sit in the "family" section unless you want to be kicked out by the Security. Goodness Gracious! But this is life in Saudi Arabia and there is nothing which you and I can do about it, right?

Until now Bahrain was an outlet for those who wanted to take a break. All you needed was just an exit/re-entry visa. You just had to pay SR20 for crossing over the causeway, and you were given an entry on the Bahraini side. After all, it makes economic sense. Every visitor coming from the kingdom spends money in Bahrain and it helps the economy, right?

Well, looks like some wise guy couldn't take it anymore. All of a sudden since last week, people who were in Saudi "labor" visas couldn't enter Bahrain. And in typical Gulf style, it happened without any notice. Never mind if you had a valid Saudi exit/reentry visa. Now who on earth took this decision and why was it made? No answers. So, what exactly is a "labor" visa according to Bahraini immigration? Well, loosely translated, anything which is not an "engineer" or a "doctor" or any "supervisory" visa is a labor visa. Never mind your actual profession. If your iqama says so, that's it!

Okay, but how does it matter? After all, you do not get a discount in any hotel in Bahrain just because you are on a Saudi "labor" visa? You pay the same as what other non-labor Saudi visa holders do. And whatever is the logic behind this move? The grapvine is that there is a "suspicion" that people from Saudi come in the morning, work in Bahrain and return in the evening. What could be farther from truth and what else could be more illogical than this? But if you talk logic, you cannot survive in this region.

Sadly, it is going to affect the Bahraini economy more than anyone else. Why this retrograde step? Every expat has come here to make some money while at the same time contribute to the region's economy. Afterall, he or she has been hired to do a specific work isn't it? Hope good sense prevails. Let's hope that the entire region frees itself from the impractical and illogical branding of people based on their visa professions.

Saudization

Monday, July 20, 2009 11:51 PM Posted by Saudi Arabia

Ever wondered why there are so many expats in Saudi Arabia? Any potential job-seeker looking forward to working in Saudi Arabia must know this important information.

Despite its immense oil wealth, Saudi Arabia is still a developing country. Oil is still the major source of income, though there are several other non-oil industries too. But in terms of revenue, oil is still the cash cow for this country. The past 50 years has seen a dramatic and unbelievable jump in the economy of the kingdom. This has resulted in a huge demand for workers. The relatively lesser population of locals in the earlier years (this is now rapidly changing) resulted in Saudi Arabia throwing its doors open to expatriates to build their economy.

You will find people from virtually every country in the world working in Saudi Arabia.
The sudden wealth and oil boom resulted in a very lavish lifestyle for the locals. The effect of this was the emergence of a new generation of Saudis, with a lot of money, but with inadequate expertise. With the population booming, the Saudi government had a problem of providing employment to its citizens. Naturally, the target was expatriates who were perceived to be taking away the jobs of the locals. Hence, the 'Saudization' program began, which literally means replacing the expatriates with Saudi nationals :

The first focus was on government organizations, which have been almost 100% saudi-ized, barring a few low level positions. It has now become mandatory that companies in the private sector must also have a certain minimum number of Saudi nationals as their employees. The problem with this law (for the private sector) was not providing jobs to the locals, but not finding the right persons to do skilled jobs. Hence, all administrative staff are usually Saudi nationals, while all the technical work as well as the lower level positions like office staff, etc., are all still filled with expatriates.

The government jobs are already more than 99% Saudized, but still one could see quite a substantial number of expatriates working in government offices, particularly in lower levels. How is this possible? Well, the secret is that they are not government employees, but contractors. Many petrochemical industries follow this route because on paper they could show that they have achieved the Saudization quota, but in reality, the work is being done by contractors who are not directly on the rolls of the company ( . Sounds strange, isn't it? But that's the way things work here.

The bottom line is that if you have the right skills, if you are really efficient, then there is no reason for worry, because you will still have a job but only your employer would be a contractor.

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Banking in Saudi Arabia

Saturday, July 11, 2009 12:39 AM Posted by Saudi Arabia

Banking system in saudi is still very hard, most of the time you have to be careful . once you got in problem there is no way out, some time you have to lost your hard earning, well it's not too much bad but but save process is take you out from problems. as far as i know saudi bank authority never take responsibility of anything. your in there by your own . Opening a bank account is not an easy process .
(1) It requires the approval of your sponsor and
(2) an introduction letter from him.

You will also have to submit copies of your residence permit (Iqama) and your passport which should have been attested by your sponsor. Bigger companies usually transfer their salaries directly to the account, while smaller contracting companies make a cheque payment. Of course, there are also those rogue sponsors who don't pay their employees for months together .

Banks in the kingdom do not pay any interest for the amount you keep in the account. Of course, they charge you a heavy interest if you take a loan from them. It's just that they don't call it as 'interest' but prefer to call it as 'Service Charge'. This is all the more reason why you must keep a bare minimum amount as balance in your account. Typically, it should be equal to a one-way air fare back home for you and your family. Keep the rest of the money with you as cash, or better still, send it immediately back home.

If you have an account in a bank, you will normally be issued a debit card. Make sure that you NEVER EVER use the debit card issued by your bank in the ATM Teller Machine of another bank. There are simply innumerable instances of expatriates being caught in unimaginable circumstances. If your ATM machine 'swallows' your card, or worse still debits from your account but does not issue any cash, at least the process of retrieving your card and money from your bank becomes a shade simpler if you had used your own bank's ATM. The settlement period is usually not less than 15 days .

Before leaving on vacation, never ever use your ATM to withdraw cash. It would be safer to go to your bank, use a withdrawal slip and take your money. If your card gets stuck or your money is debited without issuing cash, you don't even have time to go and lodge a complaint with your bank, so be safe.

There are many remittance centers in Saudi Arabia. All of them charge a small premium as service charge, irrespective of the amount you send. There is no upper limit on the amount you can send, but for bigger amounts banks normally ask for a salary certificate from your sponsor. Before sending money home, inquire about the exchange rate in a couple of remittance centers. You would end up with a hole in your pocket if you go to a bank / remittance center which offers you a rock bottom rate.
To be on the safer side, try not to send too much money in one transaction.some time it take more then a week.

Most big shopping outlets in the kingdom accept debit cards issued by local banks. If the transaction amount is big, please ensure that you have a copy of the transaction slip. Instances of your account being debited twice are not uncommon. I may sound rather pessimistic, but I have to also be realistic! As long as things are going on smooth, there's no problem. The moment you have a problem, with some good luck it would get settled in a few week's time

The whole problem is that there is no ombudsman for the banks here and hence no accountability by the staff either. First of all you wouldn't know whom to complain to and you cannot fight for your rights. You don't have them anyway. In the unfortunate event of your money being debited twice, it becomes YOUR responsibility to prove that there has been only one transaction.

I would also advise you not to take any credit card from any of the banks in the kingdom. It would be better to take an international credit card in your home country. You never know the fine print and courtesy is the last thing to expect from the staff, particularly from bigger banks.

Finally, ensure that dealings with your bank are a bare minimum. Typically, I would use them only as a transit point for my money before being sent home. Happy banking in saudi.

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Some Question Related to Saudi arabia - FAQ

Question Related to Family

1 i am working in KSA and i have a valid IQAMA, can i bring my grand father on visit visa ?

It depends on the type of your visa. If you have your family with you in the kingdom, it becomes easier. If you are on a labor visa or any other non-supervisory profession mentioned in your iqama, you will not be able to sponsor anyone on visit visa. .
2 If a person is on a technician visa, does he have to produce his diploma at the time of applying for permanent family visa. ?What if the diploma/degree does not match the profession (assuming supervisory)mentioned on the Iqama. Does it matter?

You MUST get your qualification certificate attested by the Saudi Embassy in your country for processing permanent family visa. It DOES matter if the qualification does not match with the iqama profession and for sure it will get rejected at the embassy.
3 Is my wife eligible for bringing me to KSA, under family visa ?" If not, What will be the ideal visa for me to proceed ?

In case your wife's employer is offering her a family status, then you can join her as a dependent (permanent family visa). Note, however, that you cannot work in the kingdom and would have to stay at home. If this is okay with you, then ask your wife to accept the offer. The only other way is for you to get a job in the same city as which your wife is working. Of course, there would be separate sponsors for each of you. Think of all the consequences and possibilities before accepting any offer.
4 I have a family visa.My wife is now in India with an exit and re-entry visa. We are expecting a new born baby in India soon. If I want to bring the baby within 2-3 months of birth,is there any requirement of separate visa or we can bring without the visa and after reaching hear we can add him to the existing Ikama?
The baby will be given a visa on arrival at the airport. However, make sure that the baby has a separate passport, not attached with the mother.
5 I am working in Jeddah, when i want to renew my driving licence there is problem with the name of Iqama, before was no any problem. How i know that my name is not same in Jawazat office ? May i check through Internet ?

Please involve your company's Government Relations Officer. He should fill in a form (available in Passport office) and make corrections to the name in your iqama / system if there is any error. Do not try to do it yourself as they will not even entertain you..
6 How can I bring a servant from India?

You can only sponsor your family members, i.e., either your spouse or children. The definition of "family" does not even include one's parents or siblings. Hence, it is not possible to legally bring someone, even on a visit visa, as a domestic help. The housemaids you see may be doing part-time work or may be runaways from their original sponsors. .
7 What Saudi labour is doing if they found any unauthorised degree,I mean, what is action is to be taken according to labour law of Saudia Arabia, If person found a false attestation or the documents. ?

It is precisely for this reason that the Saudi Embassies all over the world require an attestation from the respective Human Resources Ministries or their equivalents to prove the genuineness of the documents. It becomes almost impossible to prove or disprove a certificate's authenticity .

otherwise. At a later date, if it is proved that a certificate is not genuine (which is going to be a herculean task), it becomes a criminal case. This is not covered under Labor Law, but will be handled by the police separately as a criminal offence. .

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Question Related To Visa

1 if i leave my job. is there any change that i was chaged for my visa fee and other expenxcess?

yes its quite possible .
2 My trade in visa is "kaarbaayi aam" actually i dont know what is this kaarbaayi aam ?can i bring my wife and childeran to here either permanently or on visit visa,is it possible??

"Khaarabaayi Aam" means a general electrician. You cannot bring your family in this profession. Please get it changed to some other supervisory title. If you are a diploma holder, try to get it changed as an electrical technician, which is eligible for family status.
3 I would like to initiate for my wife visa. I am working as an IT Manager and my profession mentioned is Computer Programmer. I want to know the cost for my wife's visa and who would pay that amount ?

if your contract offers family status, all the expenses in bringing your family into the kingdom has to be borne by your sponsor. .
4 My profession in iqama is programmer, and have family visa. My wife delivered in India, and the kid is 5 months now. Is it possible to bring him without visa? Read More

Yes, what you heard is right. Only make sure that your child has a separate passport..

Out Of line Questions

1 I heard about a "free visa" concept. What does it really mean? My wife works in saudi, some of her co-workers told her that they brought their spouses on "Free visa?What is the difference between the so called "Free visa" and other visas like, "visit visa".

As you may be aware, you need a Saudi citizen or company to be your sponsor for you to legally work in the kingdom. In the earlier days, this rule used to be a gold mine for Saudis to make a quick buck. Some Saudis used to apply to the Government for certain visas on letterhead companies. Once they obtained such visas, they used to illegally sell those visas at a very high premium to desparate expats wanting to enter the kingdom. Those expats, after arriving in the kingdom, used to change their professions after finding some otber job. Not any more. The government has put a halt to such a racket and has now made it mandatory not to transfer visas within a year after arrival. Indulging in such so-called "free" visas is illegal and is fraught with risks.:
2 I am offered a job working for an American Company but will be based on client sites, would that pose any problems?

Be vigilant about the contract you sign, because that is what is binding ultimately on both sides. Do not ever compromise on anything. There are a lot of western expats working here, but almost all of them invariably stay in secluded compounds. Working for an American company on a client site is not a problem and this type of arrangement is quite common here. .
3 I've have the choice of choosing between an AC Technician visa or a Decor Technician visa, however I'm a Pakistani with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the US. My degree is attested. Can my degree be utilized for this type of technical visa when I want to get the permanent residency visa issued for my family?

If you have an engineering degree, you might as well come here on an engineer visa, which has its own benefits. I would strongly advise you not to come on either of the visas you have mentioned, because you have a qualification which is better than these. .

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Professional Questions's

1 I am a General practitioner working in Nejran region since 3 years.I want to know about the possibility of transfer to a another city where schools are there & if possible, how can I proceed.?

There are several options. If you are working under MOH directly, you should look out for a mutual swapping from someone who wants to work in Nejran. The second option is to obtain permission from your sponsor to get a transfer to another city. Of course, the last way out is to get an NOC from your current sponsor (if he is willing to give one) and re-enter on a fresh visa. Otherwise, you have to wait for 1 year for re-entry.
2 My Iqama professional is General Electician so can i bring my family by Family resident visa?

No, you cannot bring your family as your job category is non-supervisory.
3 My profession in iqama is "TRANSLATOR" and I am holding a bachelor of arts in English Literature attested by saudi consulate. Can I bring my family?

Yes, by all means. You are a degree holder and should not have any problem in bringing your family..
4 The issue is that the profession on degree does not match to that of iqama (degree is engineering and iqama is technician). My question is only regarding when I go to SA and apply for family visa. Would there be a problem ? ?

No, you should not have a problem as technicians are allowed to bring their families. .
5 My profession on my Iqama is FANNI KAHARBAI is I am elegible to bring my family here either permanently or on visit visa ?

Unfortunately you cannot bring your family in this category. If you have a degree or a diploma, try to get your profession changed into some other supervisory category.
6 What i do for change my profession. in iqama

First get all your certificates attested by the Saudi Embassy in your home country and translated in Arabic. Next, through your sponsor, fill in the relevant form and submit all the documents for profession change, along with your original iqama. That's all
7 Mason or malaeyas can bring famly in Ksa ?

No.
8 My employer and agent told me that they will change my profession later and "mechanical drughtman" can bring family or by my degree certificate am I eligible to bring my family as per commitment by my employer?

Don't get fooled by verbal assurances. If your company can change the profession after landing in the kingdom, why cant they do it right now? The fact is that changing the profession is quite a lengthy and complicated procedure. You should not join this company unless they give you a visa which is eligible to bring your family. A draughtsman cannot sponsor his family. .
9 At present my profession is plumber and now I would like to change my profession to computer engineer, since the attestation get so old will the Jawazat office will accept these documents or should I need to re-attest these documents.Can I sponsor my mother after If I change my profession …?

There is no time limit. Once your papers are attested, it is done for life. So go ahead and get your profession changed right away.
10 I have a three years of diploma in computer science which is attested by the Saudi sansulate of my home country and re-attested by the forign affair of KSA Dammam.Will it enough to change my profession to computer technician.? Read More.....

Yes, this is adequate .

Some More Questions

1 I AM WORKING IN SAUDI AS A MECH-ENGINEER. BUT VISA Profession IS "WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR" IS IT POSSIBLE TO BRING MY FAMILY TO HERE? ?

You cannot bring your family as long as the profession in your iqama is an "Operator". Since you are a diploma holder, try changing your iqama profession to any supervisory category. This should be done after getting your diploma attested by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi and the Saudi Embassy.
2 My friends want to bring his family on this profession "AMIL MAYMARI"...can you please let me know about that can he or not?

No, this profession is not eligible to bring his family.
3 My Visa is auto Electrician Am i allow to bring family in KSA?
You cannot bring your family in this category.
4 Manzil karbai , which i found out to be building electrician . is transferable =?
Your category is a building electrician. This is a transferable visa. Once you are transferred to another sponsor, it depends on him and the effort he puts on to change your profession into an engineer visa, to enable you to bring your family. Read my post on changing profession
5 "kaharbe mabanee" and on iqama it is "kaharbae" can bring family ?

Kaharbe mabanee" means literally "Electrical Civil". Rather, it would mean as a house electrician when roughly translated. Unfortunately, this title is not eligible to sponsor a family. .
6 Can i bring family with "operator " job title?
If the profession in your iqama is an "operator", you will not be entitled to bring your family, whatever be your salary. So, what matters is the visa profession, not your job title. Check with your prospective employer whether he is giving you a supervisory category visa, otherwise you can neither bring your family nor can change your profession after reaching here.
7 I was given a laborer visa. I have completed a 3 year Automotive Technician diploma. Will i be eligible to bring my family on a permanent residence visa here in KSA should i change my profession based on my qualification? ?
irrespective of your actual profession, if your iqama profession is a labour, you will be able to neither change your profession nor sponsor your family. In the earlier days, you could atleast change your profession, but for the past few months, the passport office is not encouraging such cases.
8 I want to know the minimun period of time after which I can come to KSA on another visa after getting NOC from the earlier sponsor(MOH)?

If you have an NOC from your earlier sponsor, you can re-enter immediately. If you do not have an NOC, you have to wait atleast one year.

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Exit Reentry Questions

1 I am on direct sponsorship of the school as you mentioned. I hope to sign a new contract with another school soon, so I don't mind paying for my ticket home but I just want to leave this school without any trouble. Contractually I can leave, but I can't guarantee they will give me the NOC. If they refuse, I've heard the old trick of leaving the passport in the washing machine and getting a new one, clean of any previous visa.
What you are going to do is illegal as per Saudi law. I hope you have not given your finger prints already (it is being made compulsory for all expatriates). Assuming that you have not given your finger prints and assuming that you do come back on a new passport, you will have to live a life like a fugitive. If ever your present employer comes to know that you are back and working with another employer, rest assured that you will be deported back by the next available flight (if you are lucky) or worse, you may simply be put in jail indefinitely. Do not even try this! .
2 My question is about NOC. Is there a validity period for NOC from the date of issue? I am planning to go on exit and come back on another visa in about 6 months. Since the new visa will take some time, should I take my NOC now or only when the visa is avalable?
There is no validity for an NOC. It is just a letter which says that your current employer has no objection to your working with someone else in the kingdom. For that matter, after one year, the NOC has no value because automatically you become eligible to work with anyone else. The one year period starts from the date of expiry of your iqama or the date of final departure, whichever is later of the two
3 Is it possible to reenter on a "visit visa" and work with a new company within the first year? I know some people who work here on a visit visa since their company doesn't sponsor people. Would it be illegal for me to work on a visit visa if i don't obtain a NOC?
Don't even think of trying it. If you are caught, you would be straightaway thrown into prison and should consider yourself lucky if you are deported!
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