AbuIsa123

Hi All,

I have come to Riyadh from UK in May on Business Visit Visa working as a Project Manager and my company has said that they cannot initiate my work visa until July first or second week due to ministry of labour not taking on new applications. Once they start they are not sure how long it will take and I seem to be looking at a timeline of 3 - 6 months this way before my family can come here.

I have read on forums and my older brothers came here few years ago with his family on Business visit visa. I want to bring my family over at least on a business visit visa now with me. I mentioned this to my company but they said as far as they know it can't be done and that if I know anyone who can tell them how it can be done legally then to ask them to call and explain the process to them.

My question here thus is does any of you know the process of how to apply for a business visit visa for the family (wife and kids) and are you willing to explain this to my manager over the phone?

I really want to get my family over here and do not want a long waiting time. I am myself ok to be here with family on business visit visa and exit/re-enter every 30 days until the actual iqama comes through even if that takes 6 months.

Thanks a lot.

Adeel

Blue Cat

I don't know the answer, but welcome to BE

sicklyman

Hi Adeel,

They are right that you cannot bring dependents on a Business Visit Visa legally. In fact, you cannot even work here legally on that visa. Many companies do this so that they never have to process the paperwork to get you the iqama (Residence Permit).

Be aware the the government is currently cracking down on those who are working here without being legally registered as resident (i.e. without an iqama). THis situation is likely to remain sensitive for the rest of the year at least.

I hope your company is trustworthy, but what they are saying does not sound right to me. Where I work, new staff are coming over all the time and they get their iqamas within two to three weeks of arrival. So, the story about the ministry not accepting applications does not sound true. In addition, Ramadan starts the second week of July and everything will slow down to dead during that time. Thus it seems unlikely that the ministry would have told them that new applications can be filed at a time when, traditionally, paperwork does not get done much.

Even if you get the right visa status, it can still take many months for the processing of paperwork required to bring dependents to Saudi. Unless you are transferred off a Business Visit Visa though, I don't think there is a way for you to do this legally.

I hope, however, that I'm wrong...