the duke of balfour

Can anyone shed some light on the following. I have recently started a job in Saudi with a 3 month probation period in my letter of appointment. Next week I will be making the trip back to the UK to return on a work/residence visa.
My question is, am I still able to leave this company within the remaining probation period and join another Saudi company without any hassle(i.e needing an NOC) or does the residence visa tie me to my current company and as good as end the probation period?

Any help on this would be appreciated

still.unsure

your iqama (residence visa) ties you to your sponsoring company (there's a special one that doesn't, can't remember the exact terminology, but it's a rareity anyway). if you're thinking of moving company's, get them to get you a new visa once your current one expires. i don't think a company can put an objection on an expired visa, but they can on a current one.

Shadya

If your Saudi sponsors have gone to the trouble of getting you the necessary visa etc. don't you feel a tiny bit disloyal in wanting to move so soon? Some might say that its fickle people like you who cause problems for other expats who really want to stay.

still.unsure

ouch! that's a bit rough! don't you want to know a little more about the particular circumstances before passing judgement? (what the current job is like, the individuals family/other status, any other reasons for looking, etc.)

The Dean

If you are still "working on" your residence visa, that means you haven't got an iqama yet, so you may find things slightly easier.

If you don't mind me asking............ what's the problem with the current employer? How long have you actually been working for them?

the duke of balfour

Another option that didn't happen in time may now happen but not before i've come back on a res. visa - can't really go into anymore detail than that, but what's the process after I come back, how long have I got before the iqama comes along?

the duke of balfour

No I want to stay, the other option is also here, but it considerably better

the duke of balfour

That's ok, people can have there opinions, but when all is done all I want is any guidance on my original question, if anyone has any previous knowledge.
The fact is that I am 10 days into a 3 month probation period and will still be in a probation period whether no matter what visa I'm on, for the next 2 months and twenty days. So can't I move on to another local company during this period whatever? That's what a probation period is for isn't it?

Vimto

Once you get your residence visa stamped in your passport at the consulate and return to Saudi your passport will be taken away from you by the PRO, then your Iqama card will be issued (within 10-14 days), if your company have applied for a multiple exit/reentry visa your passport will be possibly returned to you.
As soon as your visa is stamped in your passport in the consulate and you return to saudi your probationary period has basically expired, your employer can still invoke his interpretation of the probationary period.

While you are on your initial business/visit visa you are free to change your mind who you work for by leaving the country and coming back on another business/visit visa sponsored by another company.
But once you return to Saudi and the Iqama process starts, you will need a NOC from your employer to change jobs, if it is too soon after the start of employment he can possibly withhold salary to cover his costs and not obtain an exit only visa for you to enable you to leave the country until he feels ready to release you.

the duke of balfour

Thanks for that.

So if I want to use the probation period to my benefit I need to resist leaving and thereby delay the residence visa/iqama process from getting underway.

mmm tricky.