So here we are, now the 4th of May!! G has been away since the 8th March so we are now going into week 9!!
In this time he has flew out to Saudi and stayed for the first 2 weeks in a hotel in Al Khobar before moving into an apartment on a compound near by called Las Dunas. From the pictures it looks like a holiday resort!! His apartment he claims is like the size of our 2 bedroom home here in Scotland!
The first few weeks were really difficult, it has been the first time that we have been away from each other for longer than a few days at a time so trying to adapt to an almost single lifestyle has been really strange and I have been trying to throw myself into losing weight and up my exercise to pass time.
So G has now obtained his Iquama which means that he is now a resident of Saudi Arabia and will in the next few days have his interview for the hopefully last part of his US Visa. Keeping everything crossed for a quick turn around on this so he can get out to his on job training in Texas.
Hints, Tips and TImescales
Around 4 to 12 weeks for Iquama. (Make sure you have this all fully filled out and that your correct occupation has been put on this, people close by have had slightly wrong titles on their Iquama and this has delayed a lot of things which I will talk about next).
After you have gained your Iquama you can then go and get your bank account set up. The company set a temporary account up for you and then G picked the SAAB bank (HSBC equivalent). Took his money from the temporary account, went to the SAAB where he took his letter from employer and Iquama etc. They will give you a bank card within a few hours and then you pop it into the atm machine and choose your pin. This is done normally all in one day.
After setting up the bank account, take your details back to headquarters and give the details to payroll so that your wages can be paid directly to it.
US Visa Interview comes next, G had to go to the bank to pay his Interview fee. He then got a reference number and then had to wait around 48 hours before he could then go online and book his appointment. A very frustrating time as he knew that as soon as this was booked there was a chance he could get his pre on job training holidays and get home to see us. Eventually the appointment was booked and the request was in for his leave.
A few days after the request was in it was approved by his training people and the exit visa put into HR. This was issues within the day and the flights were booked!! G came home for the week and it was fab!! He browns so easily and arrived home in pale clothes that just brought out his tan!! (I have the pastiest white pale skin, gutted lol).
G is now away back to Saudi and we are already looking into me going over to him soon. I am quite fortunate that I finish from my work on 31st May under Voluntary Redundancy! The offer was put out to me and my work colleagues in November and we had to decide by end of January. Everything seemed just to happen so quick and around the same time, even though some of it was a slog to get to where we needed and wanted to be!
I shall put up a post on the Visitor Visa process as soon as we have it sorted for all you ladies who may be in our position in the future and want to go see Saudi for yourselves before moving there and see your husbands!!
So that’s the last 8 weeks in a quick round up. Kinda neglected my blog so gonna try write more soon.
Sarah x
Sarah Does Travel 