Jumping through the hoops

Getting into Saudi is an OMG-oh-Lord-have-mercy-on-my-soul situation. A few months back, when we started this whole thing, I came across this dude`s blog who said `getting into heaven is easier than getting into Saudi`. Okay, I thought this was funny but, umm, heretic borderline maybe! LOL. So I was a bit conscious of laughing at this joke. Now that Bill is done with his part (he got his Iqama today. YAY), I can`t get that line out of my head. I feel like there are so many hoops you`ve got to jump through and some of those hoops are all tangled or broken and you don`t get to see them until you are right there facing them. Well, what do I mean? Poor Bill has been racing against time, getting everything done. I have everything I could`ve done on my end. I thought I did all the research I needed. There is a medical report I need to do for me and the cats, and both are time sensitive. Sounds odd putting it like that doesn`t it? Medical report for me and the cats… Anywho, I couldn`t do these reports till Bill was settled. Well today, I`m trying to forward everything within this week, I call the embassy, of course no answer. So I decided to call a travel agency. Umm, the visa process takes 30-45 days. Why??????? And more importantly, why is it not on the website? Back in August, Bill got his visa within the day. Now, as of September, 2011 it takes 30-45 days. Why?!!!!! It`s not like I could’ve done anything about it. I think we just would not have gotten our hopes up for nothing. I was expeting to be there by next week, maybe week after that… Ya try a month now!

So what do I need?
1. Visa application form (Typed out or block letter written).
2. Two (2) recent passport size photographs (4 cm x 6 cm) taken against a plain white background attached to the application form (must write name on back) and the medical form.

3. A valid passport for at least six months from the application date and must have the place of birth and two blank pages side by side (Original Only). If family accompanying on the same passport, pictures and names of all members must be added on the passport by the proper legal authorities.
4. Proof of relationship to the sponsor (a marriage certificate for a wife and a birth certificate for a child indicating name of both parents (Copy Only))
5. Non-Canadian applicants must submit a valid residency permit (permanent resident card). (Send only copy of front and back of the Permanent Residency (PR) card)
6. Copy of POLIO immunization record for children under the age of 15.
7. Copy of Residency permit of the sponsor (IQAMA) and a Letter from the sponsor indicating the authorization number , the date and the names of applicants.
8. For residency visa applicants over 16 years old, must provide:

a) Completed medical report form and all test results. NOTE: YOUR PHYSICIAN MUST USE A CHECK MARK FOR POSITIVE RESULTS OR A CHECK MARK FOR NEGATIVE RESULTS. The report MUST be certified by college of physicians (see our legalization section #5) of the issuing province (Original Only). You MUST confirm with your doctor that you have all required test results INCLUDING (HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C - please attach these result pages to the back of the medical report). If any of the 4 results are positive+, your doctor must provide a typed explanation of why they are positive. (If medical report is done outside of Canada, it must be authenticated by the Saudi Arabian Embassy in that country. If the medical report is issued in Saudi Arabia it must be authenticated by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia).

b) Police clearance report (Original Only) 9 A copy of airline reservation must be submitted along with the application (proof of purchase not necessary).
10. If applicant is female and 18 years of age or older, and going under her father's Iqama - she must submit a letter stating that she is single.

http://www.visaenterprise.com/requirementsNew.php?destination=Saudi-Arabia

-- Warda