Iqama Transfer

Dear HRGURU,
I herad that now transfer of sponsorship in online Process.
Please tell me how is it working.
How can I change my profession nad kafeel.
Thank you

Qasim.ali058 wrote:

Dear HRGURU,
I herad that now transfer of sponsorship in online Process.
Please tell me how is it working.
How can I change my profession nad kafeel.
Thank you

Transfer of sponsorship is not fully online, neither is profession change. At some point your documents have to be presented to Jawazat or Maktab Al Amal in hard copies. The application process in both cases is now done online , but I have noticed that even then they request as hard copies / old forms once you reach the jawazat. Point being the guys who sit outside with typewriters and does this for you will be job less and now they wouldn't want that to happen .

ys you are right sir.
But I have already obtained hard copies from my kafeel. now If i will go back again for online process he may ask for money or delay the process. Iam also worried about it.

Then don't go for the online process , go for the "traditional" method.

Sir,

I came to Saudi Arabia on February, 2013. My Iqama profession is Building Electrician (Lobour). Since i am an engineering graduate, my post is electrical engineer in the company. Now, company is trying to transfer my visa from the individual sponsor to my company's sponsorship. But when my company secretary went to Jawazaat to transfer thanazil, he is informed that I must work with the current sponsor for 2 years then only I can transfer the sponsorship.

Is this information true or is there any other way. Company is not interested to offer me a new visa.

Thank you.

salihkk wrote:

Sir,

I came to Saudi Arabia on February, 2013. My Iqama profession is Building Electrician (Lobour). Since i am an engineering graduate, my post is electrical engineer in the company. Now, company is trying to transfer my visa from the individual sponsor to my company's sponsorship. But when my company secretary went to Jawazaat to transfer thanazil, he is informed that I must work with the current sponsor for 2 years then only I can transfer the sponsorship.

Is this information true or is there any other way. Company is not interested to offer me a new visa.

Thank you.

Its the standard rule - 2 yrs under the sponsor and cannot change. If you search in this forum or read previous posts you will get more info on  the matter.

Sir,

I heard that Saudi has changed the standard rule and now you can transfer sponsorship before 2 years because of new Nitaqat issues.

Is nt that true?

Thank you.

salihkk,

This will depend on the Category of your current Sponsor.

If your Sponsor is in Red/Yellow/White Category, you can change the sponsorship to a Green/Excellent Category now.

If your sponsor is in Green Category, you can move to an Excellent Category only now.

But, if you are in Green now, you cannot change the sponsorship to a green Category company without completing the 2 years.

Dear Sir, Jawazaat told it is possible for Yellow and Red category. But I am now in Green category. Have the Green category also this grace period?

Tank you.

Thank you. i got the answer from your replays. Looks like I am in trouble mow. Thank you very much for your support!

salihkk wrote:

Thank you. i got the answer from your replays. Looks like I am in trouble mow. Thank you very much for your support!

Yes, not applicable to Green. It's 'grace period', not a honey-moon

Dear Sir,

Can House driver visa be transferred to any other profession in Saudi Arabia?

Thank you.

salihkk wrote:

Dear Sir,

Can House driver visa be transferred to any other profession in Saudi Arabia?

Thank you.

Profession change not possible. Transfer possible to some other house as driver.

i guess the request for approval is online after approval remaining process is manually done

Dear Sir,

I have been working here in KSA for 5 years and my iqama was last renewed by my sponsor during my second year of stay.  Its now expired for three years, he was not able to renew it due to reasons for which he is entirely at fault.  Now because of the nitaqat program, I took advantage of it and asked him for a release when i found a new sponsor who will take me.  He (current sponsor) agreed to release me but the problem is that he asked the new employer to get an iqama for me before releasing me (i'm guessing he wanted to avoid paying for the iqama penalties).  Is this correct? if not, which comes first, the transfer of sponsorhip or the renewal of iqama and who is to be responsible for the transfer procedures and fees. thank you very much.

JComTech wrote:

Dear Sir,

I have been working here in KSA for 5 years and my iqama was last renewed by my sponsor during my second year of stay.  Its now expired for three years, he was not able to renew it due to reasons for which he is entirely at fault.  Now because of the nitaqat program, I took advantage of it and asked him for a release when i found a new sponsor who will take me.  He (current sponsor) agreed to release me but the problem is that he asked the new employer to get an iqama for me before releasing me (i'm guessing he wanted to avoid paying for the iqama penalties).  Is this correct? if not, which comes first, the transfer of sponsorhip or the renewal of iqama and who is to be responsible for the transfer procedures and fees. thank you very much.

The iqama needs to be renewed before the transfer. I guess your current sponsor is trying save the penalties by asking the new company to do it. If the new company is willing, all what they do is pay the fees / penalties while in paper the renewal will be done under your sponsor.

thanks for the prompt response, mr. HRGuru. Can my current sponsor pay the necessary penalty and renewal fees sir, even if his company fell into red category and his CR/licenses were already cancelled?  I remember last year that i asked him to renew my iqama, took it from me and returned it a  few days later and told me he cannot renew until such time he employs a saudi national which he wasnt able to do so until today and to the best of my knowledge, he is already closing his businesses before the reprieve expires.. if the new sponsor is not willing to shoulder the penalties, what would be the scenario sir, i cannot work outside of my sponsorship, cannot even go and exit the country because my current sponsor doesnt anymore have the ability and financial resources to do so...

JComTech:

Use the benefit of this grace period... As your sponsor is in RED Category, you can transfer to a new sponsor who is in Green / Excellent category, without renewing your Iqama with current sponsor. Once you change the Sponsor then the new sponsor can issue a Iqama for you.
But,I am not aware of the penality who will bear it!!!!

I would agree with what Binn said above and you need to see who will pay the fees in this case. May be your current or new sponsor.

my iqama profession is house driver.i want to know as per new rules my iqama is transferable to any engineering co or no? becuse i am working as a civil auto cad draughtsman.i have draughtsman degree certificate attested by the foreign ministry of india.last 7 years i am working as a freelancer in saudi arabia. but now laws changed.i saw some of add sticked in the streets nowdays any profession even house driver house labours all category they will change like this.i want to know it is legaly approved by saudi govt or no? please give ur advise as soon as possible

COSMA wrote:

my iqama profession is house driver.i want to know as per new rules my iqama is transferable to any engineering co or no? becuse i am working as a civil auto cad draughtsman.i have draughtsman degree certificate attested by the foreign ministry of india.last 7 years i am working as a freelancer in saudi arabia. but now laws changed.i saw some of add sticked in the streets nowdays any profession even house driver house labours all category they will change like this.i want to know it is legaly approved by saudi govt or no? please give ur advise as soon as possible

Under the new amnesty / grace period there have been news that professions can be changed but no substantiating rulings were announced. House driver visa normally cannot be changed, but you can try with a general service office as of now to see if this new grace period rules can help you or not.

i go some general service office they said house driver profession can changed into co.but some of service says no. so i am confused , how i know exact true.i mean any govt website?

I am on individual sponsor and my iqama is in green category.According to the new rule Can I change my sponsorship to another green company where I am working now.

JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS

Thursday 25 April 2013

Last Update 25 April 2013 1:23 pm

The Ministry of Labor will allow expatriates under the sponsorship of individuals to transfer their sponsorship to private establishments as per the procedures of rectifying the residency status of workers violating the country’s labor laws. The new regulation will be implemented in the next few days.

A Labor official said the decision is aimed at accelerating the status-correction process within the king’s grace period of three months. The official said that paying the work license fees is the responsibility of the employer, not the worker.

Dear Readers,

I came to Saudi Arabia on Feb 2013 and I have not received the Iqama yet. I am not getting proper answer from the sponsor. In the mean time, I checked the Iqama status of the Kafeel which is "Green Low". Is that the reason the Iqama not being issued?

What is the difference between "Green" & "Green Low"?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

Green Low's companies need to take actions or soon they'll go orange. You must not have troubles getting the iqama but, anything can be a reason.

Hello TheLegendLeads. Same case with me I am new to saudi arabia and I didn't got Iqama because my kafeel is in red category. However, I got a job in Green firm as a Network Engineer. As per the rules I know that get a job in green firm and make transfer but in my case kafeel cannot make iqama. What should I do please tell me. Can I transfer my visa as iqama to my green firm company. Please let me know. Please Please Please Thank you..

i go some general service office they said house driver profession can changed into co.but some of service says no. so i am confused , how i know exact true.i mean any govt website?

dear sir,my iqama staus is white and  now i  completed ten month in ksa.but i want to know about the white color and second that can i change my sponsor if he has not work,waiting for your reply

Hai, Assalam alaikum
          My sponsor gave me letter to transfer my iqama to other sponsor but it is without the seal of chamber of commerce, when i asked him about this he is like my license is expired and now no need of that you can transfer to anyone without that. is it so please inform me about this. Will it be transferred without the seal of chamber of commerce?

Atif aslam7733 wrote:

dear sir,my iqama staus is white and  now i  completed ten month in ksa.but i want to know about the white color and second that can i change my sponsor if he has not work,waiting for your reply

I am still confused as to "white" status. As I understand it was for companies with less than 10 employees which are no included in the nitaqat system. Which means you need to change the sponsor if he has no saudi's under him. If not you need to wait for 2 years before you can change the sponsorship.

Dear All,

Few information I would like to share from my personal experience during this grace period.
1) Red / Yellow / White / People with Iqama Expired / Huroob can be benefited from this Grace Period.
2) NOC from Kafeel can be attested from Chamber of Commerce, Minsitry of Interior Office of Kafeel City, Governor Office of Kafeel, MINISTRY OF LABOR office of Kafeel City, Jawazat Office of Kafeel City.
3) People under individual sponsorship can transfer to Company but will require NOC to do so. Category of him will not matter here.
4) If your Iqama is expired then you can transfer to any green / Excellent Company. You have to visit both labor / Jawazat to submit official request to do so. Upon checking they will stamp your application and u will be given a certain time period to find a company for transfer. If fail to transfer within the time period written in your application then final exit stamp will be stamped in your passport.
5) Hurrob people need to visit Labor / Jawazat office and submit application to lift huroob due to a valid reason. They will investigate and in most cases will lift huroob and will give you certain time period to transfer to green / excellent company and fail to do so will result in final exit.

Hope above information will help the needy persons.

WIll update further if I will receive any new info.

Masalam all

Thankd for sharing the valueable information @mbasitkh

TheLegendLeads HRGuru I am still expecting answer from you please please please I beg you. I am new to saudi arabia and I didn't got Iqama because my kafeel is in red category. However, I got a job in Green firm as a Network Engineer. As per the rules I know that get a job in green firm and make transfer but in my case kafeel cannot make iqama. What should I do please tell me. Can I transfer my visa as iqama to my green firm company. Please let me know. Please Please Please Thank you.. orelse mbasitkh at least you tell me whats the procedure.

wjahat14 wrote:

TheLegendLeads HRGuru I am still expecting answer from you please please please I beg you. I am new to saudi arabia and I didn't got Iqama because my kafeel is in red category. However, I got a job in Green firm as a Network Engineer. As per the rules I know that get a job in green firm and make transfer but in my case kafeel cannot make iqama. What should I do please tell me. Can I transfer my visa as iqama to my green firm company. Please let me know. Please Please Please Thank you.. orelse mbasitkh at least you tell me whats the procedure.

You need to approach the labor office / Jawazat with demand letter from the green company and they will transfer your sponsorship to the new company and subsequently get the iqama for you.

Thank you so much HR guru. Lots of people reached to Saudi on Red cateogry visas. Saudi consulate should stop this visa endorsment for red cateogry companies poor people from pakistan bangladesh India are getting affected. As they are purchasing visa in 20,000+SR. Thats too much price and they are sad.Saudi Govt should take this step

wjahat14 wrote:

Thank you so much HR guru. Lots of people reached to Saudi on Red cateogry visas. Saudi consulate should stop this visa endorsment for red cateogry companies poor people from pakistan bangladesh India are getting affected. As they are purchasing visa in 20,000+SR. Thats too much price and they are sad.Saudi Govt should take this step

Govt. has already started such a crackdown. Soon all of this visa trade will be a past story.

Its not just a problem from the Govt, we are also responsible. Why are we buying visas when we know its illegal to do so?

HRGuru wrote:

Its not just a problem from the Govt, we are also responsible. Why are we buying visas when we know its illegal to do so?

As long as our guys' belief - that money grows on trees here - doesn't change, they'll not abandon considering azad visas as lifetime break-throughs. If you cease the supply, demand won't fall soon; but at least people will start thinking differently. I hope so

TheLegendLeads wrote:

HRGuru wrote:

Its not just a problem from the Govt, we are also responsible. Why are we buying visas when we know its illegal to do so?

As long as our guys' belief - that money grows on trees here - doesn't change, they'll not abandon considering azad visas as lifetime break-throughs. If you cease the supply, demand won't fall soon; but at least people will start thinking differently. I hope so

TLL : It doesnt grows on tree but is dug out of the ground