Then we use an Exit/Reentry Visa. The difference is the employer does not get permission to bring in another Blue Eyed Foreign Crusader while I am out of town. With the Exit-only, I am taken off his books and he can hire another Western Devil to distort Islamic Culture.
Ah, such subtle differences. 
Did I miss where you say what you do? I’d be interested to know.
E3
Take in a ball game, sit behind pretty girls and listen while they talk about the ball players. Go to see the battlefield on the Peninsula. (I have been reading a lot of Civil War stuff of late.) See my broker. See my GP. Visit the Deputy Comptroller of my state. (We were roommates.) Veg out a little. Find a nice fat chicken and roast it. Same with some green peppers with Italian sausage. Eat at a diner. Join the Y for a month. Teach my mom how to shoot. A little of this and that.
The new school term starts 1 September, but that is when Ramadan starts, so the school year will begin slowly. I ought to be employed by 1 September.
I converted that to 2.3k USD. What’s the cost of living like there?
Also, why are you so intent on staying there? Love?
Malaysia got rid of that rule ten years ago or so. Israeli citizens can even go there now. That’s not to say that you won’t get poor treatment by customs but they’ll eventually let you in.
OK, still no visa. We need to get it tomorrow or the voices in my head may come back. They tell me to make fires.
Job offers roll in. Let’s review:
- Here (after pay cut, for comparison) 26K$
- Dammam (KFMMC) 32K$
- Oman 32K$
- Riyadh (KFU) 38 to 44K$
Gee, what shall I do? Wait for a contract from KFU, methinks.
Are those annual salaries? Even with ex-pat tax breaks, I’m surprised that you can’t make more in the US.
I suspect something other than salary is keeping Paul there.
Alas, he remains mum.
Here’s hoping you get that offer from KFU soon.
In the meantime, hajario, I think it’s important to remember that people who choose ex-pat work often find benefits in the distance; and it may be possible that someone living in Saudi can maintain a comfortable life-style while spending less on living expenses, and so the lower salary may still translate to greater savings potential than a higher salary in an over-heated real estate market might.
I recall a wonderful explanation of (an matter unrelated to this) in on of J.C.F. Fuller’s writings;
“(For) complex psychological reasons we do not fully understand.”
I think that sums it up.
Isn’t Riyadh more “dangerous” for foreigners than the other places, relatively speaking? Is the higher salary worth it?
No, it is a British contract. The Brits pay better as a rule.
I am still waiting for an offer from a remote (Saudi) helicopter school. The area is so bad that Saudis all make a face when I ask about it. But they are paying a 50% ‘nasty place to live’ bonus.
I’d take Oman… Sultan Qaboos University is in Seeb which is basically a suburb of Muscat out by the airport. Have you been to Oman? It is (after Yemen) my favorite place on the Peninsula. Much, much calmer and more scenic than elsewhere in the Gulf. 900 RO is about $2400/mo so if they include housing it is not bad - Muscat is a bunch cheaper than other Gulf cities.
Maybe Paul’s on the lam.
Oh no - I’ve said too much!
The engineers that I know that worked in the Gulf in the 90’s made a crap load more money than they would have made here which was the only reason that they did it. That’s why I was confused.
Ehm, that’s exactly the kind of Visa I had when I was in the USA in 2003. So it’s already in place.
I like the Gulf and would live there for reasons beyond money alone. These days, salaries are not what they used to be and the cost of living is very high because the currencies are all tied to the US Dollar which is in free fall.
Good luck on the KFU job, Paul.
Yep - Gas in the U.S. is up to almost half what we paid in the U.K. last month.
[nitpick]Tracts, not tracks. The word is tracts.[/nitpick]
Nah, if that were the case, he’d be in Thailand.
As for the comments elsewhere on Oman, I knew a Brit who spent 18 years there and loved the place.