NCUPM

Alhamdulillaah, for His numerous blessings on us, among which is His favor for counting us among the few ones to study in this country; where the ‘tawheed’ of Allaah is well rooted, where the first house of Allaah (the Ka’bah) is situated in the blessed sanctuary at Makkah, wherein the seal of Prophethood – Muhammad (sallaLLaah alayhi wa salaam) was raised, where the companions lived and exemplified the statements of Allaah and His Prophet in their daily affairs (may Allaah aid us in following their exemplary implementation of the Deen) and where you enjoy almost absolute safety of lives and properties, and much more, ni’mah! Alhamdulillaah.

To some individuals the arrival to this land through King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not end with the completion of the registration procedure, the subsequent issuance of Iqamah (Resident Permit) and the frequent visitation to the matha’am (Cafeteria).  They consider it to be an incomplete trip without their beloved immediate family members; they become psychologically disturbed with their departure from their home and family. The thought of home away from home keeps engrossing their thinking and feelings and the expression – “how can I bring my family” becomes a frequent question. This short article will – inshaa’Allaah – acquaint you of the procedures and challenges associated with securing a visa for your family members and their subsequently arrival in the Kingdom either you are on the old-school and gradually becoming obsolete RA (Research Assistant)’s visa or on the new and quickly becoming populous FT (Regular Full-Time)’s visa. May Allaah make it benefit all.

Before starting, ensure that you make this an act of worship by making your intention to please Allah, by protecting yourself and your family from what is haram; being able to take good care of your family by teaching them what is important for them in their Deen and providing for them, etc.

The procedure for securing the family visa for the RAs differs slightly from that of the FTs due the different status. However, the documents needed are almost the same.

The following documents are generally needed to apply for a family visa [1]

• Application form [2]  completely filled in Arabic, preferably printed or filled in legible handwriting without any corrections, overwriting or alteration
• Employment certificate [3] issued by the KFUPM Faculty or Staff Affairs Dept. in Arabic showing the employee’s joining date, contract duration, job title and monthly salary including the housing allowance (if applicable) and the transportation allowance.
• A photocopy of the employee’s (applicant’s)  last degree and its Arabic translation [4]
• A photocopy of the marriage certificate and its Arabic translation
• Copies of the birth certificate and the Arabic translation for the children for whom a residence visa is needed
• Passport copy of the employee (the applicant) showing the first Saudi entry visa and the Iqamah copy
• Passport copies of all dependants whom residence visa is needed
• In case, applying for a residence visa for a daughter above 13years of age, attach a statement duly translated into Arabic stating that she is not married
• Attach a proof of residence (passport copy or residence permit) with its Arabic translation, in case a dependant wishes to pick up his residence visa from the Saudi Consulate in a foreign country (other than his/her country of origin)
•  A duly sign and stamp “No Objection Letter” [5] either from the Personnel Affairs office or Passport Office [6] (both in Building 21, 6th  floor)
• Specifically, RA needs in addition to the above documents a letter stating the monthly grants [7] he is receiving from sponsored projects, book writing project etc.
• Full Time Graduate students require the following documents in addition to the general documents:

1. 1. An introductory letter from the Graduate Studies (DGS: Building 59 4th floor) in Arabic stating the regular monthly stipend and the academic year.
2. 2. A letter either from the Part-Time Unit at the University, the PI (Principal Investigator) of a project or your thesis advisor [8] (if he has a funded project from which he can pay you monthly grants) indicating that you are receiving additional monthly income from them.
3. 3. You can also get same from any of the Centers’ Director in RI (Research Institute – Building 15) if you are working in a project with them.
4. 4. Of recent, an Agreement Letter, from an estate agent indicating that you have rented an apartment with him for the next six (6) months, is requested (sometimes) by the passport office before they sign and stamp the Application form

What follow are highlights of the procedure for obtaining the family visa:

•  First, ask Allaah to aid you in this process and to guide you to that which is best for you and your family in this world and the next (Al-istikhaarah). Put your trust in Him, for He al-‘Aleem (The All-Knowing), ar-Raz-zaaq (The Ever-Providing) and al-Qaadir (The Capable One).
•  Then ensure all your required general documents are translated from Public Relation Office (building 21, 3rd floor)
• Get the introduction letter from the Graduate Studies (applicable to FT only)
• Also collect and filled the application form from KFUPM Passport Office
• Get your duly signed and stamped additional monthly grants letter (applicable to FTs and RAs only)

• Proceed with documents in (1) to (4) above to KFUPM Passport office to request for the No Objection Letter and thereafter sign and stamp the Application form in the same office (Building 21, 6th floor).

• Proceed to Dammam Passport Office [9] with all documents collected/used in (1) to (5) above. Ensure you set up for the office as early as possible (immediately after Fajr Prayer)

Note: Applications are sometimes rejected despite all these documents (most applicable to FTs and sometimes RAs) due to one reason or the other. Don’t lose hope in Allaah, rather, be pleased with His decree which is in according to His complete Wisdom and complete knowledge of what is good for His slaves. Try to reapply again with patience, perseverance and having hope in Allaah that He would help you.

Alhamdulillaah, as you successfully secure your family residence visa. May Allaah bless their subsequent arrival in the Kingdom and kindly share your wealth of experience with the married-but-bachelor-in-KSA brothers. May Allaah ease their affairs and ours (Aameen).

[1] This information was taken from the list of required documents by the University’s Passport office with few additions. The documents generally apply to graduate students (FTs, RAs, L-Bs), faculties and staffs.

[2] Application form (in Arabic) is available at KFUPM Passport Office in Building 21, 6th floor

[3] For Regular FT visa holders, the letter of Benefits & Expectations suffice as your employment letter

[4] All documents can be translated into Arabic at the University Public Relation Office in Building 21, 3rd floor

[5] This letter is required by Dammam Passport Office for graduate students applying for residence visa for their family

[6] It is inshaa Allaah relatively easier for  FT student to secure this letter from the Passport Office rather than the Personnel Affairs

[7] It is a common saying that the Dammam Passport Office requires a minimum of SR 2500 to SR 3000 before they will grant an application for family residence visa but to the best of our knowledge no any official document is available to that effect and there are many cases where lesser than that was accepted

[8] If you are receiving a letter from your advisor ensure it is duly stamped by the respective department

[9] Inform the Taxi Driver that you are going to Istiqdaam office, Dammam (إدراة شئون الإستقدام, دمام) along King Faisal road, Dammam (check – Istiqdaam = Expatriate office = Visa Center).