1st week in Qatar without bank account, how to get money?
Hello everybody
I have a question, maybe is a stupid question but I really need to know it.
I will be moving to Doha in 2 weeks, I am going to live in an apt where the owner ask for 2 month as fiance an pay 1 month in advance, that means when I arrive and visit in person the place I have to pay 11.000 x 3 = 33.000QR
I have read that I cannot open my bank account until I have all my documents, resident visa, my employer documents and that... It means at least 2 weeks after I arrive but I have to pay my apt.
How can I send my money? The owner doesn't accept an international transfer, well he accepts it but usually when i do them it takes from 3 to 7 days so i will have to be in a hotel until that moment.
I could use traveller cheques but I have heard in Qatar they have a comission so no way.
I could make to send the money using Western Union but 33.000QR is really too much...
Any suggestion? How did you do the first time you arrived? On the other hand I have a Visa card but only with 6000QR credit and I don't know why it never goes when I really need it (I remember one time in USA it was horrible), and in my bank they say it is not its fault and they don't garantize I can use it in Qatar...
Thanks
Your employer, if they are considerably reputed, their HR dept. should be able to work it out for you. You need to confirm the apt. on your arrival and verifying everything to your satisfaction. Many banks in Qatar are ready to open account and even provide an instant loan for expats coming on proper contracts with reputed companies. In case you want to remit funds directly for your initial expenses, you can send a t/t to a local or foreign bank in your own name (instruction: pay on application and identification) giving your passport and ID number, which, on your arrival, you could collect from the counters of the payee bank on production of your identity documents (PP)
Hi
thank you very much for your answers.
Of course I want to visit the apt before, it is in Ezdan Towers and they asked me a deposit of 2 months rental and paying 1 month in advance...
My company told me all people go first to Ramada Hotel, we can book but you have to pay it.. :-S
You are definitely not going to work for a man-and-his-dog company, are you? As one contributor said, your company should provide you with the necessary accommodation until you sort yourself out. I arrived in Doha from the UK about 5 weeks ago and spent 3 days in a nice hotel plus 26 days in the company's rented apartment until I got a flat for myself. Why is the landlord/landlady demanding advance, 2months rent and all the crap you were talking about? Make sure you are not cheated in this transaction. How did you get to know the place where the flat is? I suggest you come here and have a look at things for yourself.
Don't pay anything now. You may regret it later.
By the way, the RP may take longer than 2 weeks so take care.
Hi,
just ensure you've got 1 or 2 debit cards and 1 or 2 creditcards (Visa and MasterCard and remember your PINs) that work abroad. Move all your money from your savings account to your current accounts. Just use all the ATM machines here in the shopping malls to get your money.
Please keep in mind that you cannot always get more than QR 5000 in one day: daily limmit exceeded, ATM tells you then. So If you need to pay QR 33000, start 1 week in advance to pull money from it. Don't worry with carrying so much money pick pocketing doesn't happen. Always ask for a receipt when you pay.
Why do you need to pay the 2 months. You wrote 'as fiance'. What does that mean?
kind regards,
peter
The answer is simple as eating peanuts. I agreed with chiefsitingbull. When i came here before, I bring sack of Pound Sterling(GBP). No Headache!!
If you are working with some good company, may be you can request a cash advance from company.
if u have international visa debit card it is normal u can take ur money as usual from any of the ATM.gud luck.
A simple answer to a simple question. Bring a sackful of USD
If you have a job in Qatar, some banks will open an account for you when you arrive on the promise you will give them copies of your work permit and residency as soon as you receive them (they will probably need a letter from your employer). Try Commercial Bank of Qatar, which opened an account for me when I first moved to Qatar in a day, or International Bank of Qatar, which can open an account in an hour.