QP - Grade 15 in IT

Thanks Dweller/Greg and Jaelee !

The MOI website says it takes 24 hours to get work visa. I think QP has 3 weeks slot to make sure it comes :).

Jaelee, do you remember how long the processing took after they applied for visa?

Best Regards,

Just letting you know in answer to one of your earlier questions, we came out here all together. At the time that was my husband, myself and 2 children.

This was 6 years ago.

They put us up in the Ramada Hotel for a few nights, my husband did his medical and the paperwork was started. We then moved to Al Bayaan until our house was ready in Dukhan.

I believe my visa took well over three weeks at least a month

My original visa was issued in 1982 when times weren't as busy so I cannot help you on that one.

I do believe that QP will be quicker than most other organisations in Qatar.

Thanks Dweller for sharing the link.

QP HR staff told me that visa processing would take 3 weeks and almost 10 days are over. How is your experience with their visa committments?

Thanks and Regards

Noble man was incorrect on inflation

Inflation is forecast to be 15% year on year. The forecast was made based on figures released at the end of the first quarter.

http://archive.gulfnews.com/business/Economy/10128452.html

hmmm.

If the inflation rate is 15% per quarter? Thats horrible, it means its almost 65-70% yearly at compund rate. This wud be killing no matter what salary you draw and even if employers give 20% raise annualy.

Best Regards,

From what I understand, if you're on a Definite Contract, u'll not be getting annual increment like the people on Indefinite Contract do.

If that is true, there's no increment for you in your Second year of service.

A newspaper report recently said that Inflation rate in Qatar for first Quarter 2007 is at 15 %.

You really have to take into consideration the Inflation rate.

If they are supposed to pay the "full" school fees then that should cover the tuition fees.

What Lahoria says sounds more in line with what QP did and I suspect still do and that is to pay 75% of the actual community school fees against receipts.

Thanks everyone for the comments/information.

BHappy, in my contract its stated that tution for the kids will be re-imburssed to 75% (uptil a specific maximum limit) against actual receipts.

Lamea, my contract is for less than 2 years but they have stated explicitly that furnished accomodation and fully maintained vehicle will be provided.

Regards,

are u sure that u are getting accomodation. my western friends ,also in QP and on a two year contract, were promised accomodation but told to move out of the company villa in 3 months. As per the new rule u can continue living in the company villa only if u are on a 1 year contract. ppl on 2 or more year contracts have to move out in three months (extendable by another six weeks). looking for decent accommodation with in QP limit is next to impossible.

frankly ur riyadh option sounds better.

best of luck

for us they pay full tuition fee(which is a joke frankly) it roughly covers the bus fee only! i dont know when they started.we are in doha

I believe that you are correct about the age limits (over 4 years).

For my information please, when did QP start paying 100% of community school fees? and are you in Doha, Dukhan or Umm Saieed, sorry Messaieed.

ur husband is working in QP Dukhan..?

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[---"Imagination is more important than knowledge"---]

my husband is in qp it too and i am a bit confused. QP pays full tuition fees for community school but only for children over four years of age. this means they wont pay a dime for the KG fees of u daugter until she is actually four! i suggest u get clarification regarding schooling.u r lucky compared to us because we only get cummunity school fees reimbursed to us, which means we pay almost three thousand riyals monthly from our pockets as school fees.

starting from interview QP hr is efficient enough to complete all formalities and issue visa in 9 months ( that too if u r lucky)!

dont believe a word they say. our visa took over three months( just the visa)

i have heard saudia is much cheaper than doha!

Hi Lahoria,

I am a senior IT Office and working for QA

You got a very nice offer.

I got 10 years of IT experience, MCSE, A+ and CCSP Certified and I have almost same what you have

My openion is that you accept the offer :)

Don't Be Rude, RUDE Will NEVER Smell Heaven

it is 4 months ;-)

a Canadian, you childern will have to go to a Canadian School and QP will pay you 100% of schooling. If you wantto send them to any other school and the fee is less or equal to Canadian school, then no problem. Otherwsie if the fee is higher, then you have to pay the difference from you own pocket. Currently QP is allowing Canadian to send their childern to American School but it being most expensive in Doha, this policy will change when Canadian school can handle childern of all canadians.

The cost of similar housing that QP will provide you because you have a definite contract is in the range of 16,000 - 20,000 in open market. When you factor that your package is fine.

housing and car are provided it looks a good deal. However, others are better qualified to advise you on living costs as they appear to have shot up recently.

As I said earlier, if they need your skills I am pretty certain that your contract will be extended (and can be re-negotiated)or an alternative and suitable position offered.

You could be offered an indefinite contract but without the housing and car.

At that atime, and having been in Qatar by then for some time, you will be in a position to make up your own mind on such an offer.

As someone said earlier, school fees can be a huge drain on resources. When our kids were at boarding school, we used to joke that "we could start eating in April".

Thanks BHappy, you can reach me at [email protected]

Dweller, do you think with less thna 2 yr contract, housing and vehicle provided, 19000 QAR is good offer?

Thanks

able to add some value. Let me know your personnal email and I will be able to answer most of your questions.

If the contract is for a limited period and renewable. If you are unhappy with the salary, you would be able to renegotiate at the time of renewal. That should put you in a strong negotiating situation as you are already "on site" so to speak and recruitment costs wouldn't be incurred.

In instances where the skills that you possess are in short supply and should a national be targeted to your position, it is likely that QP will identify another position to which you would be suited.

Thanks Greg for the comments.

Are you also with IT?

I am told by QP HR Person that the visa has been applied, but I have to send all medicals before that. Hope everything would be settled by mid june.

Best Regards

Lathoria,,,, I was here for an interview in january and had the medical tests at that time. The people who I have talked to who had the medical tests upon arrival say it's not a big deal provided you are healthy of course.

Dweller:

I think my contract is definite term contract. Since it says its valid till 30-04-2009 (less than 2 year) and they are providing with furnished accomodation as well as company maintained vehicle.

However they have written that its can be extended on management approval.

What do you think about extension for a definite vs indefinite contract for QP IT department?

Greg:

Did you provide original medical test results to QP or you came to Doha for medical exam? I visited Doha QP hospital 2 years back and they offer now, so I have to retake tests here in canada and send them reports. They asked me to send them originals which I cant get here, the max. i can do is to get certified copies. Any thoughts?

Thanks

In common with the majority (if not all) QP have never paid all school fees.

Lahoria, definite contracts were introduced in the 80's to enable QP to recruit above the salary scale mid-points. At a later date, also in the 80's, special contracts were introduced in order that QP could recruit outside the established salary scales. This was because a general increase would have been too expensive. The feeling was (I don't know the reasoning and argued against it) that new staff could be recruited without upsetting existing staff on indefinite contracts who were supposedly guaranteed employment?

I said at the time that no expatriate was under the impression that they were guaranteed work with QP. They were all aware that when a national was ready to take over it was bye bye expatriate. Many of the definite and special contracts were renewed because the scales were never changed and recruitment within the scales in many disciplines remained difficult if not impossible.

I commented on an earlier thread that nothing happened with pay scales for a long time...and then they (QP) tended to over-react.

I just started with QP in April. It doesn't take long to get here once they start the visa process. I don't know about family as I came alone. Everyone I talk to says that having the words indefinite in your contract is much better for bonuses etc. Good luck.

Hello, so by term you mean 4 months? Or its like 2 terms in a academic year?

Thanks

Athar

when we came about 6 yrs ago, my husband have to wait for his RP came out, then he sponsored me. I think in that department QP HR will look after it. I guess it is pretty similar with Saudi.

regarding about school ... for nursery school in DESS now will cost you just under QR 5000 a term. And from reception to year 6 will cost you (starting from next september) 7.600 QR, American school will cost alot more though.

no idea about the rest.

:)>

Novita77:

I plan to bring family with me. I have a 2 year old daughter. I wonder how long QP takes to process work visa and if they let all family to come right away or its like saudia where your employer sponsors employee only and then he has to sponsor his family after arriving in saudia?

Noble-man:

What is the average fee for private school? My daughter would not go to school for another 16 months. (I think she wud start going sept. 2008). Any idea how much private schools cost in Riyadh?

Dweller:

You are right, its very funny. The contract says its less than 2 years (as expiration date is 30 april 2009). But in same contract it says that after probation your contract will be renewed for indefinite period. Not sure why they have a definite date as well as indefinite period mentioned :). Is this april 30 2009 correcponds to some deadline of qatariation or some of their local IT people are graduating that time?

Many thanks for everyone to share their comments/thoughts. Appreciate it !!

i forgot about that ... i wonder why QP not covering full fees in the contract?

School fees are very very expensive in Qatar. If QP pays only 75 %, you have to think about the balance 25 %. Plus, there's a long long wait list at International Schools in Doha at the moment.

With the housing being provided, I suspect that it is a two year definite contract. IT will be one of the areas to which Qataris are being targeted.

are you planning to take your family with you? it would be better coming to Qatar than Saudi if you have your family with you. And also Qatar would be safer than Saudi.

i know in QP they will look after your medical (QP have their own clinic), as far as QP looking after the housing (make sure they gving you a house not allowance) you would be fine.

good luck

Hello Moudir:

I am born Pakistani, worked with IBM Pakistan for 4 years and now 8 years in IBM canada. Life/job in canada is fine, alhamdolillah. The move to qatar is more for a long term perspective of living close to homeland and having a place where you can raise kids properly.

Parallel to QP offer, I have another offer from SBM (IBM Saudi Arabia). Their offer is lump sum 31000 SAR, includes everything execpt health insurance. I have to arrange everything from this. Its based in Riyadh.

Not sure whats better between these 2. Apparantely QP offers 2 year contract while SBM goes with 1 year renewable sp more stability. However, SBM offers more of a learning environment. Financially speaking SBM might be little better than QP.

Thanks and Regards

Don't worry, by the next decade will be speaking chinese....

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

If you were Canadian born and currently employed, i would have said it is foolish to leave a company like IBM, at your young age.

However, if you are of Asian background, and your move is motivated by reasons other than your professional enrichment (country is too cold, difficult work/social/ or religious environment, be closer to your homeland, etc.), then financial benefits become of secondary importance.

You must know that the QAR is pegged to the US$, and the CAD is worth almost 93 cents US now, and is on its way to 94 cents US, before coming down again in the fall to normal levels; so your timing is good to accept an offer when the CAD is at its peak, and on its way down towards the end of this year. Good luck.

how can you have 2 years contract indefenite? Usually indefenite is open ended.