Help please URGENT
Hi everyone,
I am a canadian citizen coming to Qatar for work next week. The company asked for my passport copy last week and today I received a message from my agent saying that I can go to Qatar and that as a canadian national, I can purchase my visa upon my arrival at the airport.
This seems a bit odd as many people I know waited for a long time and they had a confirmation that their work visa is ready and not that they have to purchase it upon arrival.
Please could anyone tell me how it works? If you received a copy of your work visa? Did you purchase it at the airport? I appreciate your help, I don't want to go to Qatar and wait there as a tourist until I receive my work visa.
Also, as for the Police Clearance, does it have to be stamped by the Canadian Ministry of Interior and by the Qatari embassy in Washington?
Thank you very much!!
problems currently associated with recruiting staff I would have expected to see organisations would bending over backwards to help people, not make things difficult.
The mentality in some of these organisations appears to have deserted them completely.
it's a common practice here. You will buy your Visitor’s Visa in the airport upon arrival, of course later you will claim it as your expense and you will be reimbursed. Sometimes company is able to issue your working visa before you come to Qatar. So when you arrive, just check on the passport control, either you have a working visa issued or not. If not – buy the visitor’s visa. Next day after arriving you will start working and the Company will start your Residence procedure. First they transfer you from visitor’s visa under Working visa, and later will issue the Residence Permit (RP). That’s how it usually works. And all this process might take between 1 to 2 months depends on your company’s PRO. It a bit inconvenient to live without Residence here, as you cannot open a back account, to exchange your driver license to the local one, purchase a car, etc. But everybody go through it, and that is it.
BTW, don’t forget to bring the International Driver license, which you can use here for 3 months, otherwise you won’t be able to drive till you get your RP.
Police Clearance. It is better if you bring it with you. And, yes, it should be stamped by Canadian Ministry of Interior and by the Qatari embassy in Washington. But once in a while Consular Officer from the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait is coming here and issues CERTIFIED CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK by signing a "Statutory Declaration of No Criminal Record" in front of a Canadian Embassy official. Then you only have to stamp it in the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Doha. But this Consular Officer from the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait just has been here recently, so I am not sure when she is coming next time.
its called visa on arrival as you have already burnt your bridge no use going back ... follow their instructions and come to qatar and get a visa on arrival it will cost you Qr. 100/-
I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here
Than a whole truck load when I'm gone
I already have a signed contract with Qatar Investment and resigned from my current job, but they told me to go to Qatar and purchase my tourist visa at the airport. That is why I would like to know please how it works with a work visa. Do they send it to me to Canada? Or will I find it a the airport? Do you think I should wait until the work visa is ready or go and wait in Qatar? Thank you so much in advance!
By the way, do you have any feedback on Qatar Investment?
now expect you to pay for your own tourist visa because they haven't been able (or can't be bothered)to get you one?
What is the place coming too?
I would have suggested that they get their finger out.
Coming without a signed contract could be a big mistake but it depends who the company are..
**philbel** is right follow the information.. thats better 4 u...
Thanks a lot, but should I wait to get my work visa before I leave canada?? or do i wait there (what am I going to do there with a tourist visa, can I work? can i get a lease for an apt.?)
To answer you t_coffee, yes I signed a contract regarding all you mentioned.
Have you signed a contract regarding your salary, accomodation, transport, kids school, health insurance among others.
this is important
I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here
Than a whole truck load when I'm gone
As a Canadian national, you qualify to purchase a tourist visa at the airport on arrival for 100 QR (you must pay with a credit card). This is common practise for companies to have you enter the country when your work visa is not yet ready. This is OK for you because you are from one of the 33 countries which are able to do this.
Don't be concerned, this happens all the time.