UK-mummy
Posts 33

Hi everyone, thank you for your helpful replies, I arrived in Qatar on Sunday. What an experience! Nothing is as I had expected with regards to what I had been told prior to arriving! I think that may be commonplace!
Finding a villa is proving to be a very daunting experience, I would welcome any recommendations of western compounds near DBS /Al Waab/ aspire zone or anywhere else close by, seriously I dont know where to start! xx The sooner I find a villa, the sooner my babies can come! xx

marycatherine
Posts 1653

I don't know what your job is but in Qatar women can only sponsor their husbands (don't know about children) in specific jobs - I believe teaching at the tertiary level is one of them.

I'd be asking the PRO/HR dept at your employer some very specific questions (and getting the responses in writing) about the legalities of this as it may mean your DH doing monthly visa runs which gets old fast.

brbiyer
Posts 12

Hi Girls.
I am considering the job offer in Qatar. Hats off to those who left kids behind. I can't do that be doing that as my DD is only 2. But the employer did say they can make arrangements for the family to come with me if needed.
I am anxious about what kind of accommodation will be provided. I was told it will be temporary housing until the RP is sorted and then it will be a 3 bed villa or apartment. Could you girls let me know how the accommodation is? Is it close to schools and work?
Would love to get some info on those who are already there.
Cheers
Banu

Raahatd
Posts 143

Hi guys...can I barge into ths thread - as I usually do...and Ask two questions...
1. My husband residency permit got approved and we will be cmong with him in 10 days but on a tourist visa...and as u said the process of him applying for us will require at least 6 months bank statements
...how does this effect my cat? Can she come on a tourist visa as well?
I can't keep her hom for six months...

2. Does that the fact that we are eon a tourist visa...will that cause problems for our kids gaining entry into a school...waiting lists aside at the moment

Thanks again for your advice guys

GinaM
Posts 1754

Hi UK Mummy. What company will you be working for? Some companies have great reputations and some have awful reputations. I have a friend doing his RP at the moment and its been over 4 weeks and still caught up in red tape - in saying that he was a resident here 2 years ago and that has confused them somewhat causing delays! I'm guessing you will be coming in on either a business visa or a resident visa (in preparation to get a resident permit). Ask your company if they have an appointment for your medical (this is the real delay - once you get the medical done its generally all pretty fast) and what date that is, or if they are going to put you through privately (you can do it at a private hospital at a cost rather than wait to do it at the medical commission). How they answer those questions will give you some idea as to whether they are competent or not. Unfortunately its not you that starts the process but your company so while you may be ready and willing to start on day 1 you may find that they are not - hopefully that isn't the case!

jimjam01
Posts 14

Hi UK-mummy - I am also in the process of moving over to Qatar from the UK (just waiting for visa and to work my notice at work) and in the same situation, i.e. leaving my little babies (8 & 5) behind with hubby while I sort the Visa etc. I have had lots of useful information from some of the other ladies on the site which has helped put my mind at rest but I would really appreciate if you could share your experience or provide any tips you may come across along the way as you try to get them over here. HR have said they provide good support to get the RP and families over etc but any advice would be extremely appraciated. Is your DH going on your sponsorship or doing the whole visa run thing? Its all very exciting but nerve racking at the same time. I hope all goes smoothly for you. Good luck with the move.

tamieg1
Posts 420

I used the Excess Baggage Company to send 1 box and 3 sports bags from the UK last year. They collected it from my house in London and we picked it up at the cargo terminal here, it took 2-3 weeks. It's priced by weight, think it was around £300 at the UK end, then a few hundred riyals (definitely not more than 500) in customs and "handling fees" at this end. It had to be sent in my husband's name though as he had an RP and I didn't, but worthwhile checking if they'll accept your work visa instead of an RP to start the process.

DebK
Posts 492

chizz
Posts 1899

Hi there - it all depends on whether your company PRO (or fixer) is efficient or not in judging how long the residency visa will take. A lot of the time companies wait so as to group several incoming employees together, so that they can do all the visas together at the same time. Immigration also has to issue the company with a date for you to go and do your blood tests, etc - sometimes these dates can be several weeks later. You are better to try and get the visa done before Ramadan comes around, as things are slower then as office hours are much shorter. My DH did his visa last yr during Ramadan, but he choose to go private to speed things up and pay 610 rials to do this out of his own pocket. We couldn't get our container shipped from Dubai without him having his Qatari Residency Visa, hence the hurry. DH showed up at Doha Clinic the very next day (can also be done at Al Ahli and Al Emadi hospitals as far as I know) and got the medical tests done then and there and then had to wait some days for the results, before getting his fingerprints done and then the paperwork could be handed into the company for the visa to be issued. Think it took about 2/3 weeks to get the visa in total, but I think people have got it quicker if you work for a company with a very efficient PRO. If you do a search, this has come up quite a bit here on the forum and you can read other people's posts on the matter. Good luck! I'm shipping some stuff over from the UK in Aug from our storage unit and will be using GB Liners (after seeing they got good reviews and no negative feedback on expat forums). I'll be sending around 20 boxes in a shared container and a bed/mattress.
edited by chizz on 08/06/2012

MinnieM
Posts 11

Hi UK-mummy

I've moved to Qatar end of April, My husband and children just arrived this week... I was a blabbering mess (after work hours..lol) my baby girl was 10 months old, leaving was the hardest thing I had to do! but they're here now so all's good.

RP - I went in for a medical on thursday (Xray and bloods 45mins), then went for fingerprints(30mins) for the Qatar ID on monday. by the end of the week I had my RP and Qatar ID, not sure if that is the normal time it takes or if it was fast tracked.

Im now waiting for my multiple exit permit and a no objection letter so I can get a Qatar driving licence, (I was told, cant drive on international licence if you have RP- havent confirmed info tho)

I suspect your children and husband will have to do a visa run every month or two so check if you can get a multiple exit permit so you dont have to get permission everytime you want to leave the country!

Cant comment on time to find a place, I was offered furnished accommodation so didn't need to worry about that.
Schools tho! they close at 1:30 so by the time I have a free min at work it usually after they close.. I still haven't sorted this out! my DD is 6 and I think I might just enroll her in NZ correspondence school.

Good luck

UK-mummy
Posts 33

Hi, I'm arriving in Doha next week, and very reluctantly leaving my husband and 2 children behind...... (for 2-4 weeks according to HR) They can follow once I have a RP, passed the medical and found a place to live... phew!! Is 4 weeks realistic? Apart from work I will have no other distractions when I arrive so I intend to start the process on day 1. I've never left my children before and while I can see the logic behind it I'm worry that I'll be a constant blubbing wreck! Would appreciate any input! Thanksx
P.s any ideas for shipping a few boxes from UK, only about 6 (70x50cm)?