UK Degree attestation ???? major issue URGENTBEG U !!!

102POSTS

12 years ago

Dear All,

i need some serious help please, i arrive in KSA 5 months ago for the last two months i have been trying to bring my wife and kids to Saudi from the UK.

All my paperwork is in order apart one thing when i arrived in riyadh my original UK degree had not been attested as UK law states you can not stamp original documents as it goes down as tampering crime.

I have explained the situation to the ministry of interior they are still refusing and telling me to get it attested. They first told me i could get it attested from the british embassy and council here so i did just that !

I then went back to MOFA and re applied they then had the cheek to tell me no !!! u need to get it attested in the UK from Saudi consulate i told them again original degrees can not be attested so they said get them to email u a photocopy stamped version.

I contacted the saudi cultural bureau in London UK they are refusing to send me an electronic copy attested without seeing the originals.

The british embassy here is shocked their asking for this when they have attested it them selves.

Can some one tell me what do please its becoming a pain in the *** for me.

I dont understand the following issues:

1. They give me a visa to enter the country without having the original degree attested.
2. The degree has been attested here ? so why do i have to send it back o UK surely its not rocket science that anyone can stamp it 6,000 miles away so its better to have it stamped and transalated here ?

I am also willing to pay some money to any one that can send me a colored scanned image via email to me so i can just get some one to photoshop the stamp on ! cause i am not sending it back to the UK it will cost me a ton and it can take 2 months to attest.

Thanks

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currentaffairs Active member

35POSTS

12 years ago

The procedure is fairly clear. You first need to get your degrees/relevant documents notarised. I don't know if you can do that easily in Saudi Arabia (or if notaries in Saudi Arabia are accepted - I think they ask for a UK notary). If you can't then you have a problem because you have to physically be present with the notary (usually a solicitor). The process takes 10 minutes and nothing is written on the original degree/document. This is all done on a photocopy. The photocopy is then stamped with the notary seal.

After this, you get your degree apostilled or legalised (different phrase with the same meaning). In England you have to send the notarised documents to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in Milton Keynes where they will legalise the documents.

If you cannot get documents notarised in Saudi Arabia then you will have to go back to the UK. I would imagine the British Embassy would provide some kind of service though.

I think attested and notarised have the same meaning as well. Trust lawyers to make things complicated.... Good luck.

1 member reacted to this post

Full Monty Serial expat

206POSTS

12 years ago

This seems to be a grey area. When I originally came to Saudi currantaffairs's process was correct but this time I had to have the Saudi Cultural Bureau do their own due diligence. This involved me sending my documents to them and several follow up calls (and a visit to the SACB, in person) to expedite the procedure. Have a look at this if you haven't already;

Chouders, although it'll be a Royal PITB you may have to send your documents to your wife and have her send them (or take, if possible) to the relevant bureau.

As to your 2 points; welcome to unusual administration procedures outside of the UK. Just be thankful you were allowed to work without all necessary documentation. The alternatives (being sent back or coughing up the monies to stay in a hotel until you had the correct paperwork) don't bear too much thinking about.

On a positive note, the SACB won't be dealing with as many visa applications as earlier because most students and workers are already here and the Hajj period is complete.

currentaffairs Active member

35POSTS

12 years ago

Well, I just went through this process in September so it is current information. Yes, your company may have a visa agent that will smooth the process but I think the basic procedure is the same.

Also, concerning getting stuff notarised, you have to be there in person when it is done. Someone else cannot do it for you (even a wife).

Basically, the company should provide all the necessary info and you shouldn't have to rely on scouring internet boards!

2 members reacted to this post

emeraldsaregreen Contributor

160POSTS

12 years ago

choudhers wrote:
Can some one tell me what do please its becoming a pain in the *** for me.

I dont understand the following issues:

1. They give me a visa to enter the country without having the original degree attested.
2. The degree has been attested here ? so why do i have to send it back o UK surely its not rocket science that anyone can stamp it 6,000 miles away so its better to have it stamped and transalated here ?

Thanks

I don't understand point number 1 too!!

My husband left for Riyadh on a work visa. And now, for a dependants visa they require attestation of degree????

Trapezius ViP

1309POSTS

12 years ago

It is definitely true that degrees (and marriage certificates) have to be attested by the Saudi Embassy in the country where the degree is from (or where the marriage took place).

I will tell you what I did to get my US degrees attested, and I am sure the procedure for the UK would be the same.聽 I was told that I had 2 options:

- Either get the original degree attested by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM)
- Or get a black and white photocopy (not color) attested by the SACM and then by the Saudi Embassy

I chose the 2nd option as I did not want my degree to be defaced.聽 Aside from the copy of the degree, they also required original transcripts and degree verification letters to be sent directly from the universities to the SACM, passport and iqama copies, and finally, the employment contract.

I sent all the documents (scanned) by email to an agency in Washington DC and they got it done, I did not have to go there, and neither did I send any original documents from here.聽 Once they got the attestations, they sent them to me by courier.聽 I paid for it all using a credit card.

I don't see why the procedure for UK degrees would be any different.

Instructions for US degrees:
(page 3)

Instructions for UK degrees:

In the US instructions it clearly mentions copy of degree, but in the UK instructions it says "the certificate".聽 That's weird.聽 You should call them and ask them if they will attest a certified/notarized copy of a degree, and especially if they also have the original degree in front of them.聽 I don't see why they would object to that if the copy is certified.聽 Better yet, google search visa agencies who do these kinds of procedures, or get a recommendation for a visa agency from someone, and then call them and ask them the requirements for getting a degree attested by the Saudis.聽 If they say a copy would suffice, then go with that, because they would know the right answer, as that's the business they are in and get such procedures done regularly.

BTW, prior to getting them attested as I described, I got my degrees attested by the US Consulate in Jeddah, but that is not enough, as you have discovered as well.聽 They MUST be attested by the Saudi Embassy in the country where the degrees were obtained.

emeraldsaregreen Contributor

160POSTS

12 years ago

News just in for those needing to get UK degrees attested.

I have just been informed by Harley Visa & medical services (London) that the SACB in the UK has instructed all visa agents not to send any applications for degree attestations as there are to be changes made.

They have not provided any further information.

If I receive any more information, I'll update this post.

currentaffairs Active member

35POSTS

12 years ago

The US also has different rules and procedures regarding attestation/notarisation to the UK. You can't compare the two.....

Trapezius ViP

1309POSTS

12 years ago

Yes, there are slight differences, but the main point is that the degree *has* to be attested by the Saudi Cultural Bureau/Mission, as can be seen on the linked files.聽 You only got your degree notarized, but not attested by the SACB, and apparently that was sufficient for you, but the OP obviously needs to have his degree attested by the SACB as he has been told, so there is no argument there.

The only point of contention is whether the attestation will be done on a copy or has to be done on the original degree.聽 And for that, he has to call up a couple of visa agents and ask.

HRGuru ViP

2233POSTS

12 years ago

#10

There are some visa categories that the saudi embassy across the world will attest visas without the need for an attested education certificate, for eg: Telecom Technician, Marketing Specialist etc. Not with all embassies and countries and professions.

But in case of processing of dependents visa a valid and attested certificate is a must for the husband and not for the dependents.

emeraldsaregreen Contributor

160POSTS

12 years ago

#11

What I don't understand is, that when my husband flew out to Saudi with his work visa there was no degree attested.

But for the dependant visa his degree requires attesting???

Trapezius ViP

1309POSTS

12 years ago

#12

Welcome to Saudi Arabia, the land of contradictions, oxymorons, and illogicalities.

currentaffairs Active member

35POSTS

12 years ago

#13

As I see it the key point is if the degree has already been notarised or not. If it has, then the legalisation (as noted on the link) and attestation will be fairly straightforward because you can send the documents off to be processed. There are differences between the US and UK, one being that you can notarise degrees online in the US but that isn't available in the UK.

If the degree hasn't been been notarised, then as I mentioned at the beginning, you would have to go to the UK in person.

If the SACB can attest a degree without notarisation then I would be surprised.聽

Hopefully, the OP will give up on reading this thread and get some proper information from the powers that be.

smurfette Serial expat

218POSTS

12 years ago

#14

emeraldsaregreen wrote:
What I don't understand is, that when my husband flew out to Saudi with his work visa there was no degree attested. But for the dependant visa his degree requires attesting???

Are you sure he didn't enter the Kingdom on some kind of work visit visa?聽 A proper visa that allows him to legally work entails degree attestation/authentication, a battery of medical lab tests and an exam, and a criminal background report--all while in his home country.聽 If he didn't complete any of these requirements, then he very likely doesn't hold the appropriate type of visa that leads to an iqama and provides the opportunity for his family to join him.

3 members reacted to this post

HEDGE Member

19POSTS

12 years ago

#15

I used these guys in London, they will sort you out, send them the original and they will have it attested.

http:/www.gulfvisa.com/sar_work_visas.htm

Jaz2012 New member

4POSTS

12 years ago

#16

In UK to have your degrees legalised or(attested), you send them to Foreign and commonwealth office in Milton Keynes (fill out form and pay online) on their website:

sh3hryar Serial expat

319POSTS

12 years ago

#17

choudhers wrote:
Dear All,

i need some serious help please, i arrive in KSA 5 months ago for the last two months i have been trying to bring my wife and kids to Saudi from the UK.

All my paperwork is in order apart one thing when i arrived in riyadh my original UK degree had not been attested as UK law states you can not stamp original documents as it goes down as tampering crime.

I have explained the situation to the ministry of interior they are still refusing and telling me to get it attested. They first told me i could get it attested from the british embassy and council here so i did just that !

I then went back to MOFA and re applied they then had the cheek to tell me no !!! u need to get it attested in the UK from Saudi consulate i told them again original degrees can not be attested so they said get them to email u a photocopy stamped version.

I contacted the saudi cultural bureau in London UK they are refusing to send me an electronic copy attested without seeing the originals.

The british embassy here is shocked their asking for this when they have attested it them selves.

Can some one tell me what do please its becoming a pain in the *** for me.

I dont understand the following issues:

1. They give me a visa to enter the country without having the original degree attested.
2. The degree has been attested here ? so why do i have to send it back o UK surely its not rocket science that anyone can stamp it 6,000 miles away so its better to have it stamped and transalated here ?

I am also willing to pay some money to any one that can send me a colored scanned image via email to me so i can just get some one to photoshop the stamp on ! cause i am not sending it back to the UK it will cost me a ton and it can take 2 months to attest.

Thanks

Without going into much detail, welcome to the club.

I came back to KSA without attested degree and have been here for a while.

Regardless you have to get the stamp on the back of the degree, there is no other way around (as I know).

Now, either you get your original degree stamped or get a dublicate one stamped. (i got duplicate certificate and paid 40quids to my uni)

My certificate is being currently held at SCB in London and I am expecting it to be back in a month or two (hopefully).

If you do the photoshop business and get caught you will be sentenced for 3-6 months and deported afterwards.

Speak to the embassy, they would NEVER recommend going down this lane..

Ehsan Iqbal New member

7POSTS

12 years ago

#18

Hi,
I'm living in England, and working as a Data Network Engineer for last couple of years in UK. I'm CCNA and CCNP certified. My last degree is Masters in Business Administration is from an European country (Estonia), and my Bachelor's degree is in computer sciences from a small and private university of Pakistan, which does not exist anymore. I have British nationality. I want to move in Saudi Arabia, or some other Arab country, for example Qatar, Dubai or Kuwait.

The problem is about the attestation and verification of my Bachelor's degree (in computer sciences). I can give the attestation and verification of my latest degree which is from a good Estonian university. Is this enough, if I show only latest degree attestation and verification, or do I have to attest and verify my all academic degrees?

Ehsan

suribhai Serial expat

639POSTS

12 years ago

#19

1) Your latest degree attestation is enough.
2) If you would like you can choose to attest your bachelor degree or masters degree, thats your choice. Some times for masters they consider special position on your offer letter. so make sure of these. As i have masters and bachelors, i attested my bachelors for getting in.

Ehsan Iqbal New member

7POSTS

12 years ago

#20

Offer letter we get from employer. But I concern with government law, because if I will need to bring my wife and kids in Saudi Arabia afterward. So in this scenario,

(1st) to start work in KSA.
(2nd) to bring your family also in KSA after getting job in KSA.

Is this alright if I do not attest my Bachelor's degree? But only Masters Degree? Can I go thought these things? Work in KSA and bring my family as well afterward?

I really need this information.

suribhai Serial expat

639POSTS

12 years ago

#21

If you attest your master degree then you are in higher level than of your bachelors. So no issue in bringing your family to KSA. They just see if you are labour or engineer, then approve your family visa. So first thing you makesure you get a engineer visa or any similar position to it, like any manager.

Ehsan Iqbal New member

7POSTS

12 years ago

#22

thanks suribhai

Taseer Member

16POSTS

11 years ago

#23

Now what's the bottomline guys ?
Do authorities in Saudi Arabia accept the stamped photocopy of your degree or they need a stamp on the original one ? Because I am finding it pretty hard to get stamp on my original U.K Degree.

All agents are saying SACM doesn't attest original degree. And here they want it on original.. Trapped !

seeker of truth ViP

1129POSTS

11 years ago

#24

I'm not聽 sure if we do have same聽 procedure in our聽 country聽 but if attestation聽 of your degree is聽聽the issue聽 definitely we dont provide original聽 copies of those documents so we request聽 copies of documents聽 from聽 the university聽 including all聽 the documents which are to be sent to an Department聽 of Foreign Affairs who stamped, authenticates聽 that the documents are certified true and聽 correct.
I聽 guess the聽 reason why that entity accept the original聽 copy聽 because聽 your聽 copy is聽 original (they have to secure of that copy so if they have,you are not getting it back) and even it is聽 a photocopy, it is just a copy of聽 your document and聽 never certified nor authenticated.

So聽 you need official authenticated copy of the documents聽 from university,聽 not聽 your original聽 documents.

I聽 guess聽 that's the bottom line.

Good luck!