More "prep" for the trip this week. Was able to get some long sleeve t shirts for the "colder" months in Saudi when it hits a chilly 65deg :). Hit up 2 big consignment sales and found a leap pad and fur real kitty for Abby too. The cat has of course been named wink and has not left her side.
All in all we're taking it day by day. She's starting to get more comfortable and although its still hard, it's been an easier week as a whole.
Chuck is very anxious for us to get there. He's been hitting the gym and almost had his 6 pack back. Me? Haha I'm still chowing down on all the bad American food and am up 10 lbs since he left. Time to get back on track :).
Hoping to have some good news in the next week. Just because it's hard to understand, I'll do my best to explain the visa process to date. Saudi is not a country an American can enter with just a passport. There are 2 ways that Parsons bring employees over to start. On a Temporary work visa or on a permanent. Chuck is there on a temperature visa now. So here's a quick idea of how it works.
1) Chuck applied for a temporary visa at the beginning of June. For this he needed a complete physical with blood work, stress test and chest x rays. Once this was submitted he was granted a visa to travel in and out of the country over the next 5 years with a maximum length stay of 90 days at a time.
2) Next step is a permanent visa. For this all of his degrees must be attested to by the Saudi Embassy. In Chucks case this is 3 total. Original degree and transcripts must be sent. This process can take anywhere from a few days to weeks. This is the step we are currently waiting for. Once this is complete, Chuck will be home for about 10 days while his passport is sent to the embassy for the addition of his permanent visa. Parsons will not pack Abby and I out until this is complete.
3) the next step is the igama or residency visa. This will take about 2-4 weeks after Chuck receives his residency visa. Once this is complete then Abby and I can begin applying to enter the country.
4) for Abby and I we will also need a physical and various other paperwork completed including having our marriage certificate and birth certificates attested to by the Saudi Embassy before we can enter. This should take about 2-4 weeks also.
5) Finally after all this our family will be back together in Yanbu. Oh and Chucks final contract will not start until he receives his igama.
So this is just a summary of why the whole thing takes 2-3 months :). Here's hoping for good news soon!!!!!