Gordy's Visa

Gordy’s Visa

People in the USA might not understand the need to have a visa to enter a foreign country.  American can freely travel amongst many countries without the need of a visa.  For example, Americans can travel to Canada, Mexico, most of Europe and the UK without the need for a visa.  Some countries like Jordan and Bahrain will allow you to purchase a visa upon arrival at the airport. Saudi Arabia has very restrictive rules requiring a visa prior to arrival.  A visitor cannot purchase a visa at the airport when entering Saudi Arabia.  Saudi Arabia has extrema rules for visitors. One of their rules is not allowing non sponsored females to enter the country.

It is for the above reasons why Gordy did not visit me during my first assignment in Saudi Arabia.  I accepted the second assignment in Saudi Arabia because I can live in Bahrain and work in Saudi Arabia.  I met Gordy in Scotland where we spend two week vacation.  We left Scotland, had a layover in Abu Dhabi and both arrived at Bahrain international Airport.  I had a five year visa but Gordy was arriving without a visa.

All visitors have to be processed through entry control, Bahrain customs and passport control.  At the check in Gordy was able to purchase a 30 day visa for 25 BD ($66.50).  While we knew that this visa needed to be renewed or replaced by a five year resident visa.  We waited until the last week of the visa before making plans to apply for the resident visa. 

When I arrived in Bahrain I was issued a 90 day visa.  I needed to apply for my five year resident visa. Applying for a visa is a multifarious process and takes time.  I decided to hire a local lady to do the application and follow up. She offered a package deal, of a five year residency visa, a CRP (national ID card) and a Bahrain driver license, all for 400 BD ($1064).  The process took about two weeks and required me to take time off work to drop off my passport for a day and to pick up my visa, CRP and driver license which took another day.

A friend of mine needed to have his family apply for visas.  I asked him if Gordy and I could tag along and submit Gordy’s visa application.  He said sure.  I took the morning off work and met my friend, Nader at his apartment, from there he and his wife, Rina, Gordy and I drove to the Ministry of the Interior.  Nader was following up on his children application for a visa and told Gordy and me where to stand in line.  The visa office was on the second floor which Gordy was able to climb, I guess the building had an elevator but it was just as easy to climb the stairs.

Everyone needing service hast to pick a number from a machine.  The machine will give you different tickets for difference services.

We received our number with only one other person ahead of us.  When our number was called, Nader and Rita did all the talking.  End results, we were told the first step in the process was to go downstairs and have a copy of Gordy’s passport made and to fill out a visa application. 

There was one hindrance; we needed a person with a CRP to sign the bottom of the application.  While Nader and I both have CRP, they are paper CRP and do not allow us to sign documents such as the visa application.  Nader needed his two children’s application to be signed by a person with a CRP and contacted a friend who was not too far away and available.  Within an hour she arrived, signed the all of the applications

Returning to the second floor (we left Gordy sitting in the waiting area) she filled out the visa application.  Nader, Rina and I returned to the counter, presented the application and copy of the passport.  The very nice Bahrain guy behind the counter verified the passport copy was the same as the original passport and returned the original passport.  Second step was to apply for a visa extension because Gordy’s visa was to expire in three days; the processing time for the five year visa was estimated at two weeks.

I submitted a second application for a visa extension and was asked to pay 25 BD for a two week extension.  I was told they contact the person who signed the application, the nice lady with the CPR.  She put down Nader’s phone number on the application so he would receive the phone call when the visa was ready.

Two weeks went by quickly and we did not receive word that the visa was ready.  Gordy and I would have to return to eight pick up the five year visa or to ask for another two week extension.  I took my number and visited a window, and inquired about the status of Gordy’s visa application.  I was told to go to another window.  This happens a few times and finally was told to go into the manager’s office.  The manager spent 10 minutes tracking down the location of Gordy’s visa and the status.  The status was good that the application was approved and ready to be issued.  They just had not called the number on the application as of the time of my visit.

I paid the 74 BD ($196.84) for the five year visa and left.  All total it took two trips to the Ministry at about two trips at about two hours each to secure the visa.  I had to take a full day off on the first visit and only took a half day off on the second.  While the time off cost me dollars in the pay check, it was less than the cost if I used the visa expediter lady.

The only requirement for the visa is that we needed to leave Bahrain and renter the country.  The visa also required Gordy to leave Bahrain for a night every three months.