Usually, we extend our families' visit visas through the Absher website or app which is very convenient. I had to extend the visa for my wife and after paying the fees through SADAD, I was faced with the error message "THE CLIENT IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO USE THIS WEB SERVICE".
Out of panic, I turned to the internet and no one had any answers. I went to the Jawazat office at the airport and they told me to go to the main office in Rehab, Jeddah (GoogleMaps location below)
Jawazat Office, Rehab, Jeddah
I was told at the gate to come back a day before visa expiry. People there guided me that I needed a full set of documents. I went to the agents across the street and for a cost of SAR 15 they made me a file with the following docs.
1. Visit Visa copy
2. Iqama Copy of sponsor
3. Passport copy of visa applicant (my wife)
4. Passport size picture of the applicant (my wife)
It cost an additional SAR 3 for the photo copies, I need to emphasize that you need to go to the agents in the shops and not the one on the footpaths, especially if you don't speak Arabic.
With my wife I went back the day of the expiry and got there around 7am. There was a massive crowd of people who had been there since dawn. There was a gentleman writing numbers on people's files and I got the number 367, and a gentleman who arrived 10 mins later got 481. This was supposed to be the sequence of entry through the gate only.
There was an announcement at the gate before the gate opened that only people who were on the day of the expiry of the visit visa would be entertained and everyone with even one day left should go home and come back the day of the expiry.
The numbers on the forms got us through the gate and into line for the "ziarah" service. We stood in line for 4 hours, mainly because of the sheer number of people there. In line, our forms were checked by an official who filtered people who had more than 1 day left in the visa and told them to come back the day of the expiry. Since my wife was with me, he told me I should take my wife home and stand in line alone.
I tried to take advantage and sent my wife to the front of the line with my Iqama to get it done, but, they sent her back. The Iqama holder has to personally be in line.
When I got to the window, the guy took my form and Iqama and within 20 seconds said,'Khallas' and the extension was done. I checked on the Absher app, just in case, and it was indeed extended.
Below I am listing a bunch of random facts I learned in my experience just so you are in the know.
1. There are rumours that this is a technical glitch, but, there was a Saudia air hostess in line who said they do this every year in Shawwal due to the Hajj season. This is not confirmed
2. You need to go to the Jawazat office in the city of your Iqama
3. Make sure your fee is paid online before hand
4. You should not have any outstanding fines
5. In Jeddah it is a long wait outside and there is not much water available so be hydrated
6. The presence of the applicant is not necessary but the sponsor (Iqama holder) must be there in person. It is mandatory
7. Some of the staff do speak English but it was a straightforward procedure so you don't need to worry much
8. Make sure your file is complete with all required docs
9. Be sure to get there early and get the number on the file so you can enter, the number is ONLY to get you through the front door. Inside, number 1 and 1,000 are equal. I was 367 and behind me in line was number 13 inside.
Good luck to you all, but, I hope that there is no need for this article and the problem is solved.
Regards,
