Document #1316161
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The following information was obtained in a
telephone interview with an official at the Saudi embassy in Ottawa
(5 May 1995). The official stated that there have been no changes
in the law requiring a sponsor in order to acquire a residence
permit. All applicants for a residence permit must have a sponsor,
who is usually the applicant's employer. It is the responsibility
of the employer/sponsor to obtain the residence permit. Anyone is
eligible for a residence permit providing he or she has a sponsor.
The sponsor is generally a Saudi citizen who can vet the applicant.
In the case of a foreign worker, there is usually a three-month
trial period before an employer would apply for a residence permit.
A person with a residence permit can apply to sponsor an immediate
family member, such as a spouse and/or dependent children. However,
to sponsor a parent would require approval of the foreign affairs
ministry. In addition, the sponsor would have to demonstrate that
the parent(s) are totally dependent on the sponsor for support.
According to the official, no one is exempt
from the sponsorship requirement, including North Yemenis and South
Yemenis. North Yemenis may appear to be exempt because they can use
visitors visas to visit members of their family who were themselves
Saudi citizens. The duration of these visas is fixed at the
discretion of the foreign affairs ministry.
This information could not be corroborated
among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
Ottawa. 5 May 1995. Telephone interview with an official.