ILM WILM: August 2014

Sunday, August 31, 2014

How to use DATEPART() in SQL ?

For SQL Server:

SELECT [ID],[RollNo],[Name],[Address],[Telephone],AdmissionDate]
FROM [dbo].[Students]

where
(DATEPART(DAY,AdmissionDate)= '31' ) and DATEPART(MONTH,AdmissionDate)= '08' and DATEPART(YEAR,AdmissionDate)= '2014'

order by ID desc

How to Get SqlDataReader, OdbcDataReader, OracleDataReader in List

Step 1: Create Class

public class Student
{
public string Name { get; set; }
public int RollNo { get; set; }
public string Address { get; set; }
public DateTime AdmissionDate { get; set; }
}

Step 2: Create Function

string conStr = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionString["StudentConnection"].ToString();

public List<Student> GetStudents()
{
using(OdbcConnection con=new OdbcConnection(conStr))
{
OdbcCommand cmd = new OdbcCommand();
  cmd.CommandText = "Select * from dbo.Students;
cmd.Connection = con;
con.Open();
OdbcDataReader dr=cmd.ExecuteReader();

List<SSRSEntity> listData = new List<SSRSEntity>();
while (dr.Read())
{
//Sometimes the value is null so it throw error during conversion that's why not using the uper 3 lines of code
// object.property = datareader.if null at index 0 then assign "" empty to string

o.Name = dr.IsDBNull(0) ? "" : (string)dr.GetValue(0);
o.Address = dr.IsDBNull(1) ? "" : (string)dr.GetValue(1);
o.RollNo = dr.IsDBNull(2) ? "" : (int)dr.GetValue(2);
o.AdmissionDate =Convert.ToDateTime((string)dr["SubmitDateTime"]);

listData.Add(o);
}
return listData;
}
}

How to Apply for Extension of Family Visit Visa Online ?

Now there is no need to visit Jawazat office for the extension of family visit visa. I always appreciate the steps taken by the Saudi Government to make the procedural activities online. One of these revolutionary steps is giving access to the expatriates to apply for the extension of family visit visa online. In this article, I will be explaining in detail the online procedure to apply for extension of family visit visa online.

Conditions to Apply for Extension of Family Visit Visa Online

Welcome to Extend Visit Visa for families. This service allows Individuals who have issued visit visa to extend visit visa for their visitors subject to the following Business rules:

At a time of visa extension, the Visit visa duration should be more than 7 days or have been expired before 3 days.
Visit visa holder is present in KSA
Fee of visa extension is paid
Visit visa holder PP is valid (not expired) on the date of VV extension
Visa requester / Visit visa holder Status is alive.
Visit visa holder does not have unpaid Traffic violation
The total Visit Visa period should not exceed the permitted period.

Procedure to Apply for Extension of Family Visit Visa Online

Pay SR 100 for the extension of family visit visa through online or internet banking.
In order to apply for extension of family visit visa, you must have online account on Ministry of Interior Website. If you don’t have Abshir account on Ministry of Interior Website, please follow this link to create it. “Abshir Account in Ministry of Interior Website”
If you have already created this account, just login to it by following this link.
A new screen will be opened from which you will have to click on “E-Services” as shown in the screenshot below.
On the left hand side, there will be a list from which you need to click on the “Passports” icon.
A drop down list will appear and you need to click on the icon of “Extend Visit Visa”
A new page will open where all the terms and conditions to apply for extension of family visit visa are mentioned. Now you need to click on the “Proceed” button.
A new screen will open where you have to click on the button "More Details" for the candidate for whom you want to extend the visit visa. (Following 3 images were shared by Rana Irfan)
A new screen will be opened as soon as "more details" button is clicked. All the passport and visa details of the visa holder will be mentioned on that page as shown in the image below. You need to click on the button "Confirm to Extend Visit Visa" to confirm the extension.
Last screen will be opened to congratulate you and communicate that visit visa has been successfully extended.

Apply for Family Visit Visa in Saudi Arabia ?

Requirement for Family Visit Visa in Saudi Arabia

You should have a valid original iqama
Copy of Passport
Copy of passport of each member of your family you want to invite for family visit visa
Acceptable Profession to apply for family visit visa (See list here) Unfortunately, if profession of your visa is not listed in one of the professions listed in the list, you will have to go for change of profession.

Following Persons can be invited on Family Visit Visa

Wife
Children
Father
Mother
Sisters
Father in Law
Mother in Law

Step by Step Process to Apply for Family Visit Visa

Filing online application

Here we shall provide you step by step guide to apply for family visit visa in Saudi Arabia. I would suggest you to open the website on Google Chrome. The content of the application is in Arabic and you can easily translate it in English by clicking on the Translate button. Open website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and fill the application form. Enter your name in place of name of Kafeel, since you will be Kafeel of the family members coming on visit visa. Some people make a mistake by entering the name of their employer in place of name of sponsor. You should apply for visit visa of 90 days. Keep in mind that visit visa can be extended two times for the same period for which it is applied. After fulfilling and submitting the application, take a print out of it. Application number will be appearing on the corner of the application.

Submitting the Application to Chamber of Commerce

Now sign the application and put the date on it. After this, go to your sponsor and ask him to sign and stamp the application. Make sure that the person who is signing your application is one who has authorized signatures in chamber of commerce. Now, you need to go to the chamber of commerce of the city where your employer is registered. Keep in mind, other chamber of commerce will not serve your objective.

You need to submit SR 25 fee for application of visa and submit it to the chamber of commerce. They will take copy of your application and give you another print out. Now you are done with the visa application submission.

Check Online Status of Application

Officially they say, it takes 3 days but normally it takes a week to process the visa. Even if it takes more than that, don’t worry. You are dealing with Saudi government department so you should build up some patience. Go to this link, and enter your application number and Iqama number to get the status of your application. If everything goes fine, family visa will be issued.

Submitting the Application in Saudi Embassy

If your family visa is approved, you need to send application number to the relative in your home country. It is better to contact some agent in this regard. He will charge you a little amount but your work will be eased out in your home country. Normally agents who issue Umrah visas have some contacts in Saudi Embassy and they can speed up the process of your family visa application.

In some countries like Pakistan, Saudi Government has established Eitamad Centers. You do not need to contact agents in case Eitamad Centers are established in your native country. You directly go to them and they will process the family visit visa for you. Charges of Eitamad Center are around SR 400 per passport. They process it very fast. Sometimes, you submit documents one day and they send you SMS very next day to collect passport from their center. Process you need to carry on in Eitamad Centers is explained by one of our writer Mr. Shaneel Ahmed in thisarticle. Following documents need to be submitted to the Saudi Embassy.

Original passport
Copy of your Iqama (Remember you are sponsor)
Copy of your Passport
2-4 passport size photos
If you want to apply for visa of your married sister, authorization letter from her husband.
If you want to apply for the visa of in-laws. You need to present the marriage certificate and copy of the passport of your wife.

Once the visa is processed and stamped by the Saudi Embassy, visa holder will have to travel within 3 months, failure to do so will result in expiration of the visa.

If Some More Documents Required

In some cases, your application for family visa is not approved straight forward. They will ask you to submit the application along with some documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now attach all the documents mentioned above with the application and submit it to the nearest office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You should go to MOFA office at around 11 am. This is the time when MOFA office will be least crowded. Timing of MOFA office is 7am to 2pm with Zuhr prayer break. If you will come in the early morning, you will find it very crowded. Continue the same process mentioned above for checking the online status of application. Soon, you will see good news there.

Some Deadlines to Consider

Once visit visa is issued, it can be stamped by Saudi Embassy in your home country within 6 months of its issuance date.
Once family visit visa is stamped in your home country by the Saudi Embassy, it is valid for 2 months from the date when it is stamped.

Extension of Visit Visa

If visit visa is stamped for 30 days, it can be extended 6 more times. It means total stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be of 210 days in this case.
If visit visa is initially issued for 90 days, it can be extended 2 more times. It means total stay in Saudi Arabia will be of 270 days.
We have published a detailed article about the process of extending the family visit visa in this article.
Visit visa can be extended online as well. We have explained the process of extending the visit visa onlinein this article.

Do Not OVERSTAY
It is very important to mention here that expat living in Saudi Arabia on Iqama takes the responsibility of the family members entering to the Kingdom. In case of Overstay of any family member, even if the stay is of a single day, SR 25,000/- fine is imposed on the expatriate with Iqama. In fact, you should plan the departure 3,4 days before expiry of the visa date. You never know, due to flight problem you may have to stay at airport or some other bad thing may happen to you. You can read about this topic in detail in this article, "What to do if Family Visit Visa Expires"

Apply for Permanent Family Visa ?

A very simple guide to Apply Permanent Family Visa for KSA,

Only These Iqama Professionals can apply for Family Visa. if your profession is not under the list please attest your degree to change your Profession.

Process In Native Country (1):

Step 0:

Attest your Iqama and Passport copy from your company and send to Islamabad Saudi Culture by Mail (DHL, ARAMIX ) e.t.c.

Step 1:
Saudi Culture now have your Iqama/Passport Copy send by you/your company with attestation,

Now one of your family member will go to the Saudi Culture Islamabad Pakistan with below mentioned documents,

1) Degree attested by "HEC" and "Ministry of foreign affairs Pakistan".
2) 2 Letters from your (Company in Saudi Arabia) attested by chamber of commerce and ministry of foreign affairs(MOFA) Saudi Arabia.
3) Copy of your Iqama and copy of Passport Visa page and Photo page.

Step 2:
Original Marriage Certificate & Original Children Birth Certificate attest it from Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country. Then attest Step2 documents from Saudi Embassy

Process In Saudi Arabia:

Now, I assume that you have all these documents in your hand in Saudi Arabia. It means Iqama profession is suitable, you have your attested degrees, attested marriage certificate and attested birth certificates of children along with attested Arabic translated copies.

Step 1:

Take all documents to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and stamp all documents otherwise Jawazat will not accept it.

Step 2:

You need to take a letter from your sponsor directed to Jawazat requesting from them to process visa for your family. This letter should be stamped by the Chamber of Commerce.

Step 3:

You need to submit visa fee of SR 2,000/- per family through SADAD. Try to pay this fee from your internet or phone banking. It is always preferable to pay it from your personal bank account.

Step 4:

Now you need to ask from Government Relations Officer of your company about the Jawazat Office you need to visit. There are several Jawazat offices in big cities. If you are living in Jeddah, you need to go to Istaqdam Jawazat Office situated in Rehab District.

Step 5:

You need to submit attested degrees along with translation, attested marriage certificate, and attested birth certificates of all your children, copies of passports of all the people applying for the visa, copy of the Iqama and letter from the sponsor stamped by Chamber of Commerce.

Step 6:

Take copies of all the original documents and submit them to the window at your turn. Whenever there are some attested documents, make sure you have taken copy of main document as well as attested stamps. He will check the documents and will ask you to wait for a while. After around 30 minutes, you will be called again at the window and if everything goes fine, you will be given a yellow slip. This yellow slip is actually visa for your family. Take the slip and check if the names and other details mentioned on the yellow slip are the same as mentioned on the passport and other formal documents.

Process In Native Country After Getting Visa (2):

Step 1:

Now, you need to send this Yellow slip to your native country to your family. It is always advisable to take services of some agent in this regard. Overseas employment agents are expert in these kinds of processes and they have relations inside Saudi Embassy. It is easier for them to get it stamped. They will charge you from SR 400 to SR 500 per passport and take care of all the requirements.

Step 2:

In some countries like Pakistan, Saudi Government has established Eitamad Centers. You do not need to contact agents in case Eitamad Centers are established in your native country. You directly go to them with the report of medical test. They will process the permanent family visa for you. Charges of Eitamad Center are also same as mentioned above. Process you need to carry on in Eitamad Centers.

Step 3:

All your family members will have to go through a medical test before apply for visa to Saudi Embassy. Agent will give a token for every family member and they will have to appear for the test in designated laboratories. If you have Eitmad centers in your country, there is no need to take token. You can directly go to the approved laboratory for test. The report of the test is required to be submitted to Saudi Embassy to stamp the Visa.

List Of Profession IQAMA Who can apply for Permanent Family Visa for Saudi Arabia?

List of Professions

1. Accountant / Accounts Verifier / Auditor

2. Accounts Manager

3. Administration Coordinator

4. Administrative Manager

5. Administrative Researcher

6. Agricultural specialist (General)

7. Air Controller

8. Air Hostess

9. Air Navigator

10. Air Transport Manager

11. Aircraft Landing Controller

12. Aircraft Maintenance Technician

13. Aircraft Takeoff Controller

14. Aquatic Specialist

15. Archeological Director

16. Archeological Prospector

17. Archeological Researcher

18. Architectural Draftsman

19. Army Officer

20. Artist (Actor, Musician, Composer, Poet, Painter, Singer…..etc)

21. Assistant Engineer (All specializations)

22. Assistant General Manager

23. Assistant Pharmacist

24. Assistant Pilot

25. Astronomer

26. Auditor

27. Author

28. Aviation Guide

29. Aviation Technician

30. Aviation Trainer

31. Bank Manager

32. Bank Official

33. Banker

34. Banking Business Manager

35. Breeding Specialist (Animals/ Birds/ Bees)

36. Broadcasting Manager

37. Business lady

38. Businessman

39. Captain of Ship/Cruise/Carrier/Steamship

40. Career Counselor

41. Chairman (All types)

42. Chairman / Executive Director

43. Chemist (All Specializations)

44. Chief Justice

45. Cinema Cameraman

46. Cinema Director

47. Cinema or Television Producer

48. College Dean

49. Commercial Broker

50. Commercial Manager

51. companies

52. Company or Factory Manager

53. Computer Programmer

54. Consultant (All types)

55. Consultant (All types)

56. Control Equipments Technician

57. Cooperative Society Manager

58. Correspondent (Newspaper/Radio/TV)

59. Cruise Ship Guide

60. Customs Clearer

61. Customs Specialist

62. Decoration Designer

63. Dental Technician (Fixing)

64. Diplomat (Members of diplomatic corps)

65. Director

66. Earthquakes expert

67. ECG Technician

68. Economic Analyst

69. Electricity Manager

70. Employees at the Embassies in the GCC countries (Except

71. Engineer (All specializations)

72. Executive Manager or Director

73. Executive Secretary

74. Farm Manager

75. Finance Manager

76. Finance/Economics Expert

77. Flight Technician

78. Food Controller

79. Foodstuff Technician

80. Gardening Specialist

81. General Professional Trainer

82. General Specialist

83. General Supervisor

84. Geologist (General)

85. Geology Technician

86. Head of Prosecution

87. Horse Breeding Technician

88. Hospital Manager

89. Hotel Manager

90. Information Systems Expert

91. Institute Manager

92. Insurance Manager

93. Investment Manager

94. Investor

95. Jeweler

96. Journalist

97. Judge

98. Lab Specialist

99. Lab Technician

100. Laboratory Manager

101. Land Hostess

102. Land Transport Manager

103. Lawyer / Advocate

104. Lecturer

105. Legal Expert

106. Legal Researcher

107. Library Manager

108. Literator

109. Maintenance Manager

110. Male or Female Nurse

111. Manager (All types)

112. Manager or Director of any government departments or

113. Marine Navigator

114. Marine Traffic Controller

115. Marine Transport Manager

116. Maritime Controller

117. Marketing Executive

118. Marketing Manager

119. Marketing Representative

120. Media Controller

121. Media Manager

122. Media Person

123. Media Specialist

124. Medical Analysis Specialist

125. Medical Equipments Technician

126. Medical Therapy Specialist

127. Medical X-ray Specialist

128. Microscopic Technician

129. Mining Technician

130. Ministry Undersecretary

131. Museum Manager

132. Nutrition Specialist

133. Operations Analyst

134. Optical Technician

135. Partner

136. Pharmaceutical Technician

137. Pharmacist

138. Physician (All specializations)

139. Physicist

140. Pilot

141. Player (All sports items in a sports club)

143. President or Director of a Club

144. President or Director of a University

145. Press Photographer

146. Printing and Publishing Manager

147. Procurement Representative

148. Production Director

149. Professional Security and Safety Technician

150. Professor

151. Program Designer

152. Program Producer

153. Proofreader

154. Prosecutor

155. Psychiatrist

156. Quality Controller

157. Quantity Enumerator

158. Radio or TV Transmission Technician

159. Referee (sports)

160. Regional Director

161. Religious person

162. Research & Studies Director

163. Road Controller

164. Sales Executive

165. Sales Manager

166. Sales Representative

167. School Manager

168. Scientist

169. Secretary or Manager of Library

170. Ship Captain

171. Ship Maintenance Technician

172. Ship Supervisor

173. Sociologist

174. Special Needs Teacher

175. Speech Specialist

176. Sports Medicine Specialist

177. Sports Representative

178. Sports Trainer

179. Statistics Specialist

180. Support Services Jobs)

181. Surgeon (All specializations)

182. Surveyor

183. Systems Analyst

184. Teacher / Instructor

185. Telecom Technician

186. Television Manager

187. Theatre Manager

188. Tourism Agency Manager

189. Tourist Guide

190. Trader

191. Train Maintenance Technician

192. Translator

193. Travel or Tourism Agent

194. TV Cameraman

195. TV or Radio Programs Presenter

196. University Professor

197. University student

198. Veterinary Doctor

199. Weather expert

200. Well Drilling Technician

201. X-Ray Specialist

202. X-ray Technician

203. Zoology Specialist

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