For our brothers that are still looking to return please skip past the summary to a concise list of items to have completed. We put this together with the most recent information that we have. Note: I am student with the same access as many others. I’m just trying to consolidate resources for the next batch of students flying in.
Summary
For those who may not know, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the Islamic University offered many of its western students the option to return to their home countries. I happened to be from the Americans that accepted this offer. The repatriation flights were not guaranteed a return, and many are still waiting to come back. Below is a recanting of the process that we took to return to the campus.
On June 18th we were told that the university intended for us to return for the 2021 Fall Semester. We were instructed to fill out a google form, to be reviewed by the Jamiah, requesting that we come back.
On July 1st we were told that the next semester’s classes would be strictly in-person so if we intended to continue studies we should come back. Around this time we were also informed that we’d have to be vaccinated in order to get back into the country.
8/22/21 Return Procedure
Below is an itemized list of what was needed to return to the Jamiah 8/22/21 and some best practices. Please acknowledge that some of this may not apply to you. Some of these items may be changed by their respective governing authorities and some steps may be added. IBNTEK endeavors to report previous events and does not claim to have any exclusive information.
Visa Renewal
The university issues entry and exit/ reentry visas for newcomers and students travelling home during breaks respectively. This year, because of the pandemic emergency travel, I did something with the Jamiah I’ve never seen done before. The Jamiah renewed our existing visas from our repatriation travel. The visa renewal process was as follows.
After submitting to the university my desire to return I had to fill another form to renew my visa:
Then there were fees to pay. For the renewal, we had to pay 100 riyals for every month that passed since the visa’s reentry date. Since my original return before date was 08/27/2020 and we were, at the start of this process, supposed to return by 08/13/2021 (which eventually was changed to 08/22/21) I needed to renew my visa for a whole year. 12 months at 100 riyals each equaled 1200 riyals total or roughly $320 USD. We were also told later that we had to pay an additional 115 riyals for processing
How to pay:
Walhamdullilah, we had a couple of generous brothers who stayed the duration of the pandemic donate their time to this process. May Allah reward them. It turns out we needed them as we were not able to pay these from our American accounts.
We were instructed to forward the renewal process amount and additional 115 fee to their American accounts. They would then move that money to their Saudi bank accounts and from their bank’s mobile application, online or at an ATM access a service that allowed them to pay for visa renewal. For me this was 1200 riyals paid. They then had to pay the additional fee of 115 online as well.
Vaccination
What we were told and have experienced regarding the vaccine is as follows. If you want to return to the University, you must be either fully vaccinated or partially vaccinated.
Fully Vaccinated or Immune:
Complete both doses of a two dose Covid-19 vaccination (i.e.: Pfizer, Moderna etc.) or a one-shot vaccine (i.e.: Johnson & Johnson) at least fourteen (14) days before travel in which case you may enter the country with no restrictions, if you can get the Tawakkalna application working between arrival to the country and exiting the airport of your destination.
Partially Immune:
Have at least your first of two (2) Covid-19 shots completed before you travel. Once you arrive in the kingdom you will take the 2nd second shot and remain in quarantine for 7 days at their own expense.
See this link for more details from the Saudi Airlines website:
Upon the successful completion of vaccination, awaiting the quarantine completion (if applicable), and being screened for results with a ‘Negative’ outcome (and all is favorable) you are then able to go about your business in Madinah at the University.
Ministry of Health Registration
If you are already fully vaccinated submit your complete vaccination record to this link:
Some of us had very quick turn around on registration acceptance and some of us are still waiting. I later realized this registration is connected to our Absher account which consolidates all of our activity in the kingdom. References to this system may be found in the Absher app as well as Tawakkalna, Sehaty, Eatmarna and other applications which we will visit at another time.
Muqeem Registration
https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccineregistration/register/register?type=VaccinatedResident
Muqeem registration is another place you need to input your information. At the link above you’ll find two options:
1. Complete Vaccine Registration
2. Partial Vaccine Registration
As for those with complete vaccination then all you must do is input your iqama number and date of birth which will direct you to the next page. There you will find a form to be filled about your flight details. Once you submit those details then it will provide you a registration number and QR code. Save that to be presented upon request during travel.
If your vaccination is not complete, then after you submit your iqama number and DOB you will be redirected to a page where you will have to select a quarantine package and input details. (Personally, I do not have experience with that part of the site.)
See this link for Quarantine Package details from the Saudi Airlines website:
https://www.saudia.com/travel-with-saudia/book-with-us/quarantine-packages
Flight
Some flights were issued; some flights were renewed from old flights. Try looking for e-ticket number from your previous flight and then book that information. Book the new flight by calling Saudi Airline. (Fees may be included/or not). You may have to book your own ticket and or look through your emails for ticket numbers.
Remember, when booking or scheduling your ticket that the plane cannot land in the kingdom outside of your visa window. Airlines are not privy to your visa status until you get to the check-in counter at which point you will be denied if your visa and flight are not in agreement.
Tawakkalna
Tawakkalna is an application used as sort of a passport on your phone that’s needed to get into places like Saudi government buildings, restaurants, stores, and the like.
Getting Tawakkalna requires a Saudi Calling and Texting SIM card (not just internet), Absher Registration on that active SIM and an internet connection to download the app and get started. The best way to start on Tawakkalna is to:
1. Download Tawakkalna in the U.S.
2. Tell the Ticket agent before your flight that you will register it as soon as you arrive.
3. At your port of entry find a phone carrier booth like Zain, STC or Mobily
Getting A New SIM: Month to month plans require an Abshir account because they access your existing Abshir phone number which is presumably expired and inaccessible. The Zain agent instructed the Jamiah students coming back to:
1. Get a onetime sim plan (Umrah package (calling + network))
2. Register the new number on Absher with him
3. Get a month-to-month plan when that one runs out
Note: if your plan has been inactive for more than 3 months you have to follow this process.
Once you have service, Absher and internet, you may then sign up as a resident in the app which requires your iqama number and personal details. There was a curious page in the setup process for me that did not allow me to move on until I chose a place of residence however, since I was in Jeddah, they did not allow me to choose a location in Madinah. After deleting and re-installing the app a few times it eventually did work but not until I got to Madinah.
The application can be frustrating especially when your ability to move in and out of crucial situations hinges on it functioning, but I can report that since I activated my account it has not failed me.
Note: Keep it on the first page that has “immune” and a picture of you at all times. Guards, police, officials and shop owners of medium to large stores want to see it upon entry.
Iqama Renewal
I do not know of anyone who’s successfully renewed their Iqama however, you may see below for the suggested process.
1. Proceed to the Jaamiah website and login: https://sso.iu.edu.sa/Account/Login studentID/IqamaNumber
2. Go to: نظام تواصل/إدارة الطلبات
3. Go to: settings menu in top left corner
4. Click: طلب جديد
5. Go to: تواصل مع إدارة السفر
6. Go to the نوع الطلب option
7. Choose: طلب تجديد الاقامة
8. Write whatever message you would like to the Idarah in the text section.
9. Upload a copy of your Iqama and Passport
10. Submit with: ارسال الطلب
For some reason many brothers who tried to renew their iqamas by themselves didn't have any success. The alternative is for someone to go to the Secretary of travel (office on ground floor of shu'oon at tulab next to Rayyan) and provide the student's Jamiah and Iqama number to him and it be renewed in seconds.
Questions?
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Coming Next:
Jeddah Airport ▪️ Baggage Claim ▪️ Boarding to Medinah ▪️ Money Exchange ▪️ Moving Around ▪️ Jaamiah ▪️ Dorms ▪️
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of IBNTEK or its members. This account does not substantiate all possibilities, rather acts only as reference for future study of processes and procedures.
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