One such case involved an Indian expatriate from Telangana, who was caught using a forged engineering degree purportedly from Osmania University
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As a consequence, he has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment, fined 5000 Saudi Riyals, and faces deportation upon completing his jail term
In a bid to ensure the authenticity of academic qualifications held by expatriate employees in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the government has implemented a stringent verification process, leaving some visa-holding professionals in a tight spot. Engineers and numerous other technical job visa holders are now required to authenticate their qualification certificates and register with professional bodies to be eligible for visa renewal, media reports originating from Saudi Arabia said.
This foolproof system was implemented to combat forgery and counterfeiting of documents, which had been an issue in the past. Despite the robust measures, there have been instances of individuals attempting to submit counterfeit degrees. One such case involved an Indian expatriate from Telangana, who was caught using a forged engineering degree purportedly from Osmania University. As a consequence, he has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment, fined 5000 Saudi Riyals, and faces deportation upon completing his jail term.
The issue of counterfeit certificates has been prevalent among some South Asian expatriates, prompting the Saudi authorities to intensify efforts to curb individuals working without the required qualifications. In the past, some non-resident Indians (NRIs) resorted to submitting fake certificates to enhance their employment prospects, but now, they find themselves unable to retain their job visas, known as Iqama, due to the stringent verification process.
As the Kingdom continues to prioritize the accuracy of academic qualifications, expatriates are urged to ensure that their documentation is in order to avoid serious legal consequences and secure their professional status in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) has also expressed concerns about engineers holding false documents in the country. To address this issue, the SCE is working on streamlining the accreditation process for such certificates and has vowed to refer any foreigner found with fake documents to the public prosecution.
In an effort to further tighten controls, the Saudi missions in India have begun conducting professional tests for 70 different technical jobs before endorsing visas. This measure aims to preemptively identify any discrepancies in academic qualifications and prevent potential cases of fraudulent documentation.
The consequences of using counterfeit documents are severe, as some expatriates have faced detention by Saudi immigration authorities even when returning to the Kingdom after a long absence for religious purposes like Haj or Umrah. The Saudi government’s vigilance in ensuring the legitimacy of qualifications is evident in its efforts to apprehend individuals attempting to deceive the system.
Notably, in the past, there have been instances where paramedics secured jobs in the health sector by submitting fake documents, falsely claiming to hold higher-level qualifications. However, authorities have successfully eliminated such practices, reinforcing the importance of adhering to genuine academic credentials.
As the Kingdom continues to prioritize the accuracy of academic qualifications, expatriates are urged to ensure that their documentation is in order to avoid serious legal consequences and secure their professional status in Saudi Arabia.
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