Actually, my husband did get his online degree from a brick and mortar school. Saudi now requires colleges to submit a distance education form which states how many classes were completed online. If a good amount are completed online, they don't accept the degree regardless of where it is from. This is from the embassy in DC. The visa processing rep can't make it happen.

I would fly to Saudi in July and the school said it would take two weeks to get the residence permit and sponsor my husband. They said this happens a lot now because of this new online deal.

Is this true for Saudi as well? My husband and I signed contracts in Saudi, but he can't get a work visa because he obtained his degree online. Saudi does not recognize online degrees.

The workaround is for me to fly to Saudi this summer and apply for a dependent visa for my husband. The school and the visa processing office in D.C. told me that my husband can work on a dependent visa. Which seems strange considering he can't get a working visa.

Anyone have experience with this?

After a very stressful day, we learned that Saudi has a new rule that does not permit online degrees. Yes, his degree is from an accredited brick-and-mortar university, but they do not care about that. I actually have to get a form from my university proving I took classes on campus. This is a new-ish requirement. The solution is that he will come into Saudi on a dependent visa and be able to work on that. I am not entirely convinced but the school said this is the workaround as the online degree rejection is happening frequently.

We just found out that Saudi does not recognize online degrees. My husband completed his degree online while we were overseas and I was working. Has anyone come across this? The school doesn't seem too worried, but all the research I have completed states that rarely does Saudi make an exception and grant a visa. What to do?

We had the same issue before Cambridge. We ended up losing money on our flights and some serious time preparing, but we elected to stay home. I do love the fairs though, and we will try to hit one up next time around if we haven't found a position before then.

From my understanding, hiring might happen earlier as the transfer round is happening now. Just what I have heard in other forums.

What I don't understand is how ITs get a job with DoD. If we eventually want to go that route, we would be under contract since most teachers sign in January/February. How do teachers do it then?

We are heading to Saudi. We are actually pretty excited as the teachers we spoke with talked a lot about the family life there.

Just an update: We just signed a contract and are canceling our trip to Cambridge. The spots for both of us were dwindling down and we found a school that met our requirements and expectations. My husband will get his experience teaching P.E. and I will have growth opportunities in my field of English. All in all, it was a good recruiting process!

Thank you so much for the replies. We did end up taking the position, and we are very excited! I think it is perfect for our kids at this stage (2 and 4).

Can anyone share their experiences with living on a compound with young children? The good and the bad? This would be in Jeddah. Thanks!

Thank you very much for the reply. Currently, there is not a market for his vocational position overseas; however, we are still pursuing DoD schools which would provide him with more opportunities should a position come through CONUS.

Although he has no P.E. experience, he does have some coaching experience, and I still believe that having teaching experience vs. having zero teaching experience will make a difference. Some ITs do make it overseas straight out of school and we are flexible with location as well. I understand the intent is to provide us with a reality check, but I still believe that as a teaching couple, we have a good shot at getting into a decent school. I have often heard that recruiters are very interested in what you are able to teach and not just what you have experience in. Schools will still get a certified teaching couple but will be taking on someone new to the field.

In any case, we have had some interest and we haven't gotten to the fair yet. Hopefully, we can market ourselves and land something great. Here's to thinking positively. :)

Thank you for the replies.

My husband is currently teaching in a CTE (vocational) program at a local high school. He is certified in that area and has a relevant degree. He also has another degree and certification in Physical Education, and I teach English. So although he does not have P.E. experience yet, he does have three years of classroom management in a performance-based environment (similar to a P.E. environment).

Unfortunately, vocational positions are difficult to find overseas, and he is just as passionate about physical education, so he is looking to transfer into that role. He is also willing to substitute or help in other areas until a position opens up.

We are hoping that my qualifications will stir up some interest, but we just weren't sure how to approach tables when only my position was advertised. So, it sounds like, we just give them our resumes and explain that he is certified and we are flexible for the right school and position.

Thank you so much for the fast reply. We are pretty open regarding locations. Our kids are young, so we just want something safe and comfortable for our kiddos. We wouldn't even mind the compound life either since I hear it is great for young families.

We made an Ichiro to put in school mailboxes. Should we advertise that he is looking for his subject area as well as substitute? Or just let schools know that it is a possibility if there is only a position for me? From what I understand, few schools hire substitutes, but I wonder if schools are open to a trailing spouse, who is certified and experienced, substituting without being on a regular salary. We just need to get my hubby some international experience, so we are definitely flexible.

Should I approach tables with openings just for me? How do I present this?

A few questions about job fair strategy.

We are getting nervous that there will only be 5-10 schools with openings for both of us. I am the more experienced teacher with international experience, and my husband has been teaching for three years but in a different subject than the one he is applying for. I already know that is a hurdle we will have to overcome.

So, if we run out of schools to apply to at the fair with positions for both of us, should I start approaching schools that have a position open for me with a possibility of a trailing spouse? We also have two kids, and I know that makes things more complicated. At my last international school, my husband found work outside of the school since he wasn't a teacher yet, and we aren't opposed to that idea. Maybe he could find a different school to work at (in a bigger city of course) or find other work provided a visa allows it. What other countries besides Singapore and Hong Kong would he be able to work on a dependent visa?

I should add that a top school showed interest in my application but then stated they had nothing for my husband. This has happened at least three times already this season. There are many more vacancies (twice as many) in my field as there are in my husbands, and I would like to find a way to communicate to schools that we are flexible and willing to make it work.

Thanks in advance!

Thank you both for your detailed responses. I really appreciate the insight.

1. Based on what we have read on the DoDEA website, he is definitely qualified in his field. We have submitted the app and are awaiting the evaluation to verify he is qualified. I did look at the profiles of some of the teachers that are currently teaching in his field and my husband's experience and education will definitely stand out among other applicants should a position become available. I just wish they posted jobs online, so we would have a better idea where he stands!

2. I will complete an app as you suggested.

3. This issue has been driving me a little crazy to be honest. I do feel that valid teaching experience should help secure a position. He may not have experience in the position he is applying for, but he has been in a Title I public school and has learned a great deal about classroom management and all of the little details that make up the teaching profession. Since I have more experience (8 years with 4 being internationally), I guess we are hoping that a school will want to hire me and make it work for both of us. We are very flexible with location. The main reason we are going to the fair is that I think it will be helpful to meet the recruiters in person, so they can see who we are (even in a very short amount of time).

4. Thanks for the strategy for the fair. I have heard both ways, so maybe it will just depend on how many schools have positions for both of us.