The first place to pass through in KSA is what so called "City of Hajji", a special terminal prepared for Hajj passengers. This terminal is divided to a set of internal and external halls each labeled with a letter. When arriving to City of Hajji you should continue the following steps:
* Step 1:
Complete the authentication process and receive your luggage.
* Step 2:
Move to the external halls, there you will find a big tent with many accountants. Submit your passport and checks to the one responsible for your region. The accountant will collect your documents and give you a receipt.
NB1. They will exchange your checks with transportation stickers attached to your passport (between Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and within Makkah from 8th to 13th of ZulHijjah).
NB.2: Some workers with an auto-trolley will ask you to move your luggage to the bus stop for free. However, this can be a reason to loose your bag or to wast your time. Please, keep your bag yourself.
NB.3: Before leaving the internal hall, bring a small manual trolley to help moving your luggage because you can't find any in the external halls, except some trolleys controlled by a poor workers for tips.
NB.4: If you have any difficulties to register your passport within the tent, try to find the Saudi Arabian manager in charge of your region. Usually, he will put you on the right way.
* Step3:
Move with your receipt to the Hajj agencies bureau (Maktab Wokala') behind Hajj ministry bureau near Hall B. If the money amount shown on your receipt is less than the pre-requests (1097RS or 275$ in 2012), the accountant there will ask you for the remaining amount. Then, they will give back your passport with transportation stickers.
NB.1: Don't pay any extra fees, unless you want to apply for food accommodation in Minah (not recommended).
* Step 4:
You can now walk around the external halls, exchange some money (100$ is enough), and get a new mobile SIM card.
NB.2: It's was not clear for me which mobile operator is better, i got a "Mobily" SIM card because it was the cheapest. However, a special procedure with extra money (100RS) is needed with "Mobily" to activate the internet service. So, if the internet is one of your priorities find an operator with a better internet service.
* Step 5:
Move to your region bureau (Motawef). In 2012, the bureau of South East Asia was near Hall H. The Motawef will receive your passport and ask for your destination (Makkah or Madinah), then he will ask you to wait some time for the bus. Use this time to pray and get some food from the restaurants around (very near).
NB.1: From this time on, you will not receive your passport until getting back to the airport for departure. In detail, the bureau will hand all passports to the bus driver, then the driver will hand it back to the bureau branch in Makkah/Madinah and so on. This is a KSA procedure to confront the illegal migration.
NB.2: Motawef could tell you that, it is not possible to go to Madinah (I believe the main reason is that, there is no enough number to complete a bus). In that case, you should argue strongly with him and explain that you are not ready and you didn't make Ihram. However, this probably shouldn't happen if you arrived in or before 1st of ZulHijjah (En Shaa Allah).
* Step 1:
Complete the authentication process and receive your luggage.
* Step 2:
Move to the external halls, there you will find a big tent with many accountants. Submit your passport and checks to the one responsible for your region. The accountant will collect your documents and give you a receipt.
NB1. They will exchange your checks with transportation stickers attached to your passport (between Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and within Makkah from 8th to 13th of ZulHijjah).
NB.2: Some workers with an auto-trolley will ask you to move your luggage to the bus stop for free. However, this can be a reason to loose your bag or to wast your time. Please, keep your bag yourself.
NB.3: Before leaving the internal hall, bring a small manual trolley to help moving your luggage because you can't find any in the external halls, except some trolleys controlled by a poor workers for tips.
NB.4: If you have any difficulties to register your passport within the tent, try to find the Saudi Arabian manager in charge of your region. Usually, he will put you on the right way.
* Step3:
Move with your receipt to the Hajj agencies bureau (Maktab Wokala') behind Hajj ministry bureau near Hall B. If the money amount shown on your receipt is less than the pre-requests (1097RS or 275$ in 2012), the accountant there will ask you for the remaining amount. Then, they will give back your passport with transportation stickers.
NB.1: Don't pay any extra fees, unless you want to apply for food accommodation in Minah (not recommended).
* Step 4:
You can now walk around the external halls, exchange some money (100$ is enough), and get a new mobile SIM card.
NB.2: It's was not clear for me which mobile operator is better, i got a "Mobily" SIM card because it was the cheapest. However, a special procedure with extra money (100RS) is needed with "Mobily" to activate the internet service. So, if the internet is one of your priorities find an operator with a better internet service.
* Step 5:
Move to your region bureau (Motawef). In 2012, the bureau of South East Asia was near Hall H. The Motawef will receive your passport and ask for your destination (Makkah or Madinah), then he will ask you to wait some time for the bus. Use this time to pray and get some food from the restaurants around (very near).
NB.1: From this time on, you will not receive your passport until getting back to the airport for departure. In detail, the bureau will hand all passports to the bus driver, then the driver will hand it back to the bureau branch in Makkah/Madinah and so on. This is a KSA procedure to confront the illegal migration.
NB.2: Motawef could tell you that, it is not possible to go to Madinah (I believe the main reason is that, there is no enough number to complete a bus). In that case, you should argue strongly with him and explain that you are not ready and you didn't make Ihram. However, this probably shouldn't happen if you arrived in or before 1st of ZulHijjah (En Shaa Allah).