Job Discussion Forums

[Snoopy]

For the record, as it is not germane to the original thread, I report that my passport was returned by the agency which recruited me: �We apologise for the way that you have been messed about, through no fault of your own, at considerable expense to us, with no end result�. The Saudis claim to have had problems with their visa to continue operations from their London office.

Looking wider, I am concerned by the way in which Middle Eastern states take away one�s passport on arrival, keeping the property of Her Majesty�s Government in often insecure circumstances, and I could supply instances.

[Cleopatra]

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Cleo,

Just to add to your post... While KSA is the only country that holds the passports of all expat employees, it does happen in other Gulf states. In Kuwait, the university required that you get an exit visa to get out, but you held your passport. (private employers didn't seem to do this) In the Emirates and Oman, the government employers did not hold passports and exit was easy, but the private colleges often hold passports. I have only had one employer - in Oman - that held them in a safe in the office. All we had to do was ask if we wanted to drive to Dubai or whatever - and they would hand it to you within moments. Like most things in the Gulf this pretty much depends on the common sense of your employer (or lack thereof...).

VS

[stoth1972]

In the UAE, although it is illegal, many employers will attempt to hold onto passports. Reputable employers will not. My previous employer did not attempt to keep the Westerners' passport, but retained all of his Indian employees' passport.

[veiledsentiments]

stoth

I suspect your employer knew that the Westerners would just demand them back, while the others are too afraid of losing their jobs. Sad...

My employer in Oman who held them was so relaxed and informal about it that I never bothered to make an issue of it. I figured that it was as safe (if not safer) in their fireproof safe as it would have been in my purse or in a dresser drawer.

VS

[KiteBiker]

My experience with the MoHE in Oman was the same. They requested it, I objected, they relented. But they demanded and received all passports from Indians, Arabs, etc. To add insult to humiliation, I went off and lost mine. It was the subject of a great deal of teasing from the MoHE people.

[guty]

Its not whether they have the passport that matters, its if you can leave the country without their permission.
In Qatar, although I had my passport, I couldnt leave the country without a letter from my employer.
In Saudi, as I had a multivisa, I had my passport and was free to come and go as I pleased.
My employer kept my Iqama. Fair enough.

[veiledsentiments]

Guty,

Wasn't that unusual that they held the Iqama and you had the passport? Am I reading it correctly that you could not leave with only your passport? Is that the norm in Saudi? (rather like KU and its exit visa requirement I guess...) I agree that the important thing is whether you can leave without permission or not.

Thanks for the laugh kitebiker.

[guty]

In Saudi, as I had a multivisa, I had my passport and was free to come and go as I pleased.

VS,
sorry if that was not clear. It means that I was free go whenever I wanted. I dont think it was unusual for those with multi-entry re-entry (MERV) visas, but most people dont have this kind of visa.

In Eastern Province more and more people are taking this visa, as at the very least, it means you can leave straight away should the need ever arise. Of course not all employers offer it.

[Bebsi]

I worked at Hafr Al Batin Community College, which of course is KFUPM. They had no problem with my holding a MERvisa, which meant that I could come and go any time I wanted. I frequently travelled back and forth between Bahrain and KSA, and never had any problems. I was able to do this every weekend, if I wanted to.

Generally, they kept my PP in a safe in the Personnel office, and anytime I wished to travel I simply filled out a request form ( a formality). In exchange, I handed in my Iqama, as one is not supposed carry this document leaving the country. On my return, I would simply hand in my PP for my Iqama.

However, not all employers will agree to this multi-visa. BAe have only recently started to allow it. It appears to me that a lot of the less reputable employers are generally the ones who oppose such a visa...hmmmm...wonder why????

[scot47]

BAe are obviously worried that you will go to Bahrain and sell the secrets of the Present Simple Tense to the North Koreans or other hostile states.

More reasonable and less paranoid employers have no problems in letting their employees hold onto passports and multiple visa.