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runninggirl
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 50
Location: Latin America
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 Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 7:55 pm Post subject: No reason to give up your passport |
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While in OMan you need to have your passport handy, if there is an emergency, if there is a question by authorites or if you want to travel to neighboring countries during the weekend you need your passport with you.
There is no reason to relinquish your passport to an agent or recruiter. Once they have the work visa ready you can take your passport to them and get it stamped. You have to see the anyway to get the passport so you can do it all at once. They may pressure you but no need to give in. keep it and let them stamp it when they have the paperwork ready. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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I think you are being paranoid. Every job I had in the Gulf, the employer took the passport in order to get the proper visa. Some took a couple weeks and some took a couple months. It is and always has been the standard procedure. It was never a problem and I wouldn't worry about it...
I even worked for one employer in Oman who kept the passports all the time... and that wasn't a problem either. If I wanted to fly or drive somewhere over the weekend, I only had to ask. If there would have been some family emergency that I needed to fly out on the weekend, I know it would have only taken a phone call and someone would have met me at the office to give me my passport.
VS |
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usa_in_gulf
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 133
Location: Gulf
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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Runninggirl is absolutely correct and is not being paranoid. In a couple Gulf countries, like Kuwait & Saudi, its simply much easier to let the company rep have your passport to process your visa-- simply not easy for the employee to run around with the rep to all the places/ministries he must chase around. But the visa system in Oman is a bit different---when the work visa is issued --in country-- the employee needs to be there to be fingerprinted at the same time---the actual application for the visa just requires a copy of your passport. So, the only time your passport is needed....is when you are needed also...no reason to give your passport up.
I have been decades in the Gulf-- with the exception to process my visa in come countries-- I have never let an employer hold my passport--nor has an employer ever asked me to let them hold it.
Why would anyone let an employer hold thier passport??? Simply makes no sense. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 1:33 am Post subject: |
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Nice that they have finally combined the fingerprinting and final step together. But, I stand by my opinion. It was never a big deal to give up my passport and in 15 years, 3 countries, and 4 employers... it was never a problem. Only one employer in Oman held my passport for the whole time... and in Kuwait we had our passports, but needed an exit visa, so it was no help if one wanted to leave anyway. And I would add that in those years, these countries and employers, no one ever had a problem with needing the passport and being unable to get it during the visa procedures. (Saudi is a whole other ball game...)
Granted one should, as Scot47 always says, choose your masters carefully. And I would add... choose your battles carefully. It is wise not to trust these recruiters, but... remember that the person doing your visa is probably the same person that you will need to help you with many other things.
As I understand, we are not talking about these recruiters holding passports for the whole contract, but only for visa procedures.
VS |
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denise
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 2:30 am Post subject: |
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Well, I just handed mine over to the PR guys so they could renew my visa. I'm not worried about it. They'll keep it for as long as it takes--the guy told me a few days (which could mean anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks), and then I will retrieve it and take it to the ROP myself to get a new residence card.
Other than for visa renewals, though, I would never hand it over to anyone, as there's no need for anyone other than me to have it. And as far as requesting it for a trip abroad, even a weekend in Dubai--nope. I wouldn't do it, no matter how "easy" it is. Why does anyone need to know where I go on the weekend?
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bedwiya
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
Posts: 66
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 6:45 am Post subject: Passport |
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| My first emplyer in Kuwait tried to lock our passports up, even after the visa process was over. This was done as a method of control and to prevent us from doing a runner. (Should have been a red flag to us right there!) We threatened to go the US & Canadian embassies and the passports were returned to us in no time. |
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runninggirl
Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 50
Location: Latin America
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 12:59 pm Post subject: Omani Govt forces return of passports |
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This isn't about being "right" it is rather a caution to not give up your passport.
The group which I work for had intended to have my work visa ready before I arrived. They just didn't get it done on time. They are now working on it and with a copy of my passport. They did not need my pp.
"The government reported multiple cases in which the Ministry of Manpower forced employers to return passports to employees after the Ministry received complaints about passports being held and indicated that there were at least four cases where the Omani courts forced the return of passports. The law that prohibits withholding of workers' travel documents does not provide penalties for violation...
"http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,,OMN,4562d8cf2,4b8e7a6fc,0.html |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: Passport |
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| bedwiya wrote: |
| My first emplyer in Kuwait tried to lock our passports up, even after the visa process was over. This was done as a method of control and to prevent us from doing a runner. (Should have been a red flag to us right there!) We threatened to go the US & Canadian embassies and the passports were returned to us in no time. |
Oddly enough, in Kuwait, at KU they used to require an exit visa. So even though we had our passports... after the two months that it took them to get the visa stamped inside... one had to plan very carefully to do a runner.  I did mine as soon as my last grades were turned in as I didn't want my students to suffer because of departmental issues not of their making. Half the department just went on summer leave and never came back.
In Oman, as late as 2001, private employers still held passports while government employers did not. I could have done a runner any time I wanted. All I had to do was ask for my passport on my way out of the building that day... I had to walk by the office with the safe on my way out anyway. I wonder when the new law went into effect on passports. There were still complaints about the policy here long after 2001.
As I said... pick your battles... those tossing around statements about "rights" are liable to end up with every request being a battle. This is definitely a part of the world where you get better results with honey than vinegar.
VS |
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usa_in_gulf
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 133
Location: Gulf
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Again, decades in the Gulf area, no employer has ever asked to keep my passport. Its not even mine to give up! It is property of the US government.
The laws in Kuwait and Oman have never allowed employers to hold passports---never. But employers "insisted" and employees let them. There is even a special goverment office is Kuwait just to help employees who have the passports being held.
This is not a matter of "picking your battles"-- its a matter of common sense. And its certainly not a matter of "honey and vinegar"-- again-- common sense. This simply was never a battle for me-- nor will it ever be-- and it should not be for anyone-anywhere.
Again, absolutely no reason for anyone to keep your passport. (I have never done a "runner" or even thought of doing one. I have done a minimum of 3 contracts at each of my employers-- and can't imagine being without my passport.)
I'm interested in knowing why someone would let an employer keep it. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| usa_in_gulf wrote: |
| I'm interested in knowing why someone would let an employer keep it. |
Why not? It wasn't a big deal as they handed it to me whenever I asked... nor did they ask me why I wanted it when I did ask. I figured that their big safe was a lot safer than a drawer in my flat. It is very much common sense to pick one's battles carefully, as those who don't are often the ones whinging here about how they get no cooperation.
At the time that mine was held in Oman, all private colleges held them... and those that didn't like it were certainly free to keep their passport and leave the country when they found out it was required.
YMMV...
VS |
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GabeKessel
Joined: 27 Sep 2004
Posts: 150
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| Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 9:15 am Post subject: Passport Keeping Illegal and is TRAFFICKING!!! |
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...certainly free to keep their passport and leave the country when they found out it was required.
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Leave on their own expense? How vile and dastardly of the sneaky employers to do that- bring people into the country on their own expense and only tell them about it when they have already arrived! Oh, you do not want to hand in the passports, no reimbursement for you! And you pay your way back. Sounds like trafficking to me.
Keeping passports is illegal in Oman:
http://curtisoman.blogspot.com/2009/11/legal-issues-in-retention-of-employee.html
Although their government is slow at enforcing it.
It is against the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Convention on the Abolition of Forced Labour, under which the retention of workers� passports is illegal!
Moreover, they do not belong to you- but to your gov't. You are not at liberty to give them to a foreign party for "safekeeping".
The "...was required" is an arbitrary and illegal action on part of draconian employers who want to hold you hostage. Traffickers also take away passports from girls whom they throw into brothels. Yup, it is "required " by traffickers.
Do not let anyone keep your ( government's) passport. You might as well just let the Revolutionary Guards or Al-Qaeda keep it. These also often "require" it.
Before you come to Oman ask if it is "required" and ask to see the contract.
If they do not send you the contract or tell you that you need to give your passport to them which is on their own whim, is illegal and criminal and against international labor laws, do not work for them. Tell them to go and fly a kite or hire someone from a country where people are not used to civil liberties. They will bring in enough humble and desperate Bangladeshis and Indians and other poor Arabs to fill the gap.
Write a letter to the department/ministry of education/labor and report these traffickers. Write about them online and warn other teachers.
And no self respecting American should allow ANYONE to safeguard his gov't's passport. Let them call the US Embassy and "require" those guys to give them permission.
And VS, why are you so much on the side of the law breaking hostage takers/ international labor law violators? It was no problem in your case? So happy for you!
It was a problem for quite a few people I have known and is a potential problem for all. Like in the case they suddenly decide not to pay you.
Do not hand your government passports to foreign employers. If they say they 'require' it , tell them that YOU 'require' to keep it.
And report them to their respective gov't departments. Do other teachers a favor. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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Get the proper credentials so that you can get hired by the professional employers and then you don't have to obsess over the location of your passport in case you decide to do a midnight runner.
Oh... and forget the idea of working in Saudi... they will hold your passport and an exit visa is required.
VS |
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GabeKessel
Joined: 27 Sep 2004
Posts: 150
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| Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Get the proper credentials so that you can get hired by the professional employers and then you don't have to obsess over the location of your passport in case you decide to do a midnight runner. |
Proper credentials are in place.
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| Oh... and forget the idea of working in Saudi... they will hold your passport and an exit visa is required. |
Not with all. My last employer did not. Many professional places give you an exit reentry visa valid for 6 months. |
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