working without the appropriate Visa

Hello Ndubuisi Adinnu,

Welcome to Expat.com

Were you not informed or given any details when you were discovered working without the appropriate visa?

Could you kindly provide further information about what transpired? We would appreciate hearing more about the situation.

Regards,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

Dear Chery,

Thank you very much for responding to my inquiry. I am sorry for responding rather late.

They (LMRA) officials inquired about the terms and conditions of the job, and took photograph of me. I then asked to know the seriousness of the case or otherwise to which they said that it is the responsibility of the company owner to resolve and pay whatever fine attached.

However, I find out it hard to imagine that I am totally free any responsibilities and or consequences etc.

Kindly enlighten me.

Thanks.

I have repeatedly posted on the forums about this. You are NOT supposed to work for any employer other than the one who sponsored your visa. If it is an investor visa, then still, you can only work for the company you are an investor in.  If you ignore this then you are violating the law and this can come with serious reprecussions.

You are NOT free of any responsibiltiies.  In fact, worst case, while the company owner will pay fines........you are subject to deportation and permanent ban in Bahrain. Get a lawyer when the case is filed against you.

Thank you very much.

@XTang Aside fines, what other implications does it have on the business owner and or the CR ? Can it affect the company's ability to process visas for it's employees? Etc

Yes.  If a company is suspected of selling visas, at the very least, they get fines and can potentially have problems with issuing new visas.  At worst, it can be shut down and legal action can be taken against owner.

But keep in mind, no matter what happens, the individual who bought a visa and was caught............gets it the worst of all i.e. deportation and blacklist.

@XTang Thank you for your response. However, my question is with reference to the company  where I was caught working, not the company that sponsored the Visa.

Aside from the fine of 1000 BHd, will the court impose other sanction?

I already answered you.   Both employers are at fault.  The one who actually employed you, is more at fault.  And I can't say whether the court will impose more sanctions.  This varies case to case.

Thank you very much for your response.

The offense doesn't in anyway affect the Visa sponsor as I am legally employed on the CR despite being an investor.

The fine of one thousand BHD is on the CR of the company where I do a part-time job, from records at the LMRA, there is no fine on my CPR. I have being to the LMRA twice to confirm this information. However, as a party to the offense, a red flag has been placed on my CPR restricting me from renewing my my permit when it expires.

For the restriction to be lifted, the company has to pay the fine within seven work day effective from Monday 29th of May to Wednesday 5th of June. If this condition is met, the matter ends at the LMRA, failure to meet the condition escalates the mater to the directorate of public prosecution and subsequently to the court. This is the information I got from the LMRA. Contrary to my thinking,I was categorically informed that the offense wasn't mine and that I have no fine, that's the offense and fine are that of the company .

My concern is that, the company not knowing that I have some information about the whole issue want me to pay part of the money claiming that it's totally my fault.

Hence I wanted to find out all the options he has as against my options. This will help me make an informed decision whether to contribute to the payment before it escalates to the court or not.

Thank you very much for your time and responses .

Few points:

The offense doesn't in anyway affect the Visa sponsor as I am legally employed on the CR despite being an investor.

Forget investor visa.  With an investor visa, you can only be legally employed in the company you are an investor in.   In this particular case, they haven't come after the current company but again, I have seen it happen.  This, obviously varies case to case.

If this condition is met, the matter ends at the LMRA, failure to meet the condition escalates the mater to the directorate of public prosecution and subsequently to the court. This is the information I got from the LMRA. Contrary to my thinking,I was categorically informed that the offense wasn't mine and that I have no fine, that's the offense and fine are that of the company .

If they say so, fine.  I have seen the reverse happen dozens of times, despite assurances by LMRA, but no way to predict what will happen in your case.

My concern is that, the company not knowing that I have some information about the whole issue want me to pay part of the money claiming that it's totally my fault. Hence I wanted to find out all the options he has as against my options. This will help me make an informed decision whether to contribute to the payment before it escalates to the court or not.

It is not a fine on you.  However, the argument here isn't legal.  If they delay or don't pay, the consequences and headache are yours.  At worst, their CR will be blocked or violation placed.

The company has been able to pay the fine before the alloted seven work day period.

What now is my fate? How do I know if the offense on my CPR is cleared?

How do I confirm the status of my CPR?

Just wait and see.  Or ask employer to log into their EMS and check violation status.

Ok, thank you very much