Hi,
I see this in my organisation, the sponsor takes your passport for processing your Iqama but never returns it back stating that it will be kept in safe locker. I feel this is not right. Isn't this illegal in KSA? or is this what followed here? why this is done this way?
Isn't holding your passport illegal in KSA?
kiran_2501
05 October 2012 22:09:35
12
Martin Fin
05 October 2012 22:44:03
337
That is the way for most of us here.
malisohail
05 October 2012 22:46:18
272
Employers have no right to do that at all anywhere in the KSA. Not all firms do like this. Its better to talk to the employer firmly on this issue, thats not right in anyway.
Freshlikesushi
06 October 2012 02:43:01
1455
mine used to. but not now.
kiran_2501
06 October 2012 09:46:50
12
Freshlikesushi, How did you managed to get it back? My concern is my employer's attitude towards me after I raise this issue. He is been nice and kind now.
Alliecat
06 October 2012 09:51:57
8790
My company policy is you can't be in possession of both the iqama AND your passport at the same time. They need to be holding one or the other (although, ironically, they let me have both when I went to Dubai, saying that sometimes it's necessary for immigration there).
faisal145
06 October 2012 09:56:02
0
kiran_2501 wrote:Freshlikesushi, How did you managed to get it back? My concern is my employer's attitude towards me after I raise this issue. He is been nice and kind now.
well kiran it very normal here due to the sponsorship system . Hopefully there will be new system by the end of this year.
ICAL TEFL
06 October 2012 10:10:05
5
It is not right. Your passport belongs to you (or your home government) and shouldn't be kept by anyone else. Ask for it back and if refused contact your local embassy/consulate and ask their advice. There have been a number of cases where the local embassy have pressured the employer into giving it back.
Alliecat
06 October 2012 10:32:42
8790
Oh, they'll give it back when I want it, in exchange for the iqama lol
Arbab
06 October 2012 11:46:46
147
Yes, get your embassy or anyone else to pressurize your sponsor to give the passport back. You will get it back eventually but with an exit stamp most probably and in return of your residence permit. And then even your embassy will not be able to do anything.
ICAL TEFL wrote:It is not right. Your passport belongs to you (or your home government) and shouldn't be kept by anyone else. Ask for it back and if refused contact your local embassy/consulate and ask their advice. There have been a number of cases where the local embassy have pressured the employer into giving it back.
Freshlikesushi
06 October 2012 13:06:03
1455
kiran_2501 wrote:Freshlikesushi, How did you managed to get it back? My concern is my employer's attitude towards me after I raise this issue. He is been nice and kind now.
They just give it back. Don't even ask
Hitch
06 October 2012 14:23:10
545
Freshlikesushi wrote:kiran_2501 wrote:Freshlikesushi, How did you managed to get it back? My concern is my employer's attitude towards me after I raise this issue. He is been nice and kind now.
They just give it back. Don't even ask
umm i wont but why ? like is it a rule ?
Freshlikesushi
06 October 2012 14:26:41
1455
No rule saying they can't
harryKSA
06 October 2012 21:26:21
22
ICAL TEFL wrote:It is not right. Your passport belongs to you (or your home government) and shouldn't be kept by anyone else. Ask for it back and if refused contact your local embassy/consulate and ask their advice. There have been a number of cases where the local embassy have pressured the employer into giving it back.
Hotels in some European countries are obliged by law to keep hold of your passport.
I guess people react to this kind of thing differently depending on the context.
norahn
07 October 2012 01:52:40
14
Dont worry, This is the system here and if they give it back with iqama the emplyee may get another contract in another country then! !???? suddenly disapear that one of the reasons they keep it
Alliecat
07 October 2012 08:08:58
8790
Freshlikesushi wrote:No rule saying they can't
Usually it's company policy.
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