visa interviews and employer held passports....

[Abandoned account 0]

My fiance has his visa interview scheduled for February 26 ~ his employer is holding his passport. Can anyone tell me how he can get his passport from the employer to take to the visa interview?? Is there an embassy procedure for this situation? His employment contract expires in May, and he plans to complete the contract. But he is afraid if the employer finds out that he has applied for a US visa, that they will terminate his employment immediately. If anyone has had an experience like this, we would appreciate any advice or information you can offer us.

[Hershey888 5]

I have the same problem with my fiancee. His employer holds his passport. I would love to know how...

[Carie_Azan 35]

i'm in the same boat! HELP! I know it's illegal (them holding his pass port), but the Embassy in Abu Dhabi says there is nothing they can do to assist. HELPPP

Edited February 4, 2013 by Carie_Azan

[Hershey888 5]

I know they do that so they cannit escape and move to another company. They also accompany u to the airport to make sure u go to ur orginal country

[nnandrr 1]

why not tell the employer he or she is expecting a visa but will not travel now (the truth) ? or just terminate the contact. assuming if your fiance had to go under AP, they may held the passport for sometime.:-$

[baron555 934]

My fiance has his visa interview scheduled for February 26 ~ his employer is holding his passport. Can anyone tell me how he can get his passport from the employer to take to the visa interview?? Is there an embassy procedure for this situation? His employment contract expires in May, and he plans to complete the contract. But he is afraid if the employer finds out that he has applied for a US visa, that they will terminate his employment immediately. If anyone has had an experience like this, we would appreciate any advice or information you can offer us.

Email the Embassy and ask for their advice....since it may be a common practice in that country.

[Abandoned account 0]

Email the Embassy and ask for their advice....since it may be a common practice in that country.

Thank you ~ I did, in fact, email the embassy this afternoon to ask their advice. It is a very common practice in Saudi Arabia with non-Saudi's.

[Villanelle 4,123]

I really have no idea. I would have thought he should have just applied for a new replacement passport a long time ago. -You know go down to where ever they issue passports and report his passport lost/damaged/eaten by his dog and have them issue him a new one. He may not have time to do that now as his interview is in a few weeks. (unless they can issue /print it quickly) Then hed have a valid passport to bring to the embassy. His old passport the company is holding hostage is invalid and deactivated. When he tells the company hes leaving and they return it to him, he has to destroy it as its been reported lost.

[Abandoned account 0]

i'm in the same boat! HELP! I know it's illegal (them holding his pass port), but the Embassy in Abu Dhabi says there is nothing they can do to assist. HELPPP

In Saudi Arabia, this is legal ~ employers require holding the passport/sponsorship of a non-citizen who is living and working in KSA. It is outdated and violates civil rights, however, Saudi Arabia is unlike any other country in the world. I've emailed the embassy, and hope to hear from them by tomorrow as to how they handle this common situation. It's just uncommon to me!

[Boiler 47,524]

No passport, no visa.

[duraaraa 203]

It might be something to talk to the embassy of his own country about. His passport might be replaceable in a similar way to a stolen/lost one.

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

In Saudi Arabia, this is legal ~ employers require holding the passport/sponsorship of a non-citizen who is living and working in KSA. It is outdated and violates civil rights, however, Saudi Arabia is unlike any other country in the world. I've emailed the embassy, and hope to hear from them by tomorrow as to how they handle this common situation. It's just uncommon to me!

Saudi Arabia: Proof that being rich doesn't make you civilized.

[Hershey888 5]

I emailed US embassy in saudi arabia if they have any advise on how my fiance can borrow his passport from his company, they only said just be sure to have the passport during the interview. No help at all.

[Boiler 47,524]

Not a US issue, PI Consulate would seem more appropriate.

[Warren and Vivian 10]

My fiancee is working in Saudi Arabia and she needed her passport to get a visa to meet me in Europe last september. All she did was ask her employer for it, saying she was going on vacation for a week. They handed it over without an issue.