I work in a workshop but my sponsor passed away a year ago and now the company’s license has expired and my residence (iqama) too. I do not have residence for the last four months. My sponsor's wife took my passport to renew my residence but she has not, and now she is out of the country. I have arranged another sponsor to transfer my residence but he says he needs my passport. At the end of this month the amnesty period will end and I don’t know what to do. Please advice me on what has to be done to get my passport back and other formalities to make my status legal. Can I go to the shoun (labour dept) and complain although I am afraid to go out for fear of being caught.

Name withheld

Answer: You have to approach the Labour Dept because you can’t remain in hiding. This doesn’t help you correct your status.
You must get your passport back from the sponsor’s wife because you can’t even get a new passport unless the current one is lost or damaged.
If you can’t get the passport back, then you must file a case with the Labor Dept or the court so that if you are checked by police you have papers to prove that your case is being heard. Alternatively, if the woman confirms the passport has been lost, you should file a report with the Immigration Intelligence located in the basement of the Shuwaikh Immigration Dept, and then apply for a new passport, get a release from the current owner of the company and give the papers to your new sponsor to get your residence.