Sponsors of foreign workers have found themselves faced with fines after being told to pay medical insurance fees before getting Iqamas (residency permits) renewed, a process which can take up to ten days. “I went to Unaizah Passports Department branch to renew the Iqamas of my workers, but they told me to pay the medical insurance fee first, which I thought would only take a couple of days,” said Othman Al-Qusaibi, a businessman. “Then it turned out I had to wait ten days before getting the receipt, by which time the validity dates of Iqamas had expired, resulting in me being fined.” Othman called for improved coordination between the Passports Department and insurance companies to avoid future fines. Khalid Al-Hatlani, spokesman for the Passports Department branch in Unaizah, blames sponsors who leave the renewing of their workers' Iqamas to the last minute.
