6 MONTH FOC

certainly Brit - they should be ... as this illegal issuance of "free visa" will soon be over.

Surely with the new wage protection system , the authorities can identify these companies and prosecute them for acting illegally

Most small companies survive by selling their visa..they charge about 10k riyals and collects 3-4k every year for RP renewal and ID. Now visa transfer is complicated and hence I see these businesses going down soon.

Why not complain about the person who sold you the visa

Since the introduction of new labour law , buying a visa is pointless.,you cannot transfer your visa anymore...as far as I know secondment system is also not applicable as per new labour law...NOC system is over...

zafirah: The main drawback is that you are at the mercy of the visa sponsor.. He/she can demand payments anytime or send you back anytime

Brit, oh ok... you will buy a working visa without actually "working"... and once you found a legit employer - then the current sponsor will allow you... provided you pay again for your release... oh boy! it's like an agency... but here you have to find your own employer - whilst in agency they will find for your employer.

zafirah: As per my undersatding , a free visa is a visa that is bought from a sponsor and the buyer is left to be responsible for finding a job and all other expenses.

what is a "free visa"?

Your sponsor has "pulled a fast one" :O(

You must work for a sponsor for one year before transferring ...

One option is secondment - but I don't know what the rules are for this

As an aside: Free Visas are illegal. I hope you didn't pay too much money