IFF helps cancer stricken Shimoga man fly back home

safia@coastaldigest.com (A M Arif Jokatte)

March 20, 2012

Riyadh, March 20: India Fraternity Forum helped Khader Ali, a resident from Shimoga who was struggling to return home.

Khader Ali had gone Saudi Arabia three months ago after possessing a company visa from a reputed company in the Kingdom with a dream to fulfill the requirements of his family.

But unfortunately his dreams shattered when he was asked for medical test before processing the Iqama, the blood test proved that he was suffering from cancer. Khader was left helpless and moreover shocked with the outcome of his medical report.

Due to this reason he was able to work only for a month with a very low monthly salary of 500SR. He had no money to return back home for his further medical treatment.

Khader Ali lives in a rented home in Shimoga with his wife and 3 children. He had paid a ransom of Rs 60000 for the visa with a intention to earn a decent living source to his family.

When the incident was brought to light of IFF Kamees Mushaith of IFF plunged into action immediately. They visited the company officials and convinced them about his critical and helpless condition and succeeded to retrieve 3 months’ salary and return ticket to Khader from the company.

Mohammed Taslim Hafin, one of the company employees also cooperated with India Fraternity Forum members.

Finally Khader was sent exit back to India after the efforts of IFF. India Fraternity Forum, Kamees Mushait Karnataka Chapter had also collected money for his medical aid in India and successfully handed over by Rahamuttala IFF President to Khader Ali during his departure to India.

The dedicated efforts of IFF were highly applauded and a heartfelt gratitude was given by Khader Ali who prayed for the success of IFF.

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Good news for Indian expats in Saudi Arabia: Passport update now just a click away!

News Network

April 12,2025

Riyadh, April 12: In a welcome move for Indian expatriates and other foreign residents in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom has introduced a new online service that allows residents to update their passport information without visiting the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat). The service is available through the widely used Absher platform.

This initiative comes as a major time-saver for Indian expats, especially those renewing their passports, as it eliminates the need for lengthy in-person appointments and physical document submissions at Jawazat offices.

Who Can Use the Service?

The online update feature is available to expatriates aged 18 and above. Once a passport is renewed, Indian expats can log in to Absher (via their employers account), navigate to My Services, select Passport, and then access Resident Identity Services to update the relevant information.

A clear photo of the new passport must be uploaded. The system automatically extracts the passport number and expiry date using advanced digital recognition tools.

Before submitting, users are required to pledge that:

The old passport has not been lost.
There are no reports of absence from work.
There are no pending traffic violations linked to the resident's Iqama.
There are no security-related restrictions on the expat or the employer.

Important for Indian Families

If family members previously listed on the old passport have been issued individual passports, the online service cannot be used. In such cases, a personal visit to Jawazat is necessary to complete the update.

Likewise, if the passport is lost, the expat must report the loss and update information directly at the Jawazat office. Any misuse or incorrect submission will result in accountability under Saudi law, including potential charges of forgery.

Fee Details

To avail this convenience, a nominal fee of SR69 (including VAT) is applicable for each passport update request.

Why It Matters

With over 2 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, this digital service is expected to ease the bureaucratic burden and save time for thousands of individuals who previously had to navigate crowded offices and long wait times. It also enhances accuracy and ensures smoother processing for both employees and employers.

Indian community associations have welcomed the move, calling it a step forward in digital convenience and administrative efficiency for expatriates.

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