A long-time Indian expatriate has come forward with a distressing account of visa fraud and exploitation in Kuwait. Having arrived in the country at the age of five, the man claims he became the victim of a widespread visa trading racket operated under the name of a legal general trading company based in Farwaniya.

The ordeal began in 2019 when the expat joined (M-A-A) General Trading & Contracting Co., hoping to launch a small business through its commercial license. According to the victim, the Indian caretaker manager of the company, referred to as A.K., offered use of the company license in exchange for fees.

However, what appeared to be a legitimate arrangement soon spiraled into a financial and legal nightmare. “He took money from us — for salaries, stamping, insurance, and office rent — without giving receipts or any proper documentation,” the victim stated.

Despite signing agreements, none were registered with the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce, and attempts to contact the Kuwaiti sponsor were dismissed by A.K., who insisted there was “nothing to worry about.”

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation worsened. The manager reportedly began selling visas openly, demanding sums ranging from KD 500 to KD 1,800 from job seekers desperate for legal residency.

“He took KD 1,250 from me when my residence expired in August 2022. He kept my passport and fed me lies. I had no work, no money, and I was borrowing just to survive,” the man recounted.

He alleges A.K. abused his access to bank accounts and official documents to manipulate workers. Fake salary receipts were reportedly signed to keep the company’s labor files active, while actual salaries were siphoned off.

One of the most alarming aspects of the complaint is the claim that A.K. withheld the victim’s passport for two years, using it as leverage to prevent legal action or contact with the Kuwaiti sponsor.

When the victim approached the Public Authority of Manpower (Shoun), he eventually connected with the real sponsor. Although assistance was promised, the passport had expired, forcing the man to obtain an emergency one from the Indian Embassy — incurring additional expenses and delays.

“He even told me to declare the passport lost, just to free up a visa slot for someone else. Then he mocked me for applying for a temporary one,” the victim said.

By October 2024, the company’s labor file was closed and the victim was formally released from sponsorship. However, he says no legal action has been taken against the manager or the company.

“Shoun closed the file. But what about the money taken from dozens of others? What about the company’s bank accounts? Nothing was done,” he said.

The office in Farwaniya, near Metro Cinema, still bears the company name, and according to the expat, the same manager continues to operate from there.

The whistleblower hopes his experience serves as a warning to others, especially new expatriates seeking legal residency and business opportunities in Kuwait.

“There are many such offices in Farwaniya, Jleeb, Fahaheel, and Mangaf. They use reputable Kuwaiti names on the signboards, but inside, they are visa mafias run by greedy managers. Why is there no auditing? No consequences?” he asked.

He is urging authorities to implement stricter controls on company sponsorships, demand transparency in labor-related transactions, and crack down on visa trading, which is a criminal offense under Kuwaiti law.