Under no circumstances should any employer keep your passport. It has historically been quite common for some local companies to withhold employees passports 'for safekeeping' OR to stop them absconding, but this was largely with sub continent employees. Any employer who insists on this rule is not worth working for - they may keep your passport for a matter of days in order for immigration to put your visa in but after that, it should be returned to you. You do not give up any of your rights either by becoming a resident in Kuwait.
In common with Kuwait, some employers in the UAE used to withhold passports - again when people didn't know any better - I can't put my hand on any acual Kuwait document that endorses what is said here - but I include recent literature on this issue from the Gulf News in the UAE - You can see from this how seriously this issue is taken in the region! Should you have any problem later, you should contact a lawyer or request further info from the US embassy.
Source: Gulf News
"Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Interior will fine employers who hold their workers' passports, an official told Gulf News yesterday.

A new set of recommendations drafted by the ministry will fine employers for retaining workers' passports, a source said.

Special Report: Impounding passports is no guarantee

The official said a committee had been set up by the Ministry of Interior to make recommendations for amending immigration laws on the issue of retaining employees' passports.

The official said that currently there was no penalty for retaining an employee's passport.

"If an employee complains, the authorities will intervene and force the employer to hand over the document but there are no penalties," he said.

He said employers had argued they needed to retain their workers' passports to ensure they did not escape with the company's assets.

"We are trying to locate a mechanism in which both the rights of the employer and worker are ensured. We are trying to establish an electronic system with UAE's ports that prevents workers from leaving the country without the knowledge of their employers, but that also allows them to keep their passports."

He said passports were travel documents and should not be used in transactions, unless under UAE law. He said documents should not be used as guarantees. "An individual who hands over a document as a guarantee and anyone who accepts it will be penalised," he said.

Those who fail to report it will also be punished."
End of source.


Hope this helps!

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thank you very much for the information! I appreciate it.

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