Vaisamma Mathew, an Indian expat living here on an expired visa, finally decided to opt for the easy exit scheme on December 31.Ms Methew, who was promised a waitressing job in a hotel here, moved to Bahrain in 2009 on a housemaid visa that cost her Rs50,000 (BD 425).

Ms Mathew approached the Indian Embassy during the open house in January, claiming that her Indian roommate and her agent were harassing her.

It was only after the Indian Embassy’s intervention that her employer handed over her passport. However, he cancelled Ms Mathew’s visa.

Ms Mathews was rendered jobless and hence couldn’t get a visa in the allocated one- month period; she became an illegal resident of Bahrain.

Even though she found another housemaid job in Saar later, she could not get her visa upgraded. On hearing her story, Indian Community Relief Fund Vice Chairman K Satheendran offered to help.

He advised her to use the easy exit scheme to her advantage and took her to the Indian Embassy for the same. Ms Mathews, with Indin Embassy for the same. Ms Mathews, with Indian Embassy’s assistance, approached the LMRA to submit her fingerprints and other important details.

The LMRA asked her to return to their office with an air ticket and a fine of BD 15.

A BSc Maths graduate and a mother of two, Ms Mathews had also worked as a receptionist in Abu Dhabi for five years.