Special five-year US visas for Saudi visitors

November 06 2009 by Liam Clifford

New reciprocal five year non-immigrant visa deal between the US and Saudi Arabia.

The US consulate in East Saudi Arabia has begun issuing five-year non-immigration US visas to Saudi nationals who need to live in the US temporarily for business or tourism purposes.

An announcement was made on Sunday by the US Consul General Joseph A. Kenney, who was speaking at the 2nd Saudi Arabia International Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference. He explained that the deal is reciprocal and that Saudi Arabia will provide five-year non-immigrant visas for US citizens in return.

Kenney explained that the visa is intended to help enhance trade between the two nations: "The five-year visa is aimed at supporting Saudi citizens travelling to the US for business now that trade between the United States and Saudi Arabia is expanding again.”

He added that the agreement, which was originally struck in May this year, “will further boost bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the Kingdom and the US."

Non-immigrant visas allow people to live in the US while they are working, visiting or studying in the US for a temporary period. Anyone hoping to move to the US permanently from Saudi will have to apply for an immigrant’s visa.

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