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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