The American Consulate General in Dhahran, Eastern Province is now issuing non-immigration visas valid for five years to Saudi citizens who will be traveling to the United States for business or tourism purposes. Joseph A. Kenney, the US Consul General in Dhahran, addressing the 2nd Saudi Arabia International Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference Sunday, said the five-year visa is issued on a reciprocity basis, which means that the Saudi government will also provide five-year visas to US citizens. The visa arrangement between the US and the Kingdom was signed in May of this year. The US is already implementing the arrangement for Saudi citizens, and it is expected that Saudi Arabia will reciprocate by granting Americans the same visa treatment. “The five-year visa is aimed at supporting Saudi citizens traveling to the US for business now that trade between the United States and Saudi Arabia is expanding again,” Kenney said. He said there has been an encouraging growth in trade and investment between the two countries in recent years. US Commercial Service in Saudi Arabia has been promoting the visit of official delegations of Saudi companies and government procurement agencies to attend more than 20 trade shows held across the US every year. “The five-year visa will further boost bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the Kingdom and the US,” Kenney said. Non-immigrant visas are required for travelers who wish to visit, work or study in the United States for a temporary period. A visa advisory from the consulate stated that any Saudi citizen who wishes to enter the US to reside there permanently must apply for an immigrant visa, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the US.
