RIYADH, 6 March 2003 — Saudis planning to travel to the United States should apply for non-immigrant visas two months in advance, the US Embassy said yesterday.
“Students, tourists, business travelers and other temporary visitors to the United States generally should apply for non-immigrant visas at least eight weeks,” prior to departure, the embassy said in a statement.
Previously, issuing visas for Saudis took around five weeks.
Saudis are also required to submit a 50mm by 50mm photograph which must be taken against a white background and should not have borders, the embassy statement added. Applicants must fill in a lengthy form with some 41 items which require full personal details.
The new measure comes as Washington, which has been preparing to attack Iraq, stepped up security measures for fear of retaliatory operations by militants.
The United States tightened visa regulations for Saudis in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
In July, the embassy began conducting personal interviews with Saudi visa applicants aged 12 to 70 following the termination of the “visa-express” that allowed Saudi citizens to apply for US visas through travel agencies.
In December 2001, the US Embassy asked Saudi men applying for visas to submit photographs with their heads uncovered and women with their faces exposed.
Saudi male visitors to the United States were required last month to undergo digital fingerprinting and photographing and to provide information on travel plans.
Under these rules, male visitors from Saudi Arabia and several Muslim countries, aged between 16 and 45, are required to register with the authorities upon entering the United States.
