I had applied for a visa to the United States and delivered the relevant papers to the American Consulate. Several weeks passed before I was asked to come in person and meet the official who approved visas.

I was very nervous and felt more than a little anger at the request; in the old days, things were so easy. Still, I told myself I really needed to go so I had no choice but to be interviewed, which is now part of the process for Saudis who want an American visa.

On the appointed day, I woke up early after a very uneasy night’s sleep. In the car on my way to the consulate, I began to imagine the types of questions I might be asked. I wondered what I would say if they asked me about various sensitive subjects or wanted my opinion on specific matters. My blood pressure climbed and I felt a great lump in my throat. I realized that I was about to burst into tears.

It was only when the car arrived at the consulate that my unpleasant thoughts ended. I saw a sign warning against parking, loading or unloading passengers there. I instructed my driver to park on the other side of the street and I stepped out of the car, crossed the street and entered the consulate I had not been inside since Sept. 11, 2001. There was of course a security check which was very thorough. I was nervous of course but the female guard was very pleasant and her smiles helped me relax. I was then taken into the room for the interview. A minute later, the interviewing official showed up. I wondered if he could sense how nervous and uneasy I felt. In any case, he greeted me very politely and asked why I wanted to go to the US. He also asked about my job, and when I explained that I was a specialist in Arabic literature and criticism, he seemed very interested and asked me various questions related to literature and my speciality. I became so absorbed in the conversation that I forgot my nervousness and also forgot that I was being interviewed at the American Consulate. The interview was soon over and my visa application was approved.

When I was once again in my car, I began to think about the experience I had just had. The American government — which employs the official I had just been interviewed by — holds certain well-known opinions about Arabs; those opinions, as we know, are often anything but complimentary. Nonetheless, the consular official had treated me with politeness and consideration. I mentally compared the experience to what had recently happened when I had had to visit a Saudi government office. The officials — male of course — in that office had treated me with neither respect nor politeness; in fact I had been treated with contempt.

Where, I wonder, would most people prefer to go?

Arab News From the Local Press 12 May 2003