RIYADH — The US Embassy in Riyadh announced this week that anyone planning to travel to the United States this summer should apply for their visas and make appointments through the embassy’s website as early as possible in order to avoid unnecessary disappointments and delays.
As of Jan. 1, 2008, the visa fee has increased to SR498 ($131) from SR380 last year, it added.
“The embassy is encouraging people to plan early because demand for interview appointments for visas increases during summer months,” said Meghan E. Gregonis, a spokesperson for the US Embassy, in a statement.
The US Embassy issued more than 33,000 visas in 2007, she said.
Gregonis said that an applicant can log on to http://ksa.us-visaservices.com to make appointments. All applicants are required to conduct a face-to-face interview and be fingerprinted at the US Embassy in Riyadh as part of the visa requirements. Nonimmigrant visas are issued to those who intend to enter the US temporarily for business, tourism or study.
Applicants can interview for up to four immediate relatives (such as parents, children, siblings and spouses). All relatives must live at the same address. If there are more than five members in the family applying for visas, an applicant is required to create another user account to schedule appointments for the rest of the family members.
Visa fees can be paid at any Samba branch. Samba account holders may pay online at the bank’s website. Applicants for nonimmigrant visa may reapply even if they had been rejected in the past.
