US Visa for Saudi Residents: How to Apply for a US Visit Visa From Saudi Arabia?

This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated February 2024

Anyone who’s been to the United States of America will tell you that the great American experience has many facets; from major cities whose mere mention evokes countless cultural, culinary and leisure references, to the millions of kilometres of impeccably maintained highways cutting through arid deserts, ancient redwood forests, and golden wheat fields spanning the horizon.

Wego has gathered information for Saudi residents looking to travel to the States, has gathered information about the visa requirements for travelling to the States, including how to apply for one, the required documents, and the visa cost. Keep reading to learn more!

10-year US visit visa for Saudi residents

Residents of Saudi Arabia are now eligible to apply for a 10-year US visit visa, under an agreement reached during President Joe Biden’s visit to the Kingdom.

Book cheap flights from Saudi Arabia to America now

 

According to the announcement made by the US embassy in Riyadh in 2022, the agreement will extend the validity of visitor visas (Business/Tourist visas) for Saudi citizens from five years to a decade.

The extended visas come after the US also issued a visa interview waiver that allows certain Saudi citizens aged 40 years or older or 17 years or younger to be eligible for obtaining a tourist visa without attending an interview. This interview waiver also applies to Saudi citizens aged 50 and above.

US visa Saudi Arabia requirements

Residents from Saudi Arabia travelling to the US need to apply for a visa to enter the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is not currently eligible for the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and hence a visa is required for entry.

There are numerous types of visas being offered by the US. However, visit and employment visas are some of the most commonly issued visas.

Visitor visa

The US visitor visa allows holders to visit and stay in the US for a maximum of six months.

Business/Tourist visa (B-1/B-2)

The Business visa (B-1 visa) is reserved for travellers looking to visit the US and engage in business meetings and negotiations, attend conferences and fairs, and draw up contracts.

Alternatively, the Tourist visa (B-2 visa) allows holders to enter the US for leisure-related activities. This includes vacationing, visiting friends or relatives, undergoing medical treatments, and participating in social events.

Business/Tourist visa requirements

If you apply for a B-1/B-2 visa, you must demonstrate to a consular officer that you qualify for a U.S. visa in accordance with the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 214(b) of the INA that presumes that every B-1/B-2 applicant is an intending immigrant. You must overcome this legal presumption by showing the following:

• that the purpose of your trip to the United States is for a temporary visit, such as business, pleasure, or medical treatment
• that you plan to remain in the United States for a specific, limited period of time
• evidence of funds to cover your expenses while in the United States
• that you have a residence outside the United States, as well as other binding social or economic ties, that will ensure your return abroad at the end of your visit

Please note that some foreign nationals may be ineligible for visas according to The Immigration and Nationality Act. Find out more about The Immigration and Nationality Act and visa ineligibility here.

Work visa

The work/employment visa allows holders to temporarily work in the US as lawful non-immigrants. A Saudi citizen wishing to work in the U.S. temporarily as a nonimmigrant, under U.S. immigration law, must acquire a specific visa based on the type of work they will be doing.

Most temporary work visa categories require that your prospective employer or agent file a petition, which must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

All applicants for H, L, O, P and Q visas must have a petition I-129 approved on their behalf by USCIS before they can apply for a work visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Please note that you are required to carry your I-129 petition receipt number to your interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in order to verify your petition’s approval. The approval of a petition does not guarantee the issuance of a visa if you are found to be ineligible for a visa under U.S. immigration law.

Student visa

The Student visa allows foreign residents to visit the United States for study purposes. However, before applying for a visa, all student visa applicants are required to be accepted and approved by their school or program.

Once accepted, educational institutions will provide each applicant with the necessary approval documentation to be submitted when applying for a student visa.

US visit visa at Saudi embassies

Saudi travellers planning on travelling to the US must first apply for their visa either at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate Generals in Jeddah and Dhahran.

The Consular Sections of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate Generals in Jeddah and Dhahran are responsible for providing visa services to those seeking to enter the United States for a temporary period and for those wishing to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the United States.

Riyadh

Please find the address of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh below:

U.S. Embassy Riyadh
Al Safarat, Abdullah Ibn Hudhafah As Sahmi Street Roundabout no. 9، Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
+966 11-835-4000, +966-11-4887360

Dhahran

Please find the address of the U.S. Consulate General Dhahran below:

U.S. Consulate General Dhahran
P.O. Box 38955
Dhahran Airport 31942, Saudi Arabia
(966-13) 330-3200, (966-13) 330-0464

Jeddah

Please find the address of the U.S. Consulate General Jeddah below:

U.S. Consulate General Jeddah
Al Safa Street
Al Muhammadiyah District, near the new American School building, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
+966 12 220 5000

US visa for Saudi residents appointment

To start your US visa application or make your appointment, please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Complete the online visa application

• you must fill out the Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160. Please note that once the form is submitted, you cannot make any changes.
• if you need assistance, please consult an immigration lawyer or translator.

Step 2: Pay the visa fees

• after completing the form, you will be required to pay the visa fee. The visa fee varies with the type of visa you are applying for.
• to pay your visa fee, read the Bank and Payment Options page. You will be required to create a profile and keep your receipt number to book your visa appointment.
• the fees for business/tourist and student visas are USD 185 (SAR 703) and USD 205 for work visas (SAR 779). Note that in some cases, additional visa fees might be needed to be paid directly to the National Visa Center, to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate or to the Department of Homeland Security.

Step 3: Schedule a visa appointment

After making the payment for your visa, you will need to:

• log in to your profile with the same credentials you used to pay your visa fee.
• once you are in the system, you will see your dashboard. Click on Schedule Appointment on the left-hand side menu.
• this will start the process of scheduling your appointment, and you will need:
  • your passport number.
  • the CGI reference number you wrote in the passport number field on your bank receipt. Click here if you need help finding this number.
  • the ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page.

Please note that as you go through the process, you will be able to select your visa type, enter personal data, add dependents, select your document delivery location, confirm visa payment, and schedule your appointment.

Step 4: Gather the required documents

Before attending your visa interview, make sure to gather and prepare the following required documents:

• a passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date of at least six (6) months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States. If more than one person is included in your application, each person desiring a visa must submit an application;
• your visa application (MRV) fee payment receipt
• your DS-160 confirmation page
• your e-mail address; and
• if applicable, required documents based on visa class (Find out more information about each visa category here).

Step 5: Visit the US embassy or consulate

After scheduling your visa appointment, you will be required to visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the date and time of your visa interview.

Please note that if your visa is approved, the visa will be sent to your designated location selected when you scheduled your appointment.

US visa fee for Saudi travellers

The application fee for the most common nonimmigrant visa types, including Tourist, Business, Student, and Exchange visas is USD 185 (SAR 703).

Alternatively, most petition-based visas, such as Work and Religious visas, are USD 205 (SAR 779).

Please note that in some cases, additional visa fees might be needed to be paid directly to the National Visa Center, to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate or to the Department of Homeland Security. For more details on US visa fess, visit the visa fees website.