The US Extends Validity of Visitor Visa for Saudi Arabia Nationals to Ten Years

As the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, the United States mission to Saudi Arabia announced an extension of the validity of visitor visas (B1 and B2) for Saudi Arabian nationals on Saturday 16 July 2022.

US visitor visas (B1/B2) used to be valid for five years for Saudi Arabia nationals, but from 1 August 2022, they will be valid for ten years. “In close cooperation with the Saudi government, an agreement has been reached to extend the validity of visitor visas on a reciprocal basis to further facilitate tourism and business between our nations”, the official statement reads.

According to the statement quoted in the Saudi Press Agency, legitimate travel is beneficial to the economies of both countries. Moreover, it helps increase mutual understanding between American citizens and Saudi citizens. It can also build and fortify ties between the American people and the Saudi people and their businesses in common. That is why is so important to make business and tourist travel easier for both Saudi Arabians and Americans.

In fact, the extension of the validity of the US visitor visa is part of a series of efforts to facilitate tourist and business travel between both countries. The United States mission noted that the extension of the visitor visas complements the Interview Waiver Program that was announced earlier this year.

The Interview Waiver Program allows Saudi citizens over 50 years old to qualify for a waiver of in-person interviews at the time of renewing their US visitor visa, provided that such visa has been expired for fewer than 48 months. In other words, many Saudi citizens over 50 years old may not be obliged to attend personal interviews to renew their recently expired US visitor visas.