Saudis Above 50 Exempted From US-Visa Interview

By Web Desk — Saudi nationals over the age of 50 are exempt from having to attend an interview to obtain a US tourist visa.

“The US Embassy and Consulates General are pleased to announce that interview waiver are now available for Saudi citizens at least 50 years old renewing a tourist visa,” the US Embassy in Riyadh tweeted on Monday.

According to the US mission, applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for visa renewal by mail: Applicants must be Saudi citizens and at least 50 years old, must reside in Saudi Arabia, and must not have any arrest or conviction records, nor prior deportation from the US or refusal to enter.

Complete and accurate responses must also be provided to all sections of the DS-160 online application.

Visa renewal by mail can take up to two weeks.

Dr. Osama Ghanem Al-Obaidy, a professor of law at the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh, welcomed the announcement and noted that the waiver would promote Saudi-US relations and make it easier for Saudis to enter the US. It is a sign of the special and good Saudi-US relations. It will also make it easier for those who qualify for such an exemption to obtain a US tourist visa.”