To: Win Smith who wrote (53901 ) 10/22/2002 12:24:12 PM From: Hawkmoon Read Replies (2) | Respond to Even among the many Saudis who lived for years in America, there is a deep sense of betrayal that matches our own. Everywhere I go, I run into American-educated Saudis whose eyes light up as they recall how they lived in Kansas City or Chicago or Portland, how their children were born there, how their neighbors were the nicest people in the world. Then, bitterly, they complain that Americans now slander them as terrorists, deny them visas and vilify their country. travel.state.gov Saudi Arabia has a modern and well-developed infrastructure, and facilities for travelers are widely available, although the country does not issue visas for tourism except for approved tour groups . All visas require a sponsor, can take several months to process, and must be obtained prior to arrival. Women visitors and residents are required to be met by their sponsor upon arrival. Women traveling alone, who are not met by sponsors, have experienced delays before being allowed to enter the country or to continue on to other flights. Residents working in Saudi Arabia generally must surrender their passports while in the Kingdom. The sponsor (normally the employer) obtains work and residence permits for the employee and for any family members. Family members of those working are not required by law to surrender their passports, though they often do. Residents carry a Saudi residence permit (Iqama) for identification in place of their passports. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in Saudi Arabia cannot sponsor private U.S. citizens for Saudi visas. Foreign residents traveling within the Kingdom, even between towns in the same province, carry travel letters issued by employers and authenticated by an immigration official or a Chamber of Commerce office. Police at all airports and dozens of roadblocks routinely arrest and imprison violators.Residents in Saudi Arabia who are departing the country must obtain an exit permit prior to leaving and an exit/reentry permit if they intend to return to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi sponsor's approval is required for exit permits.
