Visas

U.S. Visa Services

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Notice

Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality.  Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. For more information, go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/adjudicating-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants-in-their-country-of-residence-sep-6-2025.html

Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law.

Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation on Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 9, 2025, the United States is suspending or limiting entry and visa issuance to nationals of certain countries. Applicants who are subject to this Presidential Proclamation may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States. For additional details, visit travel.state.gov.

Contact Us

Need assistance with a U.S. visa? Contact us through our Visa Navigator:

U.S. Embassy Riyadh Visa Unit

U.S. Consulate General Jeddah Visa Unit

The Consular Sections of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulates 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.

Immigrant Visa to the United States for citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia are only processed at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh. Non-immigrant Visa to the United States for citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia are processed at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and at the Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran.

Please visit our Global Support Services (GSS) website for complete information on applying for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa, including a directory of nonimmigrant visa categories.

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Schedule a NIV Appointment

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What is a Visa?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program, which is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Visa section of this website is about U.S. visas for foreign citizens and nationals to travel to the United States.

Visit Travel.State.gov for additional information.

Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa for travel to the United States. When planning travel abroad a U.S. citizen may need a visa issued by the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to visit.

What Type of Visa Do You Need?

For short-term visits to the United States (for tourism, business, education, and more), you can go directly to the online application (form DS-160). For immigrant visas, which are issued to foreign nationals who intend to live and work permanently in the United States, you can visit the U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services site for the relevant forms.  If you are unsure what type of visa you need, please use the Visa Wizard below. 

Additional Information

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers Rights and Protections for Visa Applicants Interview Waiver Diplomats/Government Officials (A Visas) International Organizations (G visas)

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers

This pamphlet informs you of your legal rights in the United States as a nonimmigrant visa holder in certain employment- and education-based categories.

Temporary Workers Rights & Protections Info

Rights and Protections for Visa Applicants

This pamphlet informs applicants applying for K-1 visas, K-3, IR-1/CR-1 immigrant visas, and F2A immigrant visas of their legal rights in the United States relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Visa Applicants Rights & Protections Info

Interview Waiver

All applicants require an interview appointment, except applicants applying for an official (A or G) visa and those who qualify for the interview waiver program.

More Interview Waiver Information

Diplomats/Government Officials (A Visas)

Foreign officials who are traveling to the United States on official business must meet specific requirements to qualify for a diplomatic (A) visa under immigration law and obtain an A visa prior to their entry. For an A-1 or A-2 visa, you must be traveling to the U.S on behalf of your national government to engage solely in official activities for that government. You cannot travel on a tourist visa.

The fact that there may be government interest or control in a given organization is not in itself the defining factor in determining if you qualify for an A visa; the particular duties or services that will be performed must be governmental in character or nature. Government officials traveling to the U.S. to perform non-governmental functions of a commercial nature, or traveling as tourists, require the appropriate visa, and do not qualify for A visas.

Required Documents & Application Procedures

International Organizations (G visas)

To qualify for a G visa for work with an international organization, the individual must be entering the United States in pursuance of official duties.

G1 – Members of a permanent mission of a recognized government to an international organization
G2 – Representatives of a recognized government traveling to the United States temporarily to attend meetings of a designated international organization
G3 – Representatives of non-recognized or non-member governments
G4 – Personnel proceeding to the United States to take up an appointment at a designated international organization, including the United Nations

Required Documents & Application Procedures