Can I Move to the USA from Saudi Arabia?
Is it possible to relocate from Saudi Arabia to the United States?
Thousands of people move to the USA from Saudi Arabia for education, employment and permanent residency.
It is estimated that 667,511 people from Saudi Arabia are living in the US with temporary or permanent resident status or as naturalized American citizens.
There are various ways to travel to the USA from Saudi Arabia, including with a Visitor Visa, Student Visa, Temporary Work Visa, or Permanent Resident Visa and Green Card.
If you want to go to the USA from Saudi Arabia, you will need to receive the US visa that is relevant for the purpose of your stay.
This guide will provide an overview of the options available for travel to the USA from Saudi Arabia, so continue reading to learn the essential information!
Table of Contents
Procedures for Entering the United States from Saudi Arabia
In order to enter the United States from Saudi Arabia, you will need to have the relevant US visa placed in your valid passport.
Furthermore, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will need to authorize your entry into the USA after you arrive at the airport.
Some of the key US visa options that are available to Saudi citizens include:
- Visitor Visa – issued for up to 10 years for tourism, medical treatment or business (but not employment) purposes
- Student Visa – issued to international students usually for the duration of their study abroad program in the US
- Work Visa – issued to temporary foreign workers to live and work in the USA for a limited period of time (for example, 1-3 years)
- Immigrant Visa and Green Card – issued to lawful permanent residents (LPRs) of the United States to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited period of time
10-Year US Visit Visa for Saudi Citizens
The B-1/B-2 US Business/Tourism Visa is a non-immigrant visa that can be issued to Saudi citizens for the purposes of:
- Tourism in the United States
- Medical Treatment in the USA
- Business in the US (for example, negotiating a contract, attending a conference, but not US employment)
The B-1 Business Visa, B-2 Tourism Visa and B-1/B-2 Business/Tourism Visa can be issued for up to 10 years and allow an individual to stay in the USA for up to six months at a time, depending on the purpose of the visit.
In general, the application procedure for a 10-year US Visit Visa for Saudi citizens involves:
- filing the Form DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
- uploading a color digital passport-style photo
- attending an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate
- paying the US Visa Application Fee
- bringing the required documents to the interview
- receiving the US Visitor Visa in your valid passport
US Student Visa for Saudi Citizens
Thousands of international students move to the USA from Saudi Arabia to attend study abroad programs at colleges, universities or other educational institutions in the United States.
The F-1 Student Visa (Academic) and M-1 Student Visa (Vocational) can allow a full-time international student from Saudi Arabia to live and study in the USA, usually for the duration of his or her educational program.
There is also a US visa option available to the spouse and dependent children of a US Student Visa holder that will let them live in the USA, usually for the same period of time as the international student.
In general, the application process for a Student Visa to the USA from Saudi Arabia involves:
- acceptance to attend an SEVP-approved educational institution in the United States
- paying the SEVIS I-901 Fee
- filing the Form DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
- uploading a color digital passport-style photo
- attending an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate
- paying the US Visa Application Fee
- providing the required documents
- receiving the US Student Visa in your valid passport
US Work Visa for Saudi Citizens
There are several US Work Visa options for Saudi citizens who want to live and work in the USA for a limited period of time (for example, 1-3 years) including the:
- H-1B Work Visa – issued to foreign workers with specialty occupations that require at least a Bachelor’s Degree
- I Work Visa – issued to international broadcasters who will work for foreign media in the United States
- L-1A and L-1B Work Visas – issued to intracompany transferees who will open or work at a branch office in the USA
- O Work Visa – issued to foreign workers with extraordinary achievement or ability
Please note that these are just four examples of US Work Visas for Saudi citizens and other US visas are available.
There are also US visa options for the spouse and dependent children of US Work Visa holders that allow them to live in the USA, usually for the same period of time as the foreign worker.
The exact procedure to apply for a non-immigrant temporary US Work Visa will vary depending on the specific visa type, but may include:
- receiving a qualifying offer of employment from a US employer
- approval by USCIS of the Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
- obtaining a labor certification from the US Department of Labor
- filing the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
- uploading a color digital passport-style photo
- attending an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate
- paying the US Visa Application Fee
- providing the required documents
- receiving the US Work Visa in your valid passport
US Immigrant Visa and Green Card for Saudi Citizens
If you want to move to the USA from Saudi Arabia long-term as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States, there are several options available, depending on your qualifications, such as:
- Employment-Based Green Card Programs – Green Cards are issued to foreign workers and their families through 5 programs:
- EB-1 Immigrant Visa – issued to individuals with extraordinary ability, top researchers and professors, and certain managers
- EB-2 Immigrant Visa – issued to foreign workers with advanced degrees and/or exceptional ability
- EB-3 Immigrant Visa – issued to skilled foreign workers, professionals and other workers
- EB-4 Immigrant Visa – issued to “special immigrants” such as religious workers and foreign broadcasters
- EB-5 Immigrant Visa – issued to immigrant investors who make major investments in a US enterprise that creates US jobs
- Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery Program – Green Cards are granted to immigrants selected by lottery who:
- were born in an eligible country
- meet the education or work experience requirement
- correctly register for the Diversity Visa Lottery
- are randomly selected as winners to continue the US immigration process
- correctly file the Form DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application
- successfully pass the consular process and receive a Diversity Visa and Green Card
- Family Sponsorship – US citizens and permanent residents can sponsor eligible family members for a Green Card:
- US citizens can sponsor a spouse, unmarried child under 21 years of age, parent or certain other family members
- US permanent residents can sponsor a spouse, unmarried child under 21 years of age or certain other family members
Please note that this is a brief overview and each of the US Immigrant Visa and Green Card programs has its own eligibility requirements and application procedure.
US Visa Saudi Arabia Requirements
The specific US visa requirements for Saudi citizens will depend on which non-immigrant or immigrant visa program is being applied for.
Some of the key requirements have been summarized for the US visa types listed earlier.
USAFIS offers a US Visa Assessment that will evaluate your details and inform you about the best options to move to the USA from Saudi Arabia.
To learn more, click here!
US Visa Fee for Saudi Travelers
The US visa fee for Saudi travelers will depend on the type of visa that is being applied for.
In general, there is a $160 USD application fee for the non-petition-based non-immigrant US visas, such as the Visitor Visa and Student Visa.
There is a $190 USD application fee for petition-based non-immigrant US visas, such as the H-1B Visa, L-Visa and O-Visa.
The Employment-Based Immigrant Visa application fee is $345 USD; the Diversity Visa Lottery Fee for selectees is $330 USD; and the application fee for an Immigrant Visa through Family Sponsorship is $325 USD.
Please note that there may be other governmental fees and the fees listed here are subject to change.
Conclusion
As you have read in this overview, there are many different ways to move to the USA from Saudi Arabia.
Saudis travel to the USA for business meetings, vacations, to receive medical treatment, to study abroad, to work for a limited time, and to live and work in the US long-term as permanent residents.
Whatever the reason you want to go to the USA, you will need to receive the relevant US visa in your passport.
USAFIS makes it easy for you to know which US visa is right for you and offers supplemental services to help your relocation go smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
How can I get a job in the USA from Saudi Arabia?
You can search for jobs in the USA using various online platforms. You will generally need to find employers in the United States who are willing to hire foreign workers and sponsor them for US employment. Once you have a valid US job offer, it is common for the employer to file a petition with USCIS to hire a foreign worker. A labor certification may also be required from the US Department of Labor. The final stage is to apply for the non-immigrant US Work Visa from Saudi Arabia (such as the H-1B Work Visa or the O Work Visa) or an Employment-Based Immigrant Visa and Green Card, attend an interview at the American Embassy or Consulate, pay the fee(s), bring the required documents and if all goes well, receive your visa to the US.
How much is a visa from Saudi Arabia to USA?
The cost for a visa from Saudi Arabia to the USA will depend on which US visa type you are applying for. The application fee for a non-petition-based non-immigrant US visa is $160 USD; the application fee for a petition-based non-immigrant US visa is $190 USD; the application fee for an Immigrant Visa through Family Sponsorship is $325 USD; the Diversity Visa Lottery Fee for selectees is $330 USD; and the application fee for an Employment-Based Immigrant Visa is $345 USD.
Can someone from Saudi Arabia come to America?
Yes – thousands of people from Saudi Arabia travel to the USA for business, vacations, medical treatment, temporary employment, and to become lawful permanent residents of the United States. In order for someone from Saudi Arabia to come to America, he or she must have the relevant US visa in his or her valid passport and be admitted by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry.
How can I migrate to the USA from Saudi Arabia?
There are several ways to migrate to the USA from Saudi Arabia. If you want to live and work in the USA long-term as a lawful permanent resident (LPR), this could be accomplished through employment-based immigration, immigration through family sponsorship, or immigration via the Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery Program. To work in the USA as a temporary foreign worker, you might apply for one of the several US Work Visas (if you qualify), such as the H-1B Work Visa, L Work Visa, or O Work Visa. In many cases, a temporary US Work Visa can be renewed if the foreign worker meets the criteria. International students can migrate to the USA from Saudi Arabia with a Student Visa, which is usually valid for the duration of the educational program. There is usually an option for the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of a US permanent resident, temporary foreign worker or international student to apply for the relevant visa to live in the USA.
Do Saudi citizens need a visa for the USA?
Yes – Saudi Arabia is not part of the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and, therefore, Saudi citizens need a visa for the USA, whether they travel to the USA for business, tourism, medical treatment, to study abroad, or to live and work in the USA temporarily or permanently. If a Saudi citizen becomes a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States, then he or she will travel to the USA with a valid Green Card.
What Our Clients Say
