Ronaldo eyes AFC Champions League glory with Al Nassr    Inter Milan advances to Italian Super Cup final with 2-0 victory over Atalanta in Riyadh    Thousands attend vigil in Podgorica for 12 victims of Cetinje shooting rampage    Elon Musk sparks furor over support for British far-right instigator Tommy Robinson    Two dead after small plane crashes into California building    Slovakia threatens to cut benefit for Ukrainians    Meghan announces new Netflix lifestyle show    Saudi trade surplus grows 30% to SR20.76 billion in October 2024    Saudi FM reaffirms support for all initiatives to ensure Syria's security and sovereignty    Courchevel subzone: An enchanting winter fun and adventure experience in Riyadh Boulevard World    NMC: Saudi Arabia witnessed strongest cold wave in 1992 with minus 9.3°C in Hail Temperatures to drop below zero in northern regions in coming days    Saudi Arabia secures $2.5 billion Shariah-compliant revolving credit facility    Al-Nassr sells Seko Fofana to Rennes after loan stint at Al-Ettifaq    HR Ministry: 45% increase in wages of Saudis working in private sector    SFDA warns against using SHTINE bottled water due to high bromate levels    Updated fee for Iqama renewal SR51.75 and reentry visa extension SR103.5 Absher Business introduces 7 fees for establishments    Bahrain and Oman to clash in Khaleeji Zain 26 final after stunning semi-final wins    Crypto fugitive Do Kwon extradited to US over $40bn crash    Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reach divorce deal    Philip Morris leverages tech, innovation for smoke-free world    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Saudi students in US may lose visa for suspicious cell phone contents
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 30 - 08 - 2016


Okaz/Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH – In the wake of strict security rules imposed by security agencies at US airports, the Saudi Cultural Attaché in Washington has instructed Saudis pursuing their higher studies in American universities to remove suspicious contents from their mobile phones.
Students have been told to remove photos of flashpoints in the Middle East and video clips relating to terrorist organizations in order to avoid suspicion.
Such materials could lead to cancelation of their student visas, the attaché warned.
Since Sept. 11 incidents, US authorities have canceled 122,000 visas during the past 14 years (2001-2015), according to a report issued by White & Associates.
The attaché's warning came after US security agencies stopped a number of Saudi students for questioning when they returned to the US after summer vacation this year.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Eissa, Saudi cultural attaché in Washington, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that visas of Saudi students were rarely canceled on the basis of mobile phone content.
"About 60 visas have been canceled recently and the reason for 90 percent of cancellations was violation of visa and study regulations," he pointed out.
He said the attaché cautioned students to avoid questioning at US airports, cancellation of visas and entry ban.
Abdul Aziz Al-Mogren, president of the Saudi Students Club at University of Missouri, said US security agencies at airports have started checking mobile phones of suspected Saudi students.
"Some students carry video clips of extremist organizations as well as scenes from conflict zones in their cell phones. This will expose them to investigation and lead to cancellation of their visas, even if those videos and photos came to them through WhatsApp," he said.
Kawther Khalaf, who writes about security and social issues facing Saudi students abroad, said Saudi students could face visa cancellation for 12 reasons. Apart from suspicious video clips in cell phones, they are likely to lose visas if they did not attend studies regularly, she added.
"Saudi students should be well informed about security and social matters before going abroad for higher studies on scholarship," Khalaf told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.
The first reason for cancelation is violation of student visa rules, she said. Students are not allowed to work except in specific conditions. Overstay for studies is another reason. Wrong date of birth, discovery of intentions other than study and staying longer than what is specified in the visa are other reasons.
"US authorities will cancel visas without giving any reason if you misuse an old visa given to you," said Khalaf, a doctoral student who has authored "A directory for Saudi Mothers in America."
If authorities fear security, political, health and economic threat from the person or if they found the visa damaged for any reason they would cancel the visa.
Other reasons are if the person received visa without fulfilling the necessary conditions or stayed in the country without going to universities or spend many months outside US. "If they receive information from Facebook and Twitter about the man's suspicious personality, the visa can be nullified."
People may lose their visas if security agencies find a large number of photos of children or minors in their social media accounts or mobile phones or personal computer or if they see illegally downloaded programs in their devices or films and songs stored illegally or copied in their systems.


Clic here to read the story from its source.