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.
