There has been an increase of 28 percent in the number of US visas issued to Saudi students this year, according to a press release from the American Embassy in Riyadh. Erin Pelton, Deputy Press Attaché at the US Embassy, informs in the statement that the number of Saudi nationals receiving US visas has increased to 67,000 this fiscal year – a 20 percent rise on the previous year - while the number of student visas issued to Saudi citizens has increased by 28 percent. The visa process requires time. “We regret that some Saudi students are experiencing delays in renewing their US visas,” the release reads. Many Saudi students return home to spend time with their families while still enrolled at US universities and to apply for a fresh American visa. “We urge students who need to renew their two-year visas to apply for a new visa as soon as they return home from the US, in order for the visa to be ready in time for them to return to school in the US in the Fall.” The recent extension of visa validity from two to five years for students and visitors is expected to significantly reduce the problem over the next two years. Fewer delays Saudi students face less frequent visa delays than before. “Only three percent of Saudi visa applications take longer than three months, and almost 50 percent are issued within two weeks of the interview.” 92 percent of visa applications are successful, and the statement also reveals the embassy's desire to increase the number of Saudis students and visitors to the US. “We are very encouraged by these numbers,” it reads. Still exceptions Saudi Gazette has received a copy of the letter that Claes Spong, a Swedish national living in Saudi Arabia, mailed to US Ambassador Ford M. Fraker complaining about a long delay in the visa application of his friend Faisal Safar Otaibi, a Saudi student at Purde University, Indiana. Otaibi won a scholarship to Purde University and started his studies in June 2006. When Otaibi returned for a visit to Riyadh in May 2008 he applied for a new visa as required. The US Embassy conducted Otaibi's interview on May 7 2008, and he has been waiting for news of his application since. “Otaibi is starting to worry because he should have gone back to university in August,” said Spong in the letter to the US Ambassador. Despite providing all passport details the Embassy still asked for the passport number, full name and case number. The only reply received from the Embassy has been, “your case is still under administrative processing, keep checking online or send us an email, we will get back to you as soon as we can.” Spong said the long delay without any definitive answer from the US Embassy was the major cause of concern to Otaibi, and those in a similar situation. __
