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http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=19227
Fingerprinting likely for Americans
By Molouk Y. Ba-Isa, Arab News Staff
DAMMAM/RIYADH, 7 October — In a message to all American citizens residing in the Kingdom, the US Embassy has advised that there may soon be changes in Saudi visa regulations. Saudi Arabia is expected to start fingerprinting Americans entering the Kingdom in response to a similar measure introduced by the United States last week, the US Embassy said yesterday.
“The embassy wishes to advise American citizens that in the near future the government of Saudi Arabia may start requiring American citizens to be fingerprinted as part of their visa or entry process,” the embassy said in a new warden message. “There also is the possibility that the duration of visas to Saudi Arabia will be shortened for American citizens and visa fees increased,” the message added.
New stringent US immigration checks on nationals from several Muslim countries went into effect last Tuesday. The measures, which require Saudi male visitors to the United States to undergo digital fingerprinting and photographing, and to provide information on travel plans, has angered Saudis who decried it as discrimination.
Under these rules, male visitors from the countries concerned, aged between 16 and 45, are required to register with the authorities upon entering the United States. Such visitors are also required to appear for an interview at immigration offices if they wish to stay in the United States for more than 30 days. They must notify the authorities within 10 days of any change to their place of residence.
The US Embassy said the expected Saudi measures are in “response to the introduction .. of the National Security Entry Exit Registration System (NSEERS).” There are between 30,000 and 40,000 Americans living and working in the Kingdom, down from about 60,000 a decade ago.
For decades, Saudi Arabia and the US have been involved in frequent discussions over visa rules and regulations. Repeated requests to issue two-year multiple entry visas to American businessmen coming to the Kingdom have been met with a lack of enthusiasm. In recent years it has, however, become common for multiple exit-re-entry visas to be made available to Americans with Saudi residency visas.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia has stiffened procedures for issuing visas to Saudi citizens, including students.
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