Saudi Arabia at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | None |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran process nonimmigrant visas, and immigrant visas are processed in Riyadh. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Saudi Arabia right now
- No country-specific entry restrictions were in place as of October 2026; routine visa appointments that were suspended in March 2026 during the regional conflict had resumed by September 2026.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Saudi Arabia
F-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolB-1/B-2 visitor visaVisit the U.S. for business, tourism or familyMarriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseH-1B visaWork visa for specialty jobs, sponsored by a U.S. employerL-1 visaTransfer to a U.S. office of your multinational employerEB-5 investorGreen card through investment that creates U.S. jobsGreen card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countries
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Saudi Arabia visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Saudi Arabia is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Saudi Arabia get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Saudi Arabia nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Saudi Arabia enter the green card lottery?
Saudi Arabia was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from Saudi Arabia have their visa interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran process nonimmigrant visas, and immigrant visas are processed in Riyadh.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in the Middle East
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.