Job Discussion Forums

arabiamark · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Sand Station Zebra

Among the usual headaches we encounter in the Saudi visa application process, a new one has popped up. My employer has informed me that the Saudi Embassy in Washington is hesitating to issue a visa because I don't have an entry stamp from US Immigration from my last arrival in the country.

As most of you know, the US often doesn't stamp the passports of US citizens (which I am) on arrival. My employer said that pointing this out to the embassy people did no good. They said I needed this stamp to prove that I'm in the country. It also didn't help to point out that my medical exam was done at a US clinic showed that I must be in the country.

To get around this, my employer had me write and sign a letter stating that I'm in the country. Only a bureaucratic mind could explain why this letter is acceptable and the documents I've already sent (like the medical) are not.

We'll see if this letter is accepted and I get the visa.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Isn't that a typical bureaucratic bit of silliness!! I got out all my passports and the last US entry stamp was 1999. Since I was back in 2000, 2001, and have made a number of drives across the border since with no stamps in or out, I bet they stopped in 2000.

When I drove across the border from Mexico, they didn't even want to see my passport or driver's license... their statement was that "they knew who I was." Shocked

Does anyone have a US entry stamp dated 2000 or later?

VS

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

I do, for my return to the states this year.

Still, it's such a ludicrous excuse to hold up someone's visa. Those people are programmed. Not only can they not think outside the box, they can't even think inside the box! Laughing

MEB

BadBeagleBad

johnslat · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:07 pm Post subject:

Just checked my last one, good from 1994 to 2004 (not my current one - I haven't been out of the States for about eight years,) and there are US entry stamps for 1995, 1998, 1999, and 2003. But that's only about half of the times I re-entered during that period.

Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It may vary by your port of entry.

VS

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

johnslat · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 2:58 am Post subject:

Dear VS,

All mine that were stamped were in New York, but I came through Boston at least a couple of times in that period and no stamp.

Your guess sounds right to me.

Regards,
John

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:46 am Post subject:

US citizens get their passport stamped entering their own country? Even if this just happens sometimes, this sounds strange to me. Never once have I had an entry stamp upon returning home, even from outside the EU.

Fernwood · Joined: 19 Sep 2011 Posts: 33

Guys,

I thought this was status quo for international travel. Mine has always been stamped when I re-enter the USA, regardless of port of entry. I travel frequently but it has never been reviewed and not stamped. I get routine questions like where I was, why and what I am bringing back with me, then the stamp.

I went into a UK port recently from Poland and was told they needed to see that I have been back 'home' since I don't have a work visa for another country. That's why they stamp it when you get to the US port of entry. If you don't get a stamp, ask for it.

The driving ports do the same thing, in my experience...I drove to Canada last year and they stamped our passports.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

As I said, I went through my passport and I'd estimate that mine was only stamped about 60-70% of the time. I should have at least 20 entry stamps, but I don't. As I said, I re-entered the country at least 6 times since 2000 and have zero stamps.

Nothing is "status quo" for the people that work in immigration. They do what they want... when they want...

All my missing stamps were never a problem.

VS

arabiamark · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Sand Station Zebra

The letter was accepted and I have my visa.

To avoid delays I recommend that any US citizens who think they may go to Saudi request an entry stamp at US Immigration if returning from overseas.

lynnknows · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:25 pm Post subject:

My question is what does it matter where you are in the world? The point of getting the visa in Washington is, its your home country. You could benon vacation in china but the US is still your home country and the Saudi embassy in your home country is doing your visa. So why do they care where you are now? Did the employer ever say?

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

arabiamark · Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Sand Station Zebra

My employer said that it's a new issue since about May of this year. The Saudis are more and more security paranoid and this Iran business will make them even more so.

Several other people in the company have been caught up and delayed by this.

As for asking why, well it's the same as when you ask why for any other pointless bureaucratic exercise....