Embassy of the United States Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Please be aware that many domestic employee applicants do not qualify for a visa to enter the United States. The decision to grant a visa is based on the domestic employee’s personal situation, not on the needs or qualifications of the employer. The applicant must demonstrate strong family, social, economic or other ties to a second country to ensure that their visit to the United States will be temporary. Meeting this legal requirement can be difficult for domestic employees because many have already demonstrated a willingness to depart their home country to seek employment abroad.

Information on working in the U.S. (Wilberforce Pamphlet)
English (PDF 252 K) | Arabic (PDF 2775K) | Tagalog (PDF 331 K) | Indonesian (PDF 331 K)

Application Process

1. Get a visa photo

• Photos must a .jpg between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels
• Photos must be less than 240kb
• Photos must not be digitally altered
• You must bring a 5x5cm photo to the embassy
  
  More information

2. Complete the online application 

• DS-160 visa application form
• DS-160 Instructions

3. Schedule an appointment with Visapoint

• To schedule an appointment

4. Pay application fees

The visa fee for B1 visas is SR608. This nonrefundable fee must be paid before you come to your interview.

You may pay the application fee at any branch of SAMBA bank in Saudi Arabia. If you have a SAMBA account, you can pay online. You must bring the receipt with you to the visa interview.

All visas are returned via FedEx. You must bring cash to pay for a FedEx envelope, regardless of where you live.

Address in Riyadh   SR65
Address outside Riyadh  SR125

5. Prepare an employment contract

Each applicant intending to work in the US as a personal or domestic employee of another non-immigrant visa holder must bring a contract valid under U.S. law to the interview.

The contract must be signed by the employer and the applicant. If a representative is signing on behalf of the employer, bring proof to the interview that this individual has a legal power of attorney and is entitled to sign on behalf of the employer.

Each contract must be provided in English. If the applicant does not read English, then a copy of the contract written in the applicant’s native language must also be provided.

6. Go for the interview

What to bring:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months after intended arrival date in the US
• Copy of Employer's Visa
• Confirmation page(s) from the DS-160
• SAMBA receipt(s)
• Photo(s)
• Cash for Fedex envelope

Supporting Documents:

• Bank History for the past 3 months
• All previous passports
• Employment letter
• Proof of previous payments for work in the U.S.

On the day of the interview, only applicants with valid appointments are allowed to enter. Applicants may enter up to thirty minutes before the time listed on the confirmation sheet. Only a legal guardian may accompany an applicant into the waiting room. Other friends, relatives, translators, or employers will not be able to enter.

 What not to bring:

• More information on prohibited items

7. After the Interview

After your interview, you will be told approximately how long it will take to process and print your visa.  Please remember that this is only an estimate and wait times vary; many visas take up to three months to process.

If you need your passport for immediate travel, we recommend that you take back your passport at the end of the interview.