Israel Matzav

Obama ends post-9/11 restrictions on Saudis entering US

In an attempt to continue to promote the fraud that the threat of Islamist terrorism ended when Osama Bin Laden died while President Hussein Obama was out golfing, the Obama administration has quietly ended the post-9/11 restrictions on Saudi nationals entering the United States (Hat Tip: HaDaR via Jihad Watch).

Diplomats said the administration of President Barack Obama has removed most restrictions on the entry of Saudis to the United States. They said the percentage of visa approvals for Saudis has reached unprecedented levels.

“The United States aims to raise the number of visas that it issues annually, particularly to Saudi nationals, who represent an important group,” Joseph Hood, U.S. consul-general in the Saudi city of Dhahran, said.

Hood cited economic reasons for the easing of restrictions on Saudis. He said Saudi businessmen and students have been allowed to enter the United States in record numbers, with a 60 percent increase since 2010.

“They form a large segment of travelers to the United States, while they also represent an important economic factor,” Hood said. “In addition, Saudi Arabia also sends a large number of students to the United States, and the number of Saudi students in the United States rivals those from India.”

The U.S. consulate in Dhahran reported issuing 100 visas per day to Saudis. In 2012, the total number of visas reached 21,000, nearly 30 percent of which went to Saudi students or their relatives. About 15,000 Americans were reported to be based in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province.

...

But diplomats said the rate and process of approvals would be enhanced in 2013. They said the United States has approved more than 95 percent of visa applications for Saudi Arabia. Those rejected were told they had provided insufficient documentation.

“The consulate has gotten rid of many of the negativities that occasionally contributed to the delay in the visa application process, including the language factor, hiring staff that excel in speaking Arabic and English to facilitate our dealings with visa applicants, especially those who aren’t fluent in English, particularly as it is mandatory for all visa applicants to be interviewed,” Hood was quoted by the Saudi media as
telling a news conference in December.

What could go wrong?

Labels: 9/11, al-Qaeda, Barack Hussein Obama, Islamic terrorism, our friends the Saudis

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:49 PM