DHS questioned over decision to let Saudi passengers skip normal passport controls
May 31, 2013, 10:04 pm
#46
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Jun 1, 2013, 2:46 am
#47
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Australians and the British don't commit crimes too? And these OECD countries citizens are ordinarily allowed travel to the US without the visa application and repeated interview hassles and related costs that are applicable to those from non-VWP countries.
Jun 1, 2013, 3:56 pm
#48
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I don't know enough about Saudis in general to answer the questions, but I do know that many ultra wealthy people probably had unscrupulous dealings along the way, so not sure I'd take them at their word when doing a deal. But there's a huge gulf between trust in someone's moral character in business and trust that one won't resort to violence with the sole intent to terrorize civilians. At the end of the day, though, I trust that those with buckets of oil money are primarily loyal to that money and probably don't pose a physical danger to anyone in our country. So check the "trustworthy" box for the most part at passport control. Customs is another question
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Jun 2, 2013, 11:28 am
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Jun 2, 2013, 2:19 pm
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Those from VWP countries more easily travel to/from/within the US with less extensive checks than those from non-VWP countries, and it is a big part about why the CBP's IAP has the history it does in VWP countries. Perhaps that is a measure of some risk, but it certainly is not a measure of all risks.
I doubt that a Saudi national is anywhere near as likely to smuggle in drugs into the US than a British or Australian national, yet the customs control is more likely to interdict drug smugglers than a variety of other "security" risk persons for which CBP is also tasked to try to interdict.
Jun 3, 2013, 10:05 am
#51
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I think my sarcasm was lost on you.
I took the original idea of easing controls of higher risk visitors in order to have more resources controlling lower risk visitors more (nearly) to reductio ad absurdum
I took the original idea of easing controls of higher risk visitors in order to have more resources controlling lower risk visitors more (nearly) to reductio ad absurdum
Jun 29, 2013, 8:43 pm
#52
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I'm coming late to the party, but better late than never.
My opinion is that until Saudi Arabia opens their borders to US tourists in the same manner that the US does for Saudis, the US should refuse entry to any Saudi who does not meet the same restrictions that Saudi places on foreigners.
In other words, if you don't have an invitation or aren't part of a government sanctioned tour group that maintains positive control of all the tourists, Saudis are not getting in.
My opinion is that until Saudi Arabia opens their borders to US tourists in the same manner that the US does for Saudis, the US should refuse entry to any Saudi who does not meet the same restrictions that Saudi places on foreigners.
In other words, if you don't have an invitation or aren't part of a government sanctioned tour group that maintains positive control of all the tourists, Saudis are not getting in.
Jun 29, 2013, 9:05 pm
#53
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#1 supplier of oil to the United States: CANADA
Perhaps the US could start by treating Canadians better, like say not requiring fingerprints at air/sea borders? Actually putting enough staff at the borders? Or my favourite, putting border guards (inside Canada at YVR) who are unaware what a 'province' is.
Perhaps the US could start by treating Canadians better, like say not requiring fingerprints at air/sea borders? Actually putting enough staff at the borders? Or my favourite, putting border guards (inside Canada at YVR) who are unaware what a 'province' is.
Jun 30, 2013, 10:02 pm
#54
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Aug 11, 2013, 3:57 am
#55
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Qatari citizens are scheduled to be included in Global Entry. How much fuss will be created over that?
By the way, Saudi Arabia had been giving the CIA a free hand of sort to run targeted assasination campaigns from there for the many times where DOD is not allowed to lawfully use military assets to take out people in the MENA/EA region. Are those Saudi citizens good enough for assisting US intelligence operations not good enough for Global Entry?
By the way, Saudi Arabia had been giving the CIA a free hand of sort to run targeted assasination campaigns from there for the many times where DOD is not allowed to lawfully use military assets to take out people in the MENA/EA region. Are those Saudi citizens good enough for assisting US intelligence operations not good enough for Global Entry?
Aug 11, 2013, 10:36 am
#56
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Considering Qatar already provides US citizens visa-on-arrival privileges, this is probably the least we can do. Not to mention that the (usually unfriendly) US visa process will still very much apply.
Aug 11, 2013, 3:23 pm
#57
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Citizenship from most European countries (except Dutch), which do not require tourist visas from US citizens, does not get you into the program. I donīt see how Qatar is a lower risk origin for a traveler (the supposed reason you can qualify for Global Entry).
Aug 11, 2013, 4:30 pm
#58
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It should be noted that GE is also slowly being expanded to European nationals as well, most recently UK and German nationals (with the UK not reciprocating with a similar system for US citizens).
Aug 17, 2014, 12:43 am
#59
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I am a Saudi I can easily say every Saudi knows US travelers to Saudi Arabia get preferred treatment over Saudis by every Saudi government entity, when in fact we get the worst treatment at US ports of entry.
What I have said is not based claims or assumptions; it is purely based on personal experience since mid-70s to date
What I have said is not based claims or assumptions; it is purely based on personal experience since mid-70s to date
Aug 30, 2014, 10:22 pm
#60
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Don't we usually hold off on making such arrangements until there's a reciprocal agreement?
Will US travelers to Saudi Arabia get preferred treatment at Saudi passport control?
No, I thought not.
I wonder how burdensome it is for a Saudi tourist to get a US visa.
I wonder how burdensome it is for an American tourist to get a Saudi visa.
Will US travelers to Saudi Arabia get preferred treatment at Saudi passport control?
No, I thought not.
I wonder how burdensome it is for a Saudi tourist to get a US visa.
I wonder how burdensome it is for an American tourist to get a Saudi visa.