JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS

Friday 12 April 2013

US Embassy press attaché Mofid Deak has said that the “Trusted Traveler” agreement signed recently by Interior Minister Prince Muhammad bin Naif with the United States will take effect in June 2014.

The agreement will allow Saudi citizens who frequently visit the US to pass through check points quickly without having to queue at airports.

Saudi Arabia is the only Arab country to be granted this privilege. A number of Asian and European countries are signatory to the “Trusted Traveler” agreement.

Deak pointed out that there are no Saudi citizens on the US black list. “We have actually overcome the crisis of Sept. 11”, he added.

The official dismissed rumors of Washington denying visa to a number of Saudi applicants on grounds of their visiting countries currently undergoing political upheavals.