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Guide

U.S. visa appointment wait time in Riyadh

As of November 4, 2026, the State Department’s wait time table (last updated October 21, 2026) puts the next available B1/B2 visitor visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh under half a month away; student and exchange visas (F, M, J) under half a month and petition-based work visas (H, L, O, P, Q) under half a month. The DS-160 asks for a square digital photo of 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 pixels and no more than 240 KB; SelfieToPassport makes one from a phone photo for $6.95.

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The short version

  1. Next B1/B2 visitor visa interview in Riyadh: under half a month (table updated October 21, 2026).
  2. Student and exchange visas (F, M, J): under half a month.
  3. Petition-based work visas (H, L, O, P, Q): under half a month.
  4. In the November 2025 table, the B1/B2 wait was under half a month.
  5. The table changes every month, and new slots open between updates: check back and move your appointment earlier.
  6. DS-160 photo: square JPEG, 600 to 1200 pixels, 240 KB or less. SelfieToPassport makes it from a phone photo for $6.95.

How long is the wait in Riyadh now?

These are the State Department’s figures for the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The “next available appointment” is its estimate of how far away a new interview slot is when the table is updated; slots are added all the time, so it is not a promise either way.

The rules

  • At the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, the next available B1/B2 visitor visa interview was under half a month away in the State Department table last updated October 21, 2026. travel.state.gov
  • In Riyadh, the next available student and exchange visa interview (F, M and J visas) was under half a month away. travel.state.gov
  • In Riyadh, the next available interview for petition-based work visas (H, L, O, P and Q) was under half a month away. travel.state.gov

How the Riyadh wait has changed since 2025

Next available B1/B2 interview in Riyadh, table by table: May 2025: 1 month; August 2025: 0 months; September 2025: under half a month; November 2025: under half a month; January 2026: under half a month; February 2026: under half a month; March 2026: 2 months; May 2026: 4 months; June 2026: 2 months; October 2026: under half a month.

In these 10 tables the shortest wait was 0 months (August 2025) and the longest 4 months (May 2026). A year earlier, in the November 2025 table, it was under half a month; in the October 2026 table it is under half a month.

The earlier figures come from copies of the same State Department page saved by the Internet Archive, dated by the table’s own “last updated” line. The State Department page itself only shows the current month.

How the State Department counts the wait

The average wait is measured from paying the visa fee to the interview date, for the people interviewed in the previous month. Interviews waived by the embassy are not in the table.

The rules

  • The State Department updates its visa interview wait time table once a month. travel.state.gov
  • In the wait time table, a month means 30 days and a half month 15 days, counting weekends and the holidays when embassies are closed. travel.state.gov

How to get an earlier interview

The State Department’s own advice is to keep checking: embassies and consulates release new appointment slots regularly, and you can move a booked interview to an earlier free slot.

  1. Fill in the DS-160 first; you need its confirmation page to schedule the interview.
  2. Book the first slot you are offered, so you have a date.
  3. Check the scheduling system often and move the appointment if an earlier slot opens.
  4. Ask the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh on its website whether you qualify for an interview waiver.

The photo you upload with the DS-160

The DS-160 takes a digital photo, and a phone picture usually breaks the file rules below. SelfieToPassport crops, sizes and compresses it in your browser, shows a free preview with the measurements, and charges $6.95 for the file.

The rules

  • A digital U.S. visa photo must be square, no smaller than 600 x 600 pixels and no larger than 1200 x 1200 pixels. travel.state.gov
  • The digital visa image has to be a JPEG file of 240 KB or less. travel.state.gov

FAQ

Is the wait in Riyadh the same for every visa type?

No. In the table updated October 21, 2026, the next B1/B2 visitor visa interview in Riyadh was under half a month away, student and exchange visas (F, M, J) under half a month and petition-based work visas (H, L, O, P, Q) under half a month. Source: official page "Global Visa Wait Times", checked on Nov 4, 2026.

How often is the U.S. visa wait time table updated?

Once a month. The table we read on November 4, 2026 was last updated on October 21, 2026. New interview slots are released between updates, so the real wait can be shorter. Source: official page "Global Visa Wait Times", checked on Nov 4, 2026.

Why is there no average wait for Riyadh?

The State Department publishes the average B1/B2 wait only when the next available appointment is more than three months away. Source: official page "Global Visa Wait Times", checked on Nov 4, 2026.

Where this information comes from

Every rule on this page comes from a page published by the U.S. Department of State and the companies named, read on the date shown. We rewrite each rule in plain words and link to the page it came from. Each rule has a review deadline; one that passes it without a new check comes off the page.

Something here out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official page.