umair_ahmed

Hi Guys,

I am thinking about doing Umrah and staying in Saudi for the entire month of Ramadhan. The thing is that I don't want to buy my tickets through these travel agencies/umrah packages. Is there anyway for me to obtain a visa (I am an American citizen) without going through travel agencies. I read on the Saudi embassy website that visa for Umrah can only be obtained through a qualified travel agency. Anyway possible for me to get the visa as a visitor or a student. I think its cheaper.

Thanks

Umer

The only way to get an Umrah visa is through those "qualified" travel agencies. And even if you would get a visitor visa through other means: It does not allow you to perform Umrah.

stoppit

^uhm what? in this case, yes he can most likely only get an umrah visa.
but how can you be stopped from performing umrah on another visa? there's no such thing i've heard of. my whole family has performed umrah and some of us even hajj on family visit visa's.

Orpheus

You can perform umrah on a visit visa.

By chance someone posted this very question in another forum and this is what was said.

There are checkpoints before you enter Makkah & Madinah - I drove through a few of them and wasn't stopped.

However if you get stopped and don't have a Visa, I can see you having problems!

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An Umra Visa entitles you to visit Makkah and Madinah only and transit through Jedda because that is where the airport is. Officially, therefore, you are not allowed to visit Jeddah on an Umra visa but no one bothers as long as you have your legal papers with you such as the passport.

An Umra Visa is time specific. It is also a package specific as of last year which ended with Ramadan a few days ago.

A Visitor Visa too is time limited but is rarely a multiple entry one.

So, if you have a visitor visa you can safely go and perform your umra irrespective of where your visitor's visa is intended for such as, for example, Dammam, Tabuk or Riyadh etc.

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Umer

If you're asking whether it's possible to perform Umra with a visit visa: Yes it is and most likely you won't be stopped at the check points before Makkah & Madinah.

If you're asking whether Saudi law allows you to do that: No it doesn't. And I feel you wouldn't really want to break the law while going on a spiritual journey. In the unlikely case that you will get stopped you might face problems on top of that.

umair_ahmed

Thanks Guys!

On the Saudi Embassy website, they have made it clear that I can only obtain an Umrah Visa through these travel agencies. Does anyone know if Umrah visa can be obtained without going through these travel agencies. Does that Saudi embassy give out visa on individual requests?

Does anyone know which is more less expensive? 1.) Umrah through travel agencies or 2.) Doing Umrah through visit visa and finding hotels and transportation services on your own?
If I use the second method, is it possible to find open hotels during the month of Ramadhan?

Dua_G

Congratulations, remember all of us in your prayers.

stoppit

Still don't think I quite agree. If the visa (visit) allows you entry to Makkah and Madinah then of course you can perform Umrah.

mali7a

If you do get stopped, just tell the security guards you'll pray for them if they let you go.... :P

Umer

Why don't you just ask the travel agency to arrange your Umrah visa (without a related Umrah package on top of that)? Then you can still find hotels and transportation on your own. However I would advise not to go there in High Season if you intend to do everything on your own.

Umer

That's exactly my point. The visit visa does NOT allow you entry to Makkah and Madinah, but many people still use it to go there.

stoppit

I'm pretty sure some visa's do. For example, if my father is based in Makkah and I want to visit him, surely the visa will allow me to travel there? I'm sincerely asking.

coOoLBreeze

Umer,, I tend to disagree... Visit visa (of KSA) allows you to do anything, other than doing a job or so.. you cannot engage in any sort of job or business in that.. ( even though many ppl do it)...
Even hajj is permitted through Visit Visa, but as for any one else like permanent visa holder, one need to register with the immigration and Hajj authorities for Hajj on Visit Visa.


and Umair, I would highly recommend that you get the package through the travel agency for Ramadhan.. It would be really tough for you, and you might end up in paying much more if you on your own. But try to make sure about the distance of the Accomodation to the Holy Mosque and also try to start with like tenth of Ramadhan so that you can have some time in Shawal as well, other wise, you might be saying your Eid Prayers on the AIRPORT.

Umer

I stand corrected then. I know that you have lived in Saudi for quite a while, so I guess the person who told me that it was not allowed to perform Umra on a visit visa was misinformed.

Sorry, I had thought that the advise I had received was reliable.

Crescent

I pmed you one.

coOoLBreeze

You know I was actually amazed that how can someone tell you which is totally against logic... ITs like a guy is allowed to stand in the middle of ocean , but he is not allowed to swim..

Like another guppy said, that what if some from Makkah or Madina sponsors the visit visa. Then how can the authorities actually stop some one from performing the pilgrimage..

Btw, its the common known best practice by many. that they sponsor their family members well before Ramadhan (Saudi Embassies stop issuing visit visa from Ramadhan till after Hajj cause of the work load), then the sponsored family stays till Hajj,, performs Umrah, spends nice time during Ramadhan, then goes for Hajj.

Umair:: have a nice time and say Salam from all of us guppies when you visit the Prophet Mohammad's PBUH mosque.

jaadugar

Umair, as mentioned above by Umer these qualified travel agencies can arrange an Umera visa for you at the cost of about $200. In that case you can arrange your own travel and hotel arrangements. Be sure to do that well in advance else it may become very hard for you especially in the high season.

stoppit

exactly
part of my father's business is based in makkah and my mashallah my brother goes every year for the whole month of ramadan and on one occasion did exactly this and stayed until after hajj.

TeenDabbyWala

Why don't they turn this into a money making business? Give out long term (6 month, 1 year and 2 year) visas for a hefty fee, and attract the rich religious people, or the retired people who have always wanted to spend a long time living in Mecca or Medina?

Almost like the Dubai strategy where they attract the well off people.