# I cannot Leave Saudi Arabia **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 9, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824 "2008-07-09T13:50:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/21 "2008-07-09T15:58:47Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] Gasoline here is US$ 0.65/gallon. [/QUOTE] I don’t suppose a jerrycan would be acceptable as a carry on? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/22 "2008-07-09T15:59:18Z")
Maybe they’re trying to make sure you aren’t smuggling gasoline back to the States. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/23 "2008-07-09T16:13:05Z")
Without regard as to what they are trying to do, they have managed to put my panties in a twist. I am going to take a shower and go to bed. ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/24 "2008-07-09T16:18:06Z")
Ok so do you want the classic Chuck Norris & Lee Marvin or the more contemporary Jaime Foxx & Mark Wahlburg? We can do the Schwartzeneger/Stallone/Eastwood thing but you will have to supply the Geretol and give Sly a ride home when you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/25 "2008-07-09T16:19:02Z")
Hang in there man ☹ That sucks major desert dick. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/26 "2008-07-09T16:43:47Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] Gasoline here is US$ 0.65/gallon. [/QUOTE] Wow, **Paul** - at that price, you should try to convince the Saudis to export it to the USA! They could make a lot of money… ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/27 "2008-07-09T16:50:11Z")
**HOLY SHIT!** That is fucked up on a major scale. Please keep us up to date, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/28 "2008-07-09T16:52:51Z")
[QUOTE=Tripler] Wait, you need an “exit-only visa” to leave? I thought visas were for _entry_ into a country. Genuine question. I’m not trying to be a wiseass or nuthin’. I’ve never had to do that in my travels yet. . . Tripler But yeah, “awkward” is the word. [/QUOTE] Call it x… In Costa Rica for example, you need to pay an “exit fee” at the port of exit. No exit fee, no exit. And they accept Visa card or Dollars, not Colones :smack: (or at least they did two years ago when I had a project there). ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/29 "2008-07-09T17:09:21Z")
[QUOTE=Nava] Call it x… In Costa Rica for example, you need to pay an “exit fee” at the port of exit. No exit fee, no exit. And they accept Visa card or Dollars, not Colones :smack: (or at least they did two years ago when I had a project there). [/QUOTE] Now, I’d heard of entry fees and ‘emigration fees’ before; case-in-point, when I was once on a chartered flight (deploying) with my squadron in Montana, we stopped in Rome to top off gas on the airplane. The “air stairs” came up, and I was told (as the OIC of the troop movement) not to let anyone onto the ground–they had to stay on the plane or on the air stairs. Anyone that literally “set foot onto Italian soil” would have to pay a $50 emigration fee. Damned if they didn’t have a gendarme down yonder enforcing the rule, too. But I’d never heard of an _exit fee_ or visa. Ignorance fought, and beaten! Tripler I’m still feeling for you, **Paul**! ::fistbumps chest and throws out to ya:: ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/30 "2008-07-09T17:39:27Z")
One time when passing through Vancouver airport, I had to pay a special extra $10 fee on the spot, but that was an airport fee, not an exit fee. It was a domestic flight. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/31 "2008-07-09T17:41:13Z")
[QUOTE=nd\_n8] Just relax, go with the flow. Maybe Tom Hanks will make a movie out of this. [/QUOTE] Curse you! I came in here to mention something similar. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/32 "2008-07-09T17:53:19Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] The Saudis refuse to issue me an exit-only visa. [/QUOTE] Psst! It’s hidden in Sam’s piano. Seriously, that sucks. Best of luck to you. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/33 "2008-07-09T17:56:56Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] US embassy do not exist to help Americans abroad. They are here to promote US policies. If you want help from an embassy you have to be British or Israeli. Local law is a matter for the local authorities. American women married to Saudis who are held prisoner here can get no help. [/QUOTE] Wow. I can see why the U.S. has such a close relationship with the U.S. The cultures are so similar. Are you sure you want to leave? Are you up for a little revenge? Go steal a bunch of stuff from their government property and then host a drug laden protest march on your behalf. Hook up with as many Saudi women as possible. That will demonstrate how silly they are vividly and everyone will get a good laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/34 "2008-07-09T18:11:21Z")
Well, if they won’t issue you an exit-only visa, would they issue you an exit + reentry visa? ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/35 "2008-07-09T18:14:37Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] Wow. I can see why the U.S. has such a close relationship with the U.S. The cultures are so similar. Are you sure you want to leave? Are you up for a little revenge? Go steal a bunch of stuff from their government property and then host a drug laden protest march on your behalf. Hook up with as many Saudi women as possible. That will demonstrate how silly they are vividly and everyone will get a good laugh. [/QUOTE] … and get you killed. As sucky a situation as that is Paul, I have to say that if you go and live in a land of backward savages then don’t be surprised when you get savaged. Hope you get out soon. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/36 "2008-07-09T18:24:55Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] A passport is permission for you to leave your own country. A visa is permission to enter another country. Saudi Arabia requires a visa both to enter and leave. The old Soviet Union used to do this too. I know of no other country that still does this. Good solid Tory government. [/QUOTE] Cuba is another. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/37 "2008-07-09T20:00:33Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] You’re leaving the country over a measly 25 cents? Seriously, good luck and hang in there. [/QUOTE] No, he’s leaving the country over almost 1/2 a gallon of gas. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/38 "2008-07-09T20:55:58Z")
[QUOTE=SuperNelson] No, he’s leaving the country over almost 1/2 a gallon of gas. [/QUOTE] Well, since you put it THAT way… ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/39 "2008-07-09T21:24:36Z")
[QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] … and get you killed. [/QUOTE] Well, maybe there’s something he can do, short of that list, that would get him deported. They don’t require a visa or charge an exit fee for deportation, do they? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824/40 "2008-07-09T21:30:45Z")
[QUOTE=lalenin] Cuba is another. [/QUOTE] Bali has a fee you must pay - in cash - at the airport on your way out too, but I don’t think they call it a visa. It’s something under US$15 a person, I think. (Which is quite a bit of money over there.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cannot-leave-saudi-arabia/455824.md?page=3)