(MENAFN- Arab News) A Saudi official in Washington has said that there are now more than 36,000 Saudis accompanying the Kingdom's foreign scholarship students in the United States. "Out of the 36,135 Saudis accompanying their relatives studying at American universities, approximately 8,900 have enrolled for English language classes and 2,930 people have joined other study programs," said Mashael Al-Showaer, director of accompanying relatives at the office of the Saudi Cultural Attaché in the United States. She said that 1,500 relatives join scholarship students as companions in the US every year. She said that the attaché's office did not distinguish between a scholarship student and his or her accompanying relative, adding that relatives often outperform scholarship students academically. "The Saudi government allows a relative to accompany a scholarship student to make the student feel less homesick abroad," she said. A major difficulty faced by relatives who wish to study in the US is their inability to obtain academic enrolment because of low grades. This requires them to join preparatory programs that help them improve their grades and reach the level required for university enrollment, Al-Showaer said. Another problem accompanying relatives face when applying for study is the prospect of being accepted in a state other than that where the scholarship student studies. Saudi officials visit companions at their locations of study to learn about their difficulties. The attaché also keeps a toll free number to receive calls from citizens. The attaché office helps companions who plan to join study programs solve their visa-related issues, as many of them come to the US on tourist visas and it is illegal for tourist visa holders to register for college or university. American immigration regulations clearly state that only those who carry student visas are eligible to seek admission to a study program, she said. Al-Showaer called on scholarship students and their accompanying relatives who intend to enroll at US universities to ensure that their documents are in order. She said that new students and their relatives usually encounter communication problems and take time to adjust to American regulations and customs.