Is the US consulate in Dubai open for B1/B2 appointments? The building is open, but routine visa processing, which covers ordinary B1/B2 interviews, is officially not available in the UAE as of 24 September 2026. If your appointment was cancelled, the Mission says it will contact you to reschedule when routine services resume. Your USD 185 fee is not refundable, it cannot be moved to another country, and in most cases your DS-160 does not need to be redone unless your details have changed.
US Mission UAE status, checked 24 September 2026: “While the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate in Dubai are open, routine visa processing is not available in the United Arab Emirates at this time.” (US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE, Visas page, updated 18 September 2026). The Mission’s security alert of 1 September 2026 added: “Limited Non-immigrant Visa appointments are available.” The alerts of 11 and 19 September 2026 say nothing about visas.
Is the US consulate in Dubai open for B1/B2 appointments?
Partly, and the official pages do not all say the same thing. Here is what each source says today, so you can see the whole picture rather than one headline.
| Official source | What it says | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mission notice “Suspension of Routine Visa Services” | “Routine U.S. visa services in the UAE are currently suspended. If your visa appointment was cancelled, we will contact you to reschedule when routine services resume.” | Published 1 March 2026, updated 23 April 2026 |
| Mission Visas page | Routine visa processing “is not available in the United Arab Emirates at this time.” | Updated 18 September 2026 |
| Security alert | “Limited Non-immigrant Visa appointments are available. All Immigrant Visa services remain suspended.” | 1 September 2026 |
| State Department wait times | Next available B1/B2 interview: 11.5 months in Dubai, 12.5 months in Abu Dhabi | Table updated 17 September 2026 |
In plain terms: a small number of nonimmigrant appointments exist, but there is no normal pipeline, and nobody outside the Mission knows when full service will return. For the wider picture, see our guide to US visa appointment delays for UAE residents.
What happens to your paid visa fee
The visa application fee (often called the MRV fee) for a B1/B2 is USD 185. The UAE fee page on ustraveldocs.com says applicants pay “a non-refundable, non-transferable visa application fee”. Three points matter if your appointment was cancelled.
Is the US visa fee refundable if my appointment is cancelled?
No. No official page offers a refund for cancellations caused by the suspension. When you pay, the UAE payment page asks you to accept “that visa appointments are subject to availability and the possibilities of potential delays”, and it says “There is no refund possible regardless of the outcome of this application.”
How long is my paid visa fee valid?
The UAE payment page says the fee “may be used for scheduling an appointment within one year from the date of payment or as per the Visa Fee Validity Extension guidance in effect as a result of the suspension of routine visa services.” That second part tells you an extension exists because of the suspension, but we could not find the extension terms published on the Mission or ustraveldocs sites on 24 September 2026. If your receipt is close to a year old, ask the official support desk to confirm its status in writing before you do anything else.
Can I use my UAE fee in India, Pakistan or another country?
No. The UAE FAQ says “Consular fee receipts paid in one country are non-transferable to the other country.” If you decide to apply in your home country, you pay a new fee there.
Two practical warnings from the official pages:
- Do not pay twice. If a payment seems to fail, the UAE page says “DO NOT PAY THE FEE A SECOND TIME AS IT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED” and asks you to email support-uae [at] usvisascheduling.com.
- Reschedules are limited. “Applicants are limited to the number of times they can reschedule their appointments. Please plan accordingly so that you are not required to pay another visa application fee.”
Do you need a new DS-160?
Usually not. No official page says a cancelled appointment cancels your DS-160. The State Department’s DS-160 FAQ says the post where you actually apply “should be able to access your form using the barcode on your DS-160 confirmation page”. Once submitted, the form is locked: the official FAQ only describes the embassy reopening it to fix errors. So the real question is whether your answers are still true.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Nothing has changed since you submitted | Keep the same DS-160 confirmation page and bring it to your rescheduled appointment. |
| New passport, new job, new address, or a different trip purpose | Complete a new DS-160 on ceac.state.gov. The FAQ confirms you can reuse data from a previous DS-160 to fill some fields. |
| You now plan to apply in another country | The same DS-160 can be read by another post, but that country’s scheduling system may ask for its own details. Check its instructions first. |
| You started a new form but did not submit it | You have 30 days to return to a partially completed application, then it is gone unless you saved it to your computer. |
If you do file a new DS-160, make sure the confirmation number linked to your appointment profile matches the one you bring. Other posts are strict about this: the US Mission in India, for example, asks for both the original and the corrected confirmation pages, or a reschedule with the new number. Our list of DS-160 mistakes UAE residents make covers the most common ones.
How rescheduling works on the official portals
Three official websites are involved, and people often mix them up:
- ustraveldocs.com/ae is the UAE information site run for the State Department. It explains fees, payment, scheduling and emergency requests. Its “Visa Login” button takes you to the scheduling system.
- usvisascheduling.com is where you sign in, see your receipt, view or change your appointment, and request an expedited appointment.
- ceac.state.gov is the State Department site where you complete and print the DS-160.
Things worth knowing before you log in:
- The Mission says it releases nonimmigrant interview appointments “every Friday morning between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.”, except US and UAE holidays, and people with existing appointments “can log into their accounts to schedule an earlier appointment, if one is available, at any time.”
- If you created your profile before 30 May 2025, the FAQ warns not to create a new one. Sign up again with the same email address so you keep your receipt and appointment.
- If you see an “Access limitation” warning, the FAQ says to remove browser automation tools and try again after at least 24 hours.
- Official support: call +971 4 205 5981 or email support-uae [at] usvisascheduling.com, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 UAE time. The call centre cannot book appointments for you.
Our step by step guide to renewing a US visa from Dubai or Abu Dhabi in 2026 explains how renewals fit into this.
Next steps: four realistic routes
1. Keep your UAE booking and watch for earlier dates
If your trip can wait, this is the cheapest route, because your fee is already paid. Keep your receipt number safe (the UAE page says a lost CGI reference “cannot be replaced”), keep your email address current, and check the Mission’s Visas page for news.
2. Apply in your home country
The State Department tells nonimmigrant applicants to book in their “country of residence or nationality”. Your nationality counts, so an Indian, Filipino or Egyptian national can apply at home, and may qualify for an interview waiver renewal there. You pay a new fee in that country, and you need to be there for the process. Applying in a third country such as Oman or Bahrain, where you are neither a national nor a resident, is not the answer: the State Department warns that such fees “will not be refunded and cannot be transferred”. Read how to apply in your home country.
3. Ask for an emergency (expedited) appointment
The UAE page lists these categories: medical needs, funeral or death of an immediate relative, urgent business travel, students and exchange visitors, ESTA denied, and critical visits. You must first submit the DS-160, pay the fee and book the first available appointment. “Only at this point will a consular section consider your request.” You can make only one expedited request, and “weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, or enjoying last-minute tourism” do not qualify. The Mission has not said how many requests it is accepting during the suspension. See our urgent US visa appointment guide. The paid USD 750 expedite pilot does not cover the UAE.
4. Use ESTA if you hold a Visa Waiver passport
If you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country (for example the UK, most EU states, Australia, Japan or Qatar) and your trip is business or tourism for 90 days or less, you may not need a visa at all. Some travel histories and dual nationalities rule this out. Check our ESTA guide for UAE residents before you book.
One more check before any route: nationals of countries covered by Presidential Proclamation 10998 (in force since 1 January 2026) may be refused a visa whatever the route. Our Proclamation 10998 guide lists the countries.
How FastUSTravel helps
FastUSTravel, by Visa Doctor, works only on US visas for UAE residents. We check your receipt, profile and DS-160, tell you straight whether you would qualify for an interview waiver at home, prepare a fresh DS-160 and document file if your details changed, watch the official calendars and book the earliest suitable appointment the system offers, and help with an emergency request where your case fits the Mission’s criteria. We cannot move the queue, and the consular officer decides every case. Our fees are on the packages page.
To talk it through, start a free consultation or WhatsApp us on +971 58 509 5268.
Frequently asked questions
Is the US consulate in Dubai open for B1/B2 appointments?
The Consulate is open, but routine visa processing is not available in the UAE, according to the Mission’s Visas page updated 18 September 2026. The 1 September 2026 alert mentioned limited nonimmigrant appointments, and the published B1/B2 wait was 11.5 months in Dubai on 17 September 2026.
Is the US visa appointment fee refundable if the embassy cancels?
No. The fee is officially non-refundable and non-transferable. The Mission says it will contact people with cancelled appointments to reschedule when routine services resume.
How long is my US visa fee valid in the UAE?
Normally one year from payment. The UAE payment page also refers to “Visa Fee Validity Extension guidance” linked to the suspension. Its terms were not published when we checked, so confirm your receipt with support-uae [at] usvisascheduling.com.
My appointment was cancelled. Do I need a new DS-160?
Only if something in it has changed, such as your passport, job or travel purpose. Otherwise keep your existing confirmation page. A submitted DS-160 cannot be edited by you.
Why can’t I reschedule my US visa appointment in Dubai?
Either no earlier dates are being released, or you have reached the reschedule limit. The system limits how many times you can change an appointment, and after that a new fee may be needed. Check with the official support desk before you cancel anything.
Can I transfer my UAE visa fee to the US embassy in my home country?
No. Fee receipts paid in one country cannot be used in another, so you would pay a new fee at home.
Where do I log in to reschedule my US visa appointment in the UAE?
Start at ustraveldocs.com/ae and use “Visa Login”, which opens usvisascheduling.com. The DS-160 itself is on ceac.state.gov.
Sources and official references
- US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE: Visas (updated 18 September 2026, checked 24 September 2026)
- US Mission UAE: Important Notice, Suspension of Routine Visa Services (1 March 2026, checked 24 September 2026)
- US Mission UAE: Security Alert, 1 September 2026 (checked 24 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs UAE: Pay your visa fees (checked 24 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs UAE: Bank and payment options, fee validity (checked 24 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs UAE: Schedule your appointment (checked 24 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs UAE: Frequently asked questions (checked 24 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs UAE: Apply for an expedited appointment (checked 24 September 2026)
- usvisascheduling.com: official appointment system (checked 24 September 2026)
- Consular Electronic Application Center: DS-160 (checked 24 September 2026)
- US Department of State: DS-160 FAQs (checked 24 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times (table updated 17 September 2026, checked 24 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Adjudicating nonimmigrant visa applicants in their country of residence (updated 15 July 2026, checked 24 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Nonimmigrant visa expedited appointment pilot program (updated 18 August 2026, checked 24 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Visa Waiver Program (checked 24 September 2026)
