If you live in the UAE and need a US visa, you currently have to plan your interview outside the UAE. The US Mission says routine visa processing is not available in the UAE at this time and that nonimmigrant applicants should book at the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality. For most UAE residents, that means applying in their home country. This guide covers where to book, how to check the wait, and how to plan the trip home.
The Mission posted its suspension notice on 1 March 2026, and its visas page (updated 18 September 2026) still says the same. Visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, so check where you are booking before you pay.
Summary: where each nationality applies
Posts come from the State Department’s list of posts that process nonimmigrant visas. The wait is its “next available appointment” for interview-required B1/B2 visas, updated 17 September 2026. Figures change monthly and are estimates only.
| Nationality | US visa posts at home | Official booking site | B1/B2 next available (17 Sep 2026) | Proclamation 10998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata | ustraveldocs.com (India) | Chennai 7.5 months, Hyderabad 12, Kolkata 6.5, Mumbai 11.5, New Delhi 10 | Not listed |
| Pakistani | Islamabad, Karachi | ustraveldocs.com (Pakistan) | Islamabad 12.5 months, Karachi 7.5 | Not listed |
| Filipino | Manila | ustraveldocs.com (Philippines) | Under 0.5 month | Not listed |
| Egyptian | Cairo | ustraveldocs.com (Egypt) | 1 month | Not listed |
| Jordanian | Amman | ustraveldocs.com (Jordan) | 1 month | Not listed |
| Lebanese | Beirut | ustraveldocs.com (Lebanon) | 4 months | Not listed |
| Bangladeshi | Dhaka | ustraveldocs.com (Bangladesh) | Under 0.5 month | Not listed (visa bond applies) |
| Emirati | Abu Dhabi, Dubai | ustraveldocs.com (UAE) | Abu Dhabi 12.5 months, Dubai 11.5 (routine processing not available) | Not listed |
For a closer look at the UAE figures and how the tool works, see our guide to US visa wait times in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
How to check the wait time for your home post
The State Department publishes a wait-time tool on travel.state.gov and a global table covering every post. It updates the table monthly. Two things to keep in mind:
- The State Department says the averages “do not guarantee” an appointment within a given time, and new slots are released regularly, so you may find something sooner or later.
- The figures cover applicants who need an in-person interview. If you qualify for an interview waiver (often called dropbox), your timeline can be different.
Does Presidential Proclamation 10998 affect you?
Proclamation 10998 was signed on 16 December 2025, published in the Federal Register on 19 December 2025, and took effect on 1 January 2026. It fully or partly suspends visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries, and for people applying on travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.
We checked the country lists on travel.state.gov (last updated 2 February 2026) and in the Federal Register text. India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Bangladesh and the UAE are not on either list. If you travel on a Palestinian Authority travel document, the proclamation covers you. Applicants covered by the proclamation can still apply and attend interviews, but they may be refused the visa.
Indian nationals: applying in India
India has five US posts that process nonimmigrant visas: the Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulates General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. You book through the official ustraveldocs.com site for India, which the US Embassy in India links to. Its customer service now runs through a usvisascheduling.com support address.
- The Embassy says consular sections across India accept dropbox applications for renewals of all nonimmigrant visa categories at Visa Application Centers.
- Waits for interviews at the Indian posts are long, from 6.5 months in Kolkata to 12 months in Hyderabad (17 September 2026 update). Compare all five cities before you book.
More on visa terms: US visa validity for Indian nationals in the UAE.
Pakistani nationals: applying in Pakistan
Nonimmigrant visas are processed at the US Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulate General in Karachi. The Embassy says interview scheduling, fee collection and document delivery in Pakistan are handled by CGI through the official ustraveldocs.com site for Pakistan.
- Since 11 August 2025, almost all nonimmigrant applicants in Pakistan need an in-person interview. The Embassy lists one interview-waiver group: B1/B2 applicants who got their previous full-validity visa at 18 or older and are renewing within 12 months of its expiry.
- The Embassy says Islamabad prioritises F and J student and exchange visas, and Karachi prioritises F and J visas plus certain work visas.
- The Islamabad visa section works 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday, and closes on Pakistani and US public holidays.
Read more: US B1/B2 visa for Pakistani nationals in the UAE.
Filipino nationals: applying in the Philippines
The only US post that processes visas in the Philippines is the Embassy in Manila, 1201 Roxas Boulevard. Booking and passport collection run through the official ustraveldocs.com site for the Philippines, which lists collection locations. The Embassy also mentions a paid premium drop-off and pick-up service through its courier, 2Go Express.
- Manila had one of the shortest visitor visa waits in this guide on 17 September 2026. Check again on the day you book.
Read more: US B1/B2 visa for Filipino nationals in the UAE.
Egyptian nationals: applying in Egypt
Nonimmigrant visas in Egypt are processed at the US Embassy in Cairo. The Embassy sends applicants to USTravelDocs.com to apply and book, and to request an expedited appointment. It says capacity for expedited cases is limited.
- The Embassy says applicants approved at the interview window should expect to be without their passport for about two weeks. Plan your stay in Egypt around this.
- The visa section works by appointment only, with no walk-in service. All applicants of any age must attend the interview.
Read more: US B1/B2 visa for Egyptian nationals in the UAE.
Jordanian nationals: applying in Jordan
Nonimmigrant visas in Jordan are processed at the US Embassy in Amman. The Embassy says visa services are available by appointment only and sends applicants to ustraveldocs.com/jo for appointment availability.
- The Embassy advises applying at least 90 days before your planned travel date in case extra information is needed.
- Give a valid email address on your DS-160. The Embassy warns that missing contact details can cause long delays.
Read more: US B1/B2 visa for Jordanian nationals in the UAE.
Lebanese nationals: applying in Lebanon
Nonimmigrant visas in Lebanon are processed at the US Embassy in Beirut, in Awkar. The Embassy’s visas page says routine nonimmigrant visa processing in Lebanon has resumed, by appointment only. Booking and support run through the official ustraveldocs.com site for Lebanon.
- The Embassy is closed to the public on the second Tuesday of every month. Keep this in mind when you choose a date.
- Check the Embassy page again shortly before you fly.
Read more: US visa options for Lebanese nationals in the UAE.
Bangladeshi nationals: applying in Bangladesh
Nonimmigrant visas in Bangladesh are processed at the US Embassy in Dhaka, on Madani Avenue in Baridhara. You book through the official ustraveldocs.com site for Bangladesh.
- Visa bond: since 21 January 2026, Bangladeshi nationals found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond. The State Department sets the amount at USD 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000, and the officer decides which applies at the interview. The Embassy says the rule “applies regardless of place of application”. Do not pay a bond through any third-party website, and do not pay before the consular officer tells you to.
Read more: US visa bond rule for Bangladeshi nationals in the UAE.
UAE nationals: what the Mission says
For Emiratis, the country of nationality and the country of residence are the same, which makes this case harder. The Mission’s visas page says only that routine visa processing is not available in the UAE and that updates will be posted there. We found no published instruction naming another post for UAE nationals. The State Department’s list of posts still shows Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the UAE.
- If you have a genuine emergency, contact the Mission directly with evidence. It handles these cases itself.
- If you have an existing appointment, the Mission says it will contact you to reschedule when routine services resume.
- Before booking in another country, read the third-country rules below. Fees paid elsewhere are not refunded.
Read more: US visa for UAE nationals.
Applying in a country where you are not a resident
The State Department’s instruction, last updated 15 July 2026, is clear:
- Nonimmigrant applicants should book in their country of nationality or residence. Nationals of countries without routine nonimmigrant visa operations must use the designated post on the State Department’s list, unless they live elsewhere.
- If you book outside your country of nationality or residence, or outside your designated post, the State Department says you “might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa”. Fees will not be refunded or transferred.
- Expect a “significantly” longer wait for an appointment outside your own country.
- If you apply on the basis of residence, you must be able to show that you really live in that country.
- Rare exceptions can be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies or for foreign policy reasons.
For a UAE resident, the safest path is almost always your country of nationality.
Interview waiver (dropbox) at home
Under the State Department’s 18 September 2025 update, interview waiver applicants must apply in their country of nationality or usual residence, among other conditions. So as a national, you can use your home country’s waiver process if you qualify. Each post applies its own rules. See who qualifies for a US visa interview waiver.
Practical tips for travelling home for your interview
Timing around Eid and school holidays
- Many UAE residents want the same weeks at home: Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha and the school breaks. Look for an appointment early and keep your trip dates flexible.
- Eid dates depend on moon sighting, and home posts close on local and US public holidays. Check the post’s holiday calendar before you book flights.
- Allow time after the interview. The officer may approve, refuse or ask for more checks, and the consulate decides the timing.
Your UAE residence visa
- Check that your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID stay valid for the whole trip, with a buffer for delays.
- The UAE Government portal says a residence visa can lapse after more than six months outside the UAE, and returning then needs an entry permit. Administrative processing can stretch a stay.
- Bring proof of your UAE life, such as your employment letter, salary slips and tenancy contract. Officers at home still assess your ties. See how UAE residents prove ties.
Your passport while the visa is printed
- If you are approved, the post usually keeps your passport to print the visa. Cairo, for example, tells applicants to expect about two weeks. You need your passport to fly back to the UAE, so do not book a tight, non-refundable return flight.
- Agree your leave with your employer before you book, and check the post’s official collection or courier options.
Before you book
- Fill the DS-160 for the post where you will actually interview.
- If you are applying for an F, M, J, H-1B or several other listed categories, set your social media accounts to public. Every US Embassy page we checked carries this instruction.
- Use only the official booking site linked from the embassy page.
How FastUSTravel can help
We are a licensed documentation service in Dubai. We check your DS-160, prepare your document file for your home post, explain the booking steps on the official site, and look for the earliest suitable appointment. We cannot control consulates. The consulate decides on every visa and every appointment date.
Related guides
- US visa appointment cancelled in Dubai or Abu Dhabi: what happens to your fee and DS-160
- Indian nationals in the UAE: renewing through the dropbox in India
- Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals in the UAE: US visa renewal at home
- Filipinos in the UAE: renewing through the dropbox in Manila
- Can you use ESTA instead of a B1/B2 visa from the UAE?
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a US visa in Dubai or Abu Dhabi right now?
Not for routine cases. The US Mission says routine visa processing is not available in the UAE at this time. Genuine emergencies are handled by the Mission itself, with evidence. Check ae.usembassy.gov for updates.
Where should I apply if I am an expat living in the UAE?
The Mission says to book at the US Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence or nationality. For most UAE residents, that means your home country, such as India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon or Bangladesh.
Can I apply in a third country, for example one with a shorter wait?
You can book, but the State Department warns it may be harder to qualify, waits are likely to be much longer, and fees are not refunded or transferred. If you apply there as a resident, you must be able to prove that residence.
Is my nationality affected by Proclamation 10998?
India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Bangladesh and the UAE are not on the proclamation’s lists. Holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents are covered.
How long will the embassy keep my passport?
It depends on the post. The US Embassy in Cairo says approved applicants should expect about two weeks. Plan your return flight with a buffer, and check your post’s page for its collection options.
What do Emiratis do while routine processing is paused?
The Mission has not published a separate post for UAE nationals. Watch ae.usembassy.gov for updates, and contact the Mission directly if you have a genuine emergency.
Sources and official references
All sources checked 24 September 2026.
- US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE: Visas
- US Mission UAE: Suspension of Routine Visa Services (1 March 2026)
- State Department: Adjudicating NIV Applicants in Their Country of Residence
- State Department: List of Embassies and Consulates that Process Nonimmigrant Visas
- State Department: Global Visa Wait Times (updated 17 September 2026)
- State Department: Visa Appointment Wait Times tool
- State Department: Suspension of Visa Issuance (Proclamation 10998)
- Federal Register: Proclamation 10998
- State Department: Countries Subject to Visa Bonds
- State Department: Interview Waiver Update, 18 September 2025
- US Embassy and Consulates in India: Visas
- US Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan: Visas and Nonimmigrant Visas
- US Embassy in the Philippines: Visas
- US Embassy in Egypt: Nonimmigrant Visas and Important Visa Information
- US Embassy in Jordan: Visas and Nonimmigrant Visas
- US Embassy in Lebanon: Visas and Important Visa Information
- US Embassy in Bangladesh: Visas
- UAE Government portal: Entry permit for residents staying outside the UAE for over 6 months
