US Visit Visa (B-1/B-2) from Dubai and the UAE: Where and How to Apply in 2026

If you live in the UAE and need a US tourist or business visa, start with this: routine US visa processing is not available in the UAE at the moment. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai are open, but they are not handling routine visa cases, and the embassy asks applicants to book their interview at a US embassy or consulate in their country of residence or nationality. For most UAE residents that means applying in your home country for now.

This page covers where you can apply today, which B visa fits your trip, the documents UAE residents usually prepare, and why applications get refused. Cosmos helps with visa-class choice, DS-160 review and interview preparation. We do not give US legal advice, and cases that need legal representation are referred to a US-licensed practitioner (a member of a US state bar).

Last reviewed: 5 October 2026, against the US Embassy UAE visa page. Reviewed by the Cosmos USA desk.

Current status: routine US visa processing in the UAE

What the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi says right now

This is the embassy's own wording on its visa page, as we read it on 26 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. Further updates regarding visa processing will be posted here when available."

"Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality. Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable."

Applying in your country of nationality or residence

Your country of residence is the UAE, and routine processing is paused here. So the practical route for most residents is the US embassy or consulate in the country whose passport you hold. In practice that means:

• You choose that embassy or consulate as your interview location in the DS-160 and when you book the appointment.
• You travel there for the interview and fingerprinting, and you stay reachable while your passport is processed and returned.
• You still show your ties to the UAE. Your job, residence visa, family and finances here remain the core of your case, even though you interview elsewhere.
• You check wait times for that post before you commit, because they vary by location and season.

If you paid a fee or booked an appointment for a UAE post before the pause, contact the scheduling service listed on the embassy page before assuming anything can be moved. The embassy states that fees are non-transferable.

How to know when UAE appointments reopen

Watch the embassy's visa page. It says further updates on visa processing will be posted there. The same page explains that, under its normal schedule, the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai release nonimmigrant interview appointments every Friday morning between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., except on US and UAE holidays. For any post you are considering, the State Department's global visa wait times tool shows the current picture.

Is my nationality affected? Proclamation 10998 and other 2026 rules

Many UAE residents hold passports from countries covered by recent US rules. Check these before you spend money on an application.

Nationality-based limits under Proclamation 10998

According to the US Embassy UAE, Presidential Proclamation 10998 took effect on 1 January 2026 and suspends or limits entry and visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries, as well as people applying on travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. People covered by it may still apply and attend interviews, but they may be ineligible for a visa or for admission to the United States.

We don't reproduce the country list here because it can change. Check the current list through the embassy page and travel.state.gov, and speak to us before applying if your nationality appears on it.

Interview waiver ("dropbox") renewals after October 2025

Interviews are generally required, with limited exceptions. Some people renewing a visa may qualify for an interview waiver, but the State Department changed the categories of applicants who may be eligible from 1 October 2025. Whether a waiver is available depends on the embassy or consulate where you apply, so read that post's instructions rather than relying on how renewals worked a few years ago.

ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program lets citizens of participating countries visit without a visa after an approved ESTA. Visitors under the programme can stay only 90 days and cannot extend their stay. Eligibility depends on your citizenship, not your UAE residence. If your passport is not from a participating country, you need a B visa. Check the current list on the official ESTA site.

B-1 vs B-2: what each visa covers

The US visitor visa is a nonimmigrant visa. B-1 is for business, B-2 is for tourism, and many people are issued a combined B-1/B-2. The examples below come from the State Department's visitor visa page.

Requirements for UAE residents: document checklist

The State Department lists a short set of required items. Consular officers can then ask for more evidence of the purpose of your trip, your intent to leave the US afterwards, and your ability to pay for it.

Required for every applicant

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay in the US, unless your country has an agreement that exempts you. Each person travelling needs a separate application, including family members listed in your passport.
• The DS-160 confirmation page.
• The application fee receipt, if you have to pay before the interview.
• A photo, which you upload while completing the DS-160. You only bring a printed photo if the upload fails.

Supporting evidence UAE residents usually prepare

• Your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.
• A salary certificate or no-objection letter from your employer showing your role, salary and approved leave dates. Business owners usually bring a trade licence and company documents.
• Recent bank statements showing you can pay for the trip.
• Your planned itinerary, and for B-1 trips, the invitation or event registration.
• For medical treatment, a diagnosis from your doctor, a letter from the US treating facility on the treatment and its expected length and cost, and proof of how the costs will be paid.

An invitation letter or Affidavit of Support from US friends or family is not required. The State Department says it is not one of the factors used to decide the visa. Your own ties outside the US carry the weight.

Step by step: DS-160 to interview

1. Complete the DS-160. Fill in the online Form DS-160 and upload your photo. Pick the embassy or consulate where you will actually interview. Every answer should match your documents; we review the form line by line before you submit.
2. Pay the application fee. The fee is paid for the post where you will apply, and it is non-refundable and non-transferable. See fee information on the State Department's visitor visa page; we don't quote government fees here because they change.
3. Book the appointment. Book through the official scheduling service for that country. Wait times vary by location, season and visa category, so apply early.
4. Attend the interview. A consular officer decides whether you qualify. Digital fingerprint scans are usually taken at the interview, although this varies by location. Bring the required items and your supporting evidence, and know your own DS-160 answers.

How long does a US visit visa take?

We don't give our own timing estimates, because wait times change week to week and depend on the post. Use the State Department's global visa wait times tool for the embassy you plan to use. The State Department also advises not to make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have the visa.

Why US visit visas get refused

The refusals we see in UAE files usually trace back to a handful of problems. None of them is fixed by a better cover letter. They are fixed by an application that is accurate and consistent.

• Section 214(b): ties not shown. US law presumes every visitor is an intending immigrant until they show otherwise. A 214(b) refusal means you did not sufficiently show the officer that you qualify, including that you will return. For UAE residents, that usually comes down to how settled your life here looks: stable employment, residence, family and finances.
• DS-160 and documents that don't match. Your salary, job title, travel dates and relationships should read the same in the form, your documents and your answers at the window.
• Undisclosed history. A previous US refusal, a denied entry or an overstay has to be declared. Leaving it out is a much bigger risk than explaining it.
• Unclear answers at the interview. Applicants who can't explain their trip or their own DS-160 answers in a few plain sentences struggle. We run a mock interview before every appointment.

After a 214(b) refusal you can reapply. The State Department's guidance is to do so if you feel your circumstances have changed, so it helps to be clear about what is different before you pay again.

After the interview: administrative processing, status and your passport

Some applications are refused under Section 221(g) and need further administrative processing after the interview. The consular officer will tell you if this applies to you. You can follow your case on the State Department's CEAC website. Once a visa is approved, you may need to pay an issuance fee depending on your nationality, then arrange the return of your passport.

Validity, length of stay and entry at CBP's discretion

A visa lets you travel to a US port of entry and ask to be admitted. It does not decide how long you can stay, and it does not promise entry. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the airport decide whether to admit you, and if they do, you get an admission stamp or a paper Form I-94.

• The dates on your visa and the admission period on your I-94 are different things. Stay within the I-94 period.
• To stay longer, you apply to USCIS to extend before your admission period ends. Leaving late can make you ineligible for visas in the future.
• A valid visa in an expired passport is still valid unless it has been cancelled or revoked. Travel with both passports and don't remove the visa.
• Carry your supporting documents in your hand luggage on the first trip.

What Cosmos does, honestly

Cosmos Immigration was founded in Dubai in 2014. On US visit visas, our team:

• Checks where you can apply right now, given your nationality and the current UAE position.
• Recommends the visa class that fits your trip (B-1, B-2 or combined).
• Reviews your DS-160 line by line before you submit it.
• Builds your supporting documents around your ties to the UAE.
• Runs a mock interview based on your stated purpose.
• Refers cases that need legal representation to a US-licensed practitioner (a member of a US state bar).

No one can promise you a visa. The decision belongs to the consular officer, and entry is decided by CBP. Our fees are quoted after we have seen your file.

If your trip can't wait for UAE services to resume, you may want to look at other destinations too, such as a Canada visit visa or a UK visit visa, each with its own rules and timings. If you are planning to move to the US rather than visit, see moving to the USA from the UAE, the EB-1A extraordinary ability visa and the EB-2 National Interest Waiver.

US visit visa: frequently asked questions

How do I get a US visa from the UAE as a resident right now?

Routine US visa processing is not available in the UAE at the moment, and the US Embassy asks applicants to book their interview in their country of residence or nationality. For most residents that means completing the DS-160, paying the fee and booking the interview for the US embassy or consulate in your home country, while still showing your ties to the UAE. Check the US Embassy UAE visa page for updates before you pay.

Can I apply for a US tourist visa in Dubai or Abu Dhabi at the moment?

Not for routine cases. As of 5 October 2026, the US Embassy says that while the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai are open, routine visa processing is not available in the UAE. It will post updates on its visa page when that changes.

What are the US visit visa requirements for UAE residents?

You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay (unless exempt), the DS-160 confirmation page, the fee receipt if you pay before the interview, and a photo uploaded with the DS-160. Officers can ask for evidence of your trip's purpose, your intent to leave the US and your ability to pay. UAE residents usually bring their residence visa and Emirates ID, a salary certificate or NOC with leave dates, bank statements and an itinerary.

Do UAE residents need an interview, or can I renew through the dropbox?

Interviews are generally required, with limited exceptions. Some renewals may qualify for an interview waiver, but the categories of eligible applicants changed from 1 October 2025, and availability depends on the embassy or consulate where you apply. Check that post's instructions.

What is the difference between a B-1 and a B-2 visa?

The B-1 covers business visits such as meeting associates, attending conferences and negotiating contracts. The B-2 covers tourism, visiting family and friends, and medical treatment. Neither allows employment in the US, and many people are issued a combined B-1/B-2.

How long does a US tourist visa take from Dubai?

With routine processing not available in the UAE, the timing depends on the post where you apply. Use the State Department's global visa wait times tool for that embassy or consulate, apply early, and don't buy tickets until you have the visa.

Can I work or study on a US visit visa?

No. Employment is not permitted on a B-1/B-2 visa. Study also needs a different visa, apart from a short recreational course that does not count towards a degree. If you want to study, see our USA study visa page.

Can I extend my stay or change status while I'm in the US?

Extensions and changes of status are requests to USCIS, made from inside the US. If USCIS approves a change of status, you still need a new visa in the right category the next time you travel to the US from abroad. Staying past your admission period can make you ineligible for visas in the future.

Do I need a US visa just to transit through a US airport?

Usually, yes, unless you can travel under the Visa Waiver Program. Travellers in immediate and continuous transit use a transit (C) visa, and a valid B visa may also be used to transit. If you want to leave the airport to sightsee or visit friends during a layover, you need a visitor (B) visa.

Why are US visit visas refused under Section 214(b)?

Section 214(b) presumes every visitor is an intending immigrant. A 214(b) refusal means the applicant did not show the officer that they qualify, including that they will return home. For UAE residents this usually means the file did not show enough about their job, residence, family or finances here. You can reapply if your circumstances have changed.

Can Cosmos promise that my US visit visa will be issued?

No. The decision belongs to the consular officer, and entry is decided by CBP at the port of entry. Our role is visa-class advice, DS-160 review and interview preparation. Cases that need legal representation are referred to a US-licensed practitioner (a member of a US state bar).

Book a consultation

If you are planning a US trip from the UAE, whether it is your first application or a reapplication after a 214(b) refusal, book a consultation and we will check where you can apply and what your file needs. Contact Cosmos Immigration or call 04 357 7796. Email info@cosmosimmigration.com.

View all USA visa pathways →

Official sources

All accessed 26 September 2026.

• US Embassy & Consulate in the UAE: Visas
• US Department of State: Visitor Visa
• US Department of State: Interview Waiver Update (18 September 2025)
• US Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times
• US Department of State: Visa Denials
• US Department of State: Transit Visa
• US Department of State: Glossary (Visa Waiver Program)
• US Customs and Border Protection: ESTA