The US has paused immigrant visa appointments worldwide while consular officers undergo new training. UAE applicants can still submit applications, but appointment availability is limited.
Dubai: The US has temporarily paused immigrant visa appointments worldwide while consular officers undergo new training, leaving applicants in the UAE uncertain about interview dates and potential delays.
The pause applies to immigrant visa processing. Non-immigrant categories, such as B1/B2 business and tourist visas, follow separate appointment arrangements.
For UAE applicants, visa applications can still be submitted, but securing an interview may remain difficult due to limited appointment availability.
Why has the US paused visa appointments?
The US State Department has temporarily suspended immigrant visa interviews while consular officers receive training on how to assess whether applicants could become dependent on public benefits after immigrating to the US.
The training has raised questions about how quickly normal appointment scheduling will resume and whether existing interviews could be affected.
Can UAE residents still apply for a US visa?
Yes. UAE residents can continue submitting visa applications, according to visa and travel agents.
The immediate challenge is appointment availability.
Dash Anthony, a visa expert at Rejoice Travels, said applicants can continue with the application process but may not currently be able to secure an interview date through the appointment system.
US visas remain in high demand among UAE residents and other Gulf applicants. Anthony said his agency typically handles around six to seven US visa applications a day.
When is the next US visa appointment?
Travel agents checking the appointment system told Khaleej Times that the dates they could see for B1/B2 business and tourist visas were extending to August 2027.
However, this does not mean every applicant will necessarily wait until August 2027.
Appointment availability is dynamic. New slots can be released, while cancelled or rescheduled appointments can also become available.
Applicants should therefore distinguish between the dates currently visible in the system and a confirmed official processing timeline.
What happens if an appointment is postponed?
Applicants whose interviews are affected should monitor emails and messages from the US embassy or consulate handling their applications.
Anthony said UAE applicants experienced appointment disruptions earlier this year, when affected applicants were contacted directly and their interviews were rescheduled.
However, applicants should not assume that the same procedure will automatically apply to the latest pause. Official communication from the relevant US mission should be treated as the primary source of information.
Could the pause create another appointment rush?
Travel agents expect demand for interview slots to remain high.
Applicants can continue preparing and submitting applications while waiting for appointments, potentially creating a larger pool of people competing for available slots once more interviews are released.
Subair Thekepurathvalappil of Wise Fox Tours and Travels said many applicants could attempt to secure appointments at the same time when additional slots become available.
That could make the first wave of new appointments particularly competitive.
Business travellers could face difficulties.
Long waits could be particularly challenging for UAE residents travelling to the US for business meetings, exhibitions and conferences scheduled on fixed dates.
A delayed visa interview may make it difficult for travellers to attend an event that cannot easily be postponed.
Tourists have more flexibility. Those unable to obtain a visa before a planned holiday may decide to change their destination instead.
What about US student visas?
Student visas are separate from both immigrant visas and B1/B2 visitor visas.
Students should therefore check the appointment rules and availability specifically for their visa category rather than relying on the wait time displayed for another category.
Long delays can be especially difficult for students because university and college programmes have fixed start dates.
In some circumstances, students may be eligible to request an earlier or expedited appointment, subject to the applicable US visa rules and the consular post’s requirements.
What UAE applicants should do now?
Applicants affected by the US visa appointments paused situation should:
- Continue preparing the required documents for their specific visa category.
- Check the official appointment system regularly for newly released slots.
- Monitor email and other official communication from the US embassy or consulate.
- Check appointment availability specifically for their visa category.
- Avoid assuming that the current August 2027 B1/B2 availability represents a fixed waiting period.
- For time-sensitive travel, check whether the relevant visa category permits an expedited appointment request.
The key point is that the current disruption does not mean UAE residents are barred from applying for US visas. The immediate issue is interview availability, and applicants should rely on official US government communications for updates on their individual cases.
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Photo: AFP
Source: KT
