Last Updated on: 6th August 2024, 02:17 pm
Applicants for US visas in the UAE are experiencing significant delays. The wait time for interviews for B1 or B2 (business and tourism) visas is 449 days at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and 455 days in Dubai.
Sean Murphy, the chargé d’affaires at the US embassy in Abu Dhabi, mentioned the high demand for travel following the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions. He pointed out that both the Consulate General in Dubai and the Embassy in Abu Dhabi are having difficulty managing this demand.
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Sean recommended that travelers submit their applications well in advance to avoid delays. Even though the US missions in the UAE have partially sped up the visa process, it will still take time to clear the backlog.
To tackle these delays, the US missions in the UAE have hired more staff. Nonetheless, the US State Department’s Office of Consular Affairs website indicates that the waiting time for nonimmigrant visitor visas in the UAE remains over a year.
