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Updated June 2024

The United States, a dream destination for many in the United Arab Emirates, has seen a surge in visa applications. However, UAE residents eager to set foot on American soil face a significant hurdle – visa appointment slots are being deferred by a year.

This bottleneck is due to an unprecedented demand among UAE residents to travel to the USA. Current reports indicate that the earliest available date in Dubai is 18 October 2024, while in Abu Dhabi, appointments are only open from November 2024. With daily inquiries exceeding a hundred, industry insiders predict that the slot unavailability could extend to March 2025.

Wego got in touch with Rony, a UAE resident who recently went through the process of obtaining a US visa appointment. He described his experience as a journey of “Waiting. Long and anxious.” He applied in December 2021 for his brother’s wedding in April 2022, but his visa appointment was scheduled for October 2022. Attempting to reschedule due to a conflicting commitment, he encountered a further delay with the new date set for October 2023. In his words, it was “literally 2 years of waiting.” This highlights the importance of planning well in advance when applying for a US visa.

But don’t lose hope! If you’re a UAE resident with the USA on your travel radar, there’s an alternative route to bypass these lengthy wait times. In this article, Wego provides a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this challenge.

Table of Contents

Who needs to apply for a US visa?

If you’re a citizen of the UAE or most other countries, you’ll need to apply for a visa to enter the United States. The only exceptions are if you already hold a valid US visa, green card, or a UK or EU residence visa. Otherwise, applying for a visa at the US embassy or consulate general in the UAE is necessary.

There are two principal categories: nonimmigrant visas, intended for temporary visits such as tourism, business, educational pursuits, and employment, and immigrant visas, designed for individuals seeking permanent residence, encompassing family reunification and employment-based considerations.

There are two common types of visit (nonimmigrant) visas in the US:

B1 visa: Recommended for business travel, the B1 Visa is often referred to as the US Business Visa
B2 visa: Known as the US Tourist Visa, the B2 Visa is designed for tourism, permitting a stay of up to six months. It can be obtained by completing the online DS-160 form

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Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) eligibility

The US also has a system known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which assesses visitor eligibility for travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP enables citizens of specific countries to visit the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa.

At present, there are 41 countries listed under the United States visa waiver program, including countries like Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan. However, please note that the UAE is not currently included in this program. Therefore, UAE citizens must follow the standard visa application process for travel to the United States.

An alternative solution: US visa appointment in GCC countries

For UAE residents facing long wait times for US visa appointments, there’s a viable alternative – scheduling an appointment in any other GCC nation. All GCC countries extend this privilege to UAE residents.

Reflecting on his experience, Rony suggested that he would “apply from a different center, like fly to Oman or do it from India,” instead of applying from Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

While citizens of the UAE can easily visit GCC countries without needing a visa, people in the UAE with a residence permit must undergo a visa application process to enter any GCC country. The specific visa requirements may vary based on the individual’s nationality and occupation, and some expatriates may be eligible for visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival access to these countries. It is advisable to research the specific requirements for each GCC country before planning your trip.

Application requirements

GCC countries uniformly adhere to a standard set of visa application requirements for travel to the United States. These requirements encompass the following key elements:

a valid passport for the intended travel to the United States
a completed DS-160 form
proof of payment for the requisite application fee, substantiated by a payment receipt
a recent 2×2 photograph meeting specified criteria
an interview appointment letter confirming the scheduled visa interview

Additionally, applicants are encouraged to provide supplementary documents that may support the information presented to the consular officer during the visa application process.

Estimated wait times

The estimated wait time for an interview appointment at a US embassy or consulate can change weekly based on the actual incoming workload and staffing. This aligns with Rony’s experience, who had to plan two years in advance for his visa appointment. He also provided insight into the various challenges associated with the process. As Rony put it, the difficulties lie in the “Long wait time. Lack of appointment dates. Lack of flexibility to change the center location.”

The following table outlines the wait times for visitors from various GCC countries, according to data obtained from the US Department of State’s travel information. Please note that these wait times are accurate as of June 2024 and may be subject to change.

Country	Wait Time (Days)
Qatar	130
Saudi Arabia	35
Bahrain	32
Kuwait	1
Oman	162

Visa application procedure

The procedure for applying for a US visa remains consistent across the various GCC countries. The visa application and interview scheduling procedures are primarily facilitated by a third-party entity known as US Travel Docs.

To apply for a US B1 or B2 visa from any GCC country, these steps must be followed:

determine the type of visa required for your particular purpose of travel
complete the Non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) online form
log in to the applicant system hosted by US Travel Docs to establish a personal profile
make the visa application (MRV) fee payment
schedule an appointment for the visa interview
gather the required supporting documents
attend the scheduled interview
retrieve your passport and accompanying documents upon completion of the process

Approximate costs

The following are the costs associated with visa applications in each GCC country, including the costs for a night’s accommodation, meals and local transportation. None of the countries charge any reciprocity fee for visa applications.

Please note that these prices are accurate for the period of May – June 2024 and are subject to change. It is advisable to verify these prices with official airline and hotel websites.

Qatar

the approximate costs of the visa applications are QAR 675.25 (AED 675.66)
direct flights start at AED 1,168, and connecting flights start at AED 258
accommodation starts from AED 191 in and around the Doha City Center
food prices start from AED 25.22 for a typical dinner
transport starts from AED 3 for taxi fares in Doha

Saudi Arabia

the approximate costs of the visa applications are SAR 703 (AED 688.29)
direct flights start at AED 565
accommodation starts from AED 256 in Riyadh
food costs around AED 48.96 for a typical dinner in Riyadh
transport starts from AED 3.92 for daily public bus passes in Riyadh

Bahrain

the approximate costs of the visa applications are BHD 70.30 (AED 685.07)
direct flights start at AED 739, and connecting flights start at AED 538
accommodation starts from AED 302 in Manama, Bahrain
food starts from AED 39 for a meal in Manama
transport starts from AED 6.82 for the daily cost of public buses in Manama

Kuwait

the approximate costs of the visa applications are KWD 59.20 (AED 709.06)
direct flights start at AED 396, and connecting flights start at AED 245
accommodation starts from AED 203 in Kuwait
taxi fares start from AED 11.9, varying based on distance in Kuwait
food costs around AED 23.80 for a single, inexpensive dinner

Oman

the approximate costs of the visa applications are OMR 74.00 (AED 706.08)
direct flights start at AED 610, and connecting flights start at AED 192
accommodation starts from AED 131 in Muscat, Oman
food starts from AED 19.08 for a meal for one across various cuisines
bus fares from AED 2 – 4.77 in Muscat, with charges based on distance traveled

Day trip flight suggestions

Traveling to a GCC country can be a viable and time-saving alternative for UAE residents intending to travel to the United States.

Below are some of the flight suggestions for traveling to various GCC destinations.

UAE to Qatar

Here are some of the best flight options for traveling from the UAE to Qatar:

direct flight from Qatar Airways, departing Dubai at 11:55 AM (UAE Standard Time) and arriving in Doha at 12:00 PM (Arabic Standard Time), available every day
direct flight from flydubai, departing Dubai at 08:50 AM (UAE Standard Time) and arriving in Doha at 09:05 AM (Arabic Standard Time), available every day
several connecting flights available from Etihad Airways, SalamAir, Jazeera Airways, etc

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UAE to Saudi Arabia

Here are some of the best flight options for traveling from the UAE to Saudi Arabia.

direct flight from flydubai, departing Dubai at 07:50 AM (UAE Standard Time) and arriving in Riyadh at 09:00 AM (Saudi Arabia Standard Time), available every day
direct flight from Saudia, departing Dubai at 10:40 AM (UAE Standard Time) and arriving in Riyadh at 11:50 AM (Saudi Arabia Standard Time), available every day
several other direct flights available from Emirates, Flynas, flydubai and Saudia

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UAE to Kuwait

Here are some of the best flight options for traveling from the UAE to Kuwait.

direct flight from Jazeera Airways, departing Dubai at 10:50 AM (UAE Standard Time) and arriving in Kuwait at 11:40 AM (Arabic Standard Time), available everyday
direct flight from Kuwait Airways, departing Dubai at 05:05 AM (UAE Standard Time) and arriving in Kuwait at 05:45 AM (Arabic Standard Time), available every day
several other direct & connecting flights available from Emirates, flydubai, Etihad Airways etc

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UAE to Bahrain

Here are some of the best flight options for traveling from the UAE to Bahrain.

direct flight from Gulf Air, departing Dubai at 10:25 AM (UAE Standard Time) and arriving in Manama at 10:50 AM (Arabic Standard Time), available every day
direct flight from flydubai, departing Dubai at 00:30 AM (UAE Standard Time) and arriving in Manama at 00:50 AM (Arabic Standard Time), available every day
deveral other direct & connecting flights available from Gulf Air, Emirates, Jazeera Airways, Etihad Airways etc

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UAE to Oman

Here are some of the best flight options for traveling from the UAE to Oman.

direct flight from SalamAir, departing Dubai at 08:05 PM and arriving in Muscat at 09:15 PM (time zones are aligned), available every day
direct flight from Oman Air, departing Dubai at 11:25 AM and arriving in Muscat at 12:40 PM (time zones are aligned), available every day
several other direct & connecting flights available from flydubai, Emirates, Oman Air, Etihad Airways etc

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Tips for planning your trip

Here are some useful things to keep in mind when planning a trip to the US.

For booking flights:

booking ahead secures lower fares, especially during peak season
consider booking domestic and international flights separately for cost-effective options

For travel preparation:

know the time zone of your destination, especially when booking flights
pack clothing suitable for the destination’s climate and culture, options like layers and all-around outfits work best
carry a power adapter and converter for electronic devices
pack essential items: passport, visa, travel insurance, medications in original packaging
be aware of US restrictions on foreign-made medications
carry travel insurance for emergency medical treatment
avoid bringing prohibited items into the US, such as ivory and counterfeit products
Muslim travelers can use prayer time and Qibla direction apps

Rony, who went through the process, has some advice for others: “Plan at least a year in advance. For those who want it urgently, dedicate a person in your family to check if any slots regularly open every hour for 2 to 3 months, and then you can take some canceled slots.”