Residents of the UAE seeking to travel to the US for vacations or business are increasingly opting to apply for visas in neighboring Gulf countries due to extensive wait times for appointments in the UAE.
Travel agents in the UAE have reported that current wait times for US visa appointments can exceed a year due to the high volume of applications. This extended delay has prompted some applicants to look for quicker alternatives.
Indian expat Anshil Ponthuveetil Thekkumpurath shared his experience of circumventing the long wait by traveling to Saudi Arabia. “In the UAE, it was taking 10-12 months, if not more. I needed the US visa urgently, so I went to the US Consulate General in Al Khobar, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. I completed the process in just 7 days and received my passport with the US visa stamped,” Thekkumpurath told Khaleej Times. He added that the US visa application process was easier compared to Schengen or Canadian visas.
Ron Packowitz, the country consular coordinator at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, confirmed that US visa appointments can be made in any country, allowing applicants to choose where they wish to apply.
Shamsheed CV, a senior consultant for outbound travel at Wisefox Tourism, highlighted that wait times for US visa appointments in the UAE stretch as far as July 2025. He suggested applying in nearby GCC countries as a faster alternative. “In Oman, the wait time is currently around three months, while in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, it is approximately 2-3 weeks. Applicants can receive their passports within five days if they clear the interview,” Shamsheed CV noted.
TP Sudheesh, general manager of Deira Travel and Tourist Agency, and Mir Wasim Raja, manager for MICE and holidays at Galadari International Travel Services, both confirmed that individuals and families are increasingly choosing to apply for US visas in GCC countries due to the shorter processing times.
The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi has advised visa applicants to arrive no more than 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. Additionally, children under 14 are generally not required to attend visa interviews unless specific instructions are given to their parents or guardians.
