UAE-based applicants for US visas are bracing for lengthy delays after Washington suspended immigrant visa appointment scheduling worldwide, with travel agents in the country reporting that available interview slots have already vanished into next year.
The suspension stems from the US State Department’s decision to retrain consular officers on how they evaluate whether immigrant visa applicants might later rely on American public assistance programmes.
While the freeze technically applies to immigrant visa categories, its ripple effects are being felt across the broader visa ecosystem in a region where demand for US travel documents is exceptionally high.
Visa consultants in the UAE confirmed that applications can still be filed despite the pause. Dash Anthony of Rejoice Travels said prospective travellers are able to lodge paperwork, but booking an interview date has become the real obstacle, with the system currently blocking new appointment requests.
His agency alone processes six to seven US visa applications daily, reflecting the scale of demand from the UAE and wider Gulf region.
The scarcity is already visible in appointment calendars. Subair Thekepurathvalappil of Wise Fox Tours and Travels said checks on the booking system showed the earliest open dates for B1/B2 tourist and business visas falling in August 2027 — though agents cautioned these figures shift constantly as slots are released or cancelled.
Industry experts warn the backlog could trigger a scramble once scheduling resumes, given the sheer volume of pending applications competing for limited interview windows.
Business travellers tied to fixed commitments such as conferences or exhibitions are expected to be hit hardest, while tourists retain more flexibility to simply reroute holiday plans elsewhere.
Students face a distinct set of pressures, since academic terms operate on rigid start dates. Agents noted that some urgent appointments may still be arranged case-by-case, and urged applicants to verify appointment timelines specific to their own visa category rather than assuming uniform wait times across all categories.
Applicants with pending interviews were advised to watch for direct communication from their respective US embassy or consulate, referencing a similar disruption earlier this year when affected appointments were rescheduled directly by consular staff.
