US Visa Appointments from the Gulf in 2026: Cancellations, Slots and What Works

What's Happening at US Posts in the Gulf (2026)

The US visa landscape across the Gulf Cooperation Council changed dramatically in early 2026. Regional security escalations combined with internal State Department policy shifts to disrupt consular operations at nearly every post in the GCC. Thousands of applicants were left uncertain about where they stand, including Indian expats, South Asian workers, and Western professionals alike.

According to news reports at the time, the State Department issued a Worldwide Caution on 28 February 2026, following the start of US combat operations against Iran. Routine consular appointments scheduled for 2-4 March 2026 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were postponed. The disruptions spread quickly. By early March 2026, Kuwait had suspended all consular services, Bahrain had placed its staff under a shelter-in-place order, and Qatar had cancelled routine appointments for the week of 1 March 2026.

The UAE posts later progressed to a partial-resumption model. According to the embassy's updated notice, the posts resumed limited US citizen services even while routine visa services remained suspended. By 1 August 2026, limited nonimmigrant visa appointments became available in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. All immigrant visa services stayed suspended at those posts. Kuwait's embassy reopened effective midnight on 24 June 2026 but as of 20 July 2026 had not restarted routine visa interview processing. Qatar and Bahrain were still offering only emergency citizen services as of 20 July 2026.

Layered on top of the security disruptions, the State Department announced on 26 August 2026 that it was pausing immigrant visa appointments worldwide for consular officer training. That is a separate development, one that touches every GCC post still handling immigrant cases.

Can You Apply in the GCC as a Third-Country National?

This question comes up constantly among expats in the Gulf, and the rules changed significantly in late 2025.

Since 6 September 2025, State Department guidance directs all nonimmigrant visa applicants to schedule their interview at the embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Prior to that date, third-country nationals could generally apply at most consulates worldwide without restriction, a common workaround for applicants who wanted shorter queues or more convenient locations. The September 2025 rule marked a significant shift from past practice.

Under the current policy, an Indian national with UAE residency can still apply at the Dubai or Abu Dhabi post. But they must be prepared to demonstrate that residency at the interview. An Indian passport holder on a short visit to Qatar who books an appointment there would be applying outside both their country of nationality and residence. That can cause difficulties. Visa application fees are non-refundable and cannot be transferred if an applicant books at the wrong post. Confirming eligibility before paying the MRV fee matters.

Nationals of 17 countries where the US does not conduct routine visa operations must apply at a specifically designated consular post rather than choosing freely. Applications that were pending at a third-country post before 6 September 2025 are generally still honored, though such applicants may face heightened scrutiny during the interview.

Post-by-Post Snapshot — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, Kuwait, Manama

UAE — Abu Dhabi and Dubai

UAE residents may typically apply at either the Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai regardless of which emirate they live in. As stated in the embassy's security alert, all routine US visa services in the UAE remained suspended as of 13 July 2026. The missions were on ordered-departure status, with non-emergency staff relocated outside the UAE. By the 1 August 2026 notice, the posts had moved to offering limited nonimmigrant visa appointments while keeping all immigrant visa services suspended.

New nonimmigrant visa interview appointments at both UAE posts are released every Friday morning between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. local time, except on holidays. As of the April 2026 reporting period, Abu Dhabi had one of the longest average wait times worldwide for work visas: H, L, O, P, and Q categories, at 14.5 months. Given the period of full suspension, current figures may differ. Check the official portal.

Saudi Arabia — Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran

Saudi Arabia stood apart from other Gulf posts during the early-2026 disruptions. The US Embassy in Riyadh reported normal consular operations as of 28 February 2026. According to third-party visa guidance resources, nonimmigrant visa interviews in Saudi Arabia are conducted at the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran. Immigrant visa interviews are held exclusively at the Embassy in Riyadh. Applicants should verify the current operational status of the Dhahran consulate directly before booking. Official confirmation of its August 2026 status was not available at time of writing.

Per the embassy's last published notice, which dates to 2023, the Jeddah consulate directed applicants to the ustraveldocs.com/sa portal and [email protected] for scheduling assistance. Current contact details should be verified before use. Applicants needing an expedited appointment for a genuine emergency must submit requests through the official ustraveldocs.com portal. Not through any third party.

Qatar — Doha

All routine US consular appointments in Qatar were cancelled for the week of 1 March 2026. As of 20 July 2026, the Doha post was offering emergency citizen services only. Whether routine nonimmigrant visa interviews have resumed since that date has not been officially confirmed through embassy or State Department notices. Applicants should check the US Embassy Doha's alerts page directly before making any plans.

Kuwait — Kuwait City

All US consular services in Kuwait were suspended in early March 2026 after Iranian drones targeted US missions in the Gulf. The embassy reopened on a limited basis effective midnight on 24 June 2026 following a brief ceasefire. Despite the reopening, the Kuwait embassy had resumed only limited emergency services as of 20 July 2026. Routine visa interview processing had not restarted. Current status should be confirmed through the embassy's official page before any travel decisions are made.

Bahrain — Manama

The US Embassy in Manama was closed until further notice following the late-February 2026 escalation, with staff under a shelter-in-place order. As of 20 July 2026, Bahrain remained on emergency-services-only footing. A fresh security alert was issued on 19 July 2026. Which scheduling portal currently serves Bahrain applicants should be confirmed directly with the official embassy website. Guidance may have shifted during the disruption period.

The Immigrant-Visa Pause and What It Does NOT Affect

Two separate immigrant-visa developments ran in parallel during 2026. It helps to treat them as distinct events.

The first was an executive-branch policy effective 21 January 2026 that paused immigrant visa issuances to nationals of a specific list of countries, including Kuwait. It cited high rates of reliance on US public assistance. That policy was vacated on 21 August 2026, when US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled the State Department lacked the authority to categorically suspend immigrant visa issuances to nationals of 75 countries on public-charge grounds. That pause was over.

Five days later, on 26 August 2026, the State Department announced a new worldwide pause on immigrant visa appointments for consular officer training. The department said the training is intended to help consular officers identify applicants likely to become dependent on US public benefits. As of the 26 August 2026 announcement, no date had been given for when normal immigrant-visa appointment scheduling would resume. Nor was there a date for rescheduling postponed interviews. Applicants who already had interviews scheduled during this period have reportedly received notices that their appointments are being rescheduled. New dates are to follow.

This second pause applies only to immigrant visa appointments. Legal commentary is clear that nonimmigrant visa categories, including B-1/B-2, F-1, H and L work visas, follow separate processing and appointment procedures and are not covered by this pause. A separate DHS public-charge policy affecting adjustment-of-status applications is set to take effect on 18 September 2026. That is a distinct matter from either of the above.

Booking Faster — Legitimate Options Only

Where to Check for Slots

For UAE applicants, the official scheduling portal is ais.usvisa-info.com/en-AE, which allows selection between Abu Dhabi and Dubai to view current wait-time information. Monitoring the portal during the Friday morning release window, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. local time, gives the best practical chance of finding a newly available slot. For Saudi Arabia, the scheduling portal is ustraveldocs.com/sa. Travel.State.Gov publishes global wait-time figures updated monthly. Those figures do not guarantee an appointment within the stated period.

Alternate Posts Outside the Gulf

As of mid-2026, per news reports, the nearest fully operational US visa-processing posts outside the Gulf region were reported to be Cairo and Ankara, both with significant backlogs. Applicants who have established qualifying residency outside the GCC may find this worth exploring. But the September 2025 third-country-national rules mean that residency ties must be demonstrable at interview. Travel and accommodation costs add up quickly.

Agents Selling Early Appointments — Risk Map

In any market where appointment slots are scarce, informal resellers appear. The pattern across high-demand US posts globally is familiar. Individuals or agencies claim to offer early slots or guaranteed interview dates at a premium above the standard MRV fee.

The US visa appointment system does not permit slots to be transferred or resold. Every appointment is tied to a specific applicant's profile and fee payment. An agent who claims to sell an early slot is doing one of two things. They may be providing access to rapid-refresh portal monitoring software, which offers no guarantee of a slot, only faster notification. Or they may be making an outright false claim about capabilities they do not have.

Paying for such a service carries real financial risk. The MRV visa application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable regardless of what an agent promises. If irregularities arise from a third-party booking attempt, the consequences at the consulate can extend beyond losing money. No named agencies in the Gulf with official, documented warnings have been confirmed through official channels at time of writing. But the risk pattern is consistent with what immigration attorneys report globally. Any offer that guarantees a specific date, or an end-run around the standard queue, warrants serious caution.

Recent Changes (2025-2026)

Third-Country-National Policy — September 2025

Since 6 September 2025, applicants are directed to interview at the post in their country of nationality or residence. This ended the broad flexibility that previously allowed applicants to select consulates globally for shorter queues. The change particularly affects expats in the Gulf who hold passports from countries with longer home-country wait times. Many had previously used GCC posts as a faster alternative.

Interview-Waiver Restrictions — September 2025

Since 2 September 2025, the dropbox process has been limited mainly to visa renewals in the same category expiring less than 12 months earlier, plus certain diplomatic and official categories. Most applicants previously eligible for a no-interview renewal now need to appear in person.

Security Disruptions — February to August 2026

The regional security escalation beginning in late February 2026 triggered cascading post closures. The UAE moved from full suspension to limited nonimmigrant visa reopening by August 2026. Kuwait reopened in June 2026 but had not resumed routine visa processing by mid-July. Qatar and Bahrain remained on emergency-services-only footing through mid-July 2026. Riyadh stayed stable throughout. It had the smoothest consular operations of any Gulf post in this period.

FAQ

Can an Indian expat living in Dubai apply for a US B-1/B-2 visa at the Dubai consulate?

Yes, typically. Under the September 2025 policy, applicants should apply at the post in their country of nationality or residence. An Indian national with UAE residency qualifies to apply at either the Dubai consulate or the Abu Dhabi embassy. They should be prepared to show proof of UAE residency at the interview. As of August 2026, both posts were offering limited nonimmigrant visa appointments. Checking ais.usvisa-info.com/en-AE for available dates is the recommended starting point.

When are new US visa appointment slots released at the UAE posts?

The US Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate General Dubai release new nonimmigrant visa interview appointments every Friday morning between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. local time, except on public holidays. Monitoring the portal during that specific window gives the best practical opportunity to secure a newly available slot.

Is the US Embassy in Bahrain open for visa appointments?

As of 20 July 2026, the US Embassy in Manama was offering emergency citizen services only, with routine visa interview services remaining suspended. A fresh security alert was issued on 19 July 2026. Applicants should check the embassy's official alerts page directly, as the situation may have evolved after mid-July 2026.

Did the US Embassy in Kuwait resume visa interviews?

The Kuwait embassy reopened effective midnight on 24 June 2026 after its months-long wartime closure. However, it had resumed only limited emergency services as of 20 July 2026. Routine visa interview processing had not restarted. For current status, the embassy's official page should be checked before making any travel or application plans.

Does the August 2026 immigrant visa pause affect B-1/B-2 or student visa applicants?

No. The August 2026 worldwide pause applies only to immigrant visa appointments. Nonimmigrant visa categories, including B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas, F-1 student visas, and H and L work visas, are not covered by this pause and follow separate processing procedures. The pause was framed specifically around consular training for immigrant visa assessments.

Can I pay an agent to get an earlier US visa appointment slot in the Gulf?

The US visa appointment system does not allow slots to be transferred or resold. Any agent claiming to sell a guaranteed appointment date is describing something the system cannot support. Official expedited appointment requests must go through the embassy's official portal. Paying a third party carries financial risk with no legitimate guarantee. The MRV fee paid to the government remains non-refundable regardless of what an agent promises.

My US visa appointment in Doha was cancelled. What options do I have?

Routine consular appointments in Qatar were cancelled as of early March 2026. As of 20 July 2026, the post was offering emergency services only. Whether routine nonimmigrant visa interviews have since resumed has not been officially confirmed through embassy notices at time of writing. Check the US Embassy Doha's official alerts page regularly. If travel urgency is high and you have qualifying residency in another country, the September 2025 policy permits applying at a post in your country of residence. You must be able to demonstrate that tie at interview.

How do I request an expedited US visa appointment in Saudi Arabia?

Applicants in Saudi Arabia who need an expedited appointment for a genuine emergency must submit the request through the official ustraveldocs.com portal rather than through any third party. State Department guidance specifies that attending weddings, graduation ceremonies, annual business conferences, or last-minute tourism does not qualify as grounds for an expedited appointment. Medical emergencies and urgent travel supported by documentation typically carry more weight in these assessments.

What is the current wait time for work visas at the UAE posts?

As of the April 2026 reporting period, Abu Dhabi had one of the longest average wait times worldwide for H, L, O, P, and Q category work visas. That figure stood at 14.5 months. The UAE posts operated under full suspension for several months before moving to limited nonimmigrant visa appointments in August 2026. Current wait times may differ from the April figures as a result. Travel.State.Gov publishes updated monthly figures, and those figures do not guarantee an appointment within the stated timeframe. Checking the official portal directly gives the most current picture.

Can I apply for a US visa in a GCC country if I am not a resident or citizen there?

Since 6 September 2025, State Department guidance directs applicants to interview at the post in their country of nationality or residence. Applicants without nationality from or established residency in a GCC country who book at a GCC post may encounter difficulties at interview. Because fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, confirming eligibility before paying the MRV fee is the sensible first step. Final decisions on any application rest with the consular officer, not with any agency or platform.