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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.
Seven months on, the region is still split. Bahrain's alert of 19 September 2026 says the embassy remains open for routine visa services, and Kuwait's visa page now says full visa services have resumed. Qatar still describes limited visa processing. On 6 October 2026 the visa pages for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman all still said routine visa processing is not available, although the UAE's alert of 1 September offers limited nonimmigrant appointments and Oman's alerts of 1 and 19 September describe its embassy as open for visa services. The State Department's table dated 17 September 2026 predicts the next B1/B2 slot in 12.5 months in Abu Dhabi and 11.5 in Dubai, against a month or less in Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait and Manama, 1.5 months in Dhahran, 3.5 in Doha and 4 in Muscat.
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 pause was still running in early September 2026. It 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 has told nonimmigrant visa applicants to schedule their interview at the embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. The current version, last updated on 15 July 2026, keeps that rule. Before September 2025, third-country nationals could generally apply at most consulates worldwide, a common workaround for shorter queues.
The 15 July text sets out the conditions. Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they apply, if residency is the basis. Those who book outside their country of nationality or residence, or their designated post, might find it more difficult to qualify, should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment, and will not have fees refunded or transferred. An Indian national with UAE residency can therefore apply in Dubai or Abu Dhabi with proof of that residency, and the same rule covers H-1B renewals, a question an Indian resident of Dubai raised on Reddit on 15 September 2026. An Indian passport holder on a short visit to Qatar who books in Doha would be applying outside both, so confirm eligibility before paying the MRV fee.
Nationals of countries where the US has no routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at a designated post unless they live elsewhere. The guidance also says existing appointments will generally not be cancelled, and where a post does cancel them, applicants will be notified. Nationality rules still apply: the visa-bond list updated on 2 October 2026 makes otherwise eligible B1/B2 applicants with passports from countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal post a $10,000 to $20,000 bond, wherever they apply.
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. On 6 October 2026 the mission's visa page still stated that, while both posts are open, routine visa processing is not available in the UAE at this time. The security alert of 1 September 2026 is more precise: limited nonimmigrant visa appointments are available, and all immigrant visa services remain suspended. The alerts of 11 and 19 September said nothing about visas, and the last consular cancellation alert dates from 13 July 2026.
Reddit posts suggest booked interviews are going ahead. An applicant from Dubai wrote on 28 September 2026 that their Abu Dhabi B1/B2 interview on 23 September ended in approval on the spot, with only the DS-160 confirmation and a photo requested, and their passport was ready at VFS Abu Dhabi two days later. A Pakistani doctor living in Abu Dhabi with her husband, and not eligible to work there, wrote on 5 October that she was refused after a 17-month wait. After a 214(b) refusal, the State Department says a reapplicant should be able to show significant changes in circumstances. A Dubai applicant due on 8 October wrote on 5 October that his own DS-160 number appeared on the appointment confirmation for all three family members, and that the call centre gave conflicting advice. The UAE mission's visa pages are silent on this; Muscat's embassy cancels appointments whose barcode does not match on interview day.
New nonimmigrant 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 US and UAE holidays. The State Department's table dated 17 September 2026 predicts the next B1/B2 appointment in 12.5 months in Abu Dhabi, up from 6 months in August, and 11.5 months in Dubai, so Dubai is now slightly quicker for visitors. Abu Dhabi is far quicker for student and work visas, at half a month against 5 and 4.5 months in Dubai.
Saudi Arabia — Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran
Saudi Arabia did not escape the early-2026 disruptions: the mission's security alert of 3 March 2026 announced that consular appointments were cancelled. On 6 October 2026 its visa page still stated that, although Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran are open, routine visa processing is not available in Saudi Arabia. The security alert of 5 October 2026 reports no change to the mission's security and operational posture and says nothing about visa interviews.
The signals still conflict: the 17 September table lists the next B1/B2 appointment at half a month in Riyadh, under half a month in Jeddah and 1.5 months in Dhahran. A Reddit question of 28 September 2026 about October or November B1/B2 slots in Jeddah or Riyadh had drawn no answers by 6 October. Check the portal before planning.
Per the embassy's own guidance, immigrant visas for citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia are processed only at the Embassy in Riyadh, while nonimmigrant visas are handled at Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran. Applicants needing an expedited appointment for a genuine emergency are directed to the ustraveldocs.com/sa portal, not any third party.
Qatar — Doha
Doha has only partly recovered. All routine US consular appointments in Qatar were cancelled for the week of 1 March 2026, and the post spent months on emergency services. On 6 October 2026 its visa page still described limited visa processing, as did the security alert of 19 September 2026. The 17 September table predicts 3.5 months for every visa category, unchanged from August. Qatar applicants schedule through the ustraveldocs.com/qa portal.
Kuwait — Kuwait City
Kuwait has recovered furthest on paper. Consular services were suspended in early March 2026, and the embassy reopened on a limited basis on 24 June 2026. The security alert dated 2 September 2026 announced full consular services, including visas and notarials, and the visa page now agrees: the limited-operations notice seen there on 9 September has given way to a statement that full visa services have resumed in all categories. The 17 September table cut the predicted B1/B2 wait from 3.5 months to one. Yet an applicant in r/Kuwait said on 4 October 2026 that the scheduling system showed no B1/B2 slots whenever they checked.
Bahrain — Manama
Manama has also come back. Closed after the late-February 2026 escalation, with staff sheltering in place, the embassy had resumed routine visa services by 17 July. The security alerts of 5 and 19 September 2026 state that the embassy remains open for routine American citizen and visa services. The State Department's table dated 17 September 2026 again lists Manama's next B1/B2 appointment at under half a month.
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 early September 2026 the pause was still running, with no published date for when normal immigrant-visa appointment scheduling would resume, and none for rescheduling postponed interviews. Applicants who already had interviews scheduled have reportedly received notices that their appointments are being rescheduled. In the UAE this stacks on a local restriction, since both posts list all immigrant visa services as suspended on security grounds.
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 service is ustraveldocs.com/ae, whose call centre answers on [email protected]. An older address, ais.usvisa-info.com, no longer serves the UAE. A Reddit post of 10 September 2026 described a Dubai applicant locked out after losing access to the phone and email linked to her profile, so keep both current, and check that each family member's own DS-160 number is attached to their appointment. Monitoring the portal during the Friday morning release window, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. local time, gives the best chance of catching a new slot, and anyone holding an appointment can log in at any time to move to an earlier one. Saudi applicants use ustraveldocs.com/sa and Qatar applicants ustraveldocs.com/qa. The State Department's monthly wait-time table, in its 17 September 2026 edition, predicts the next available slot without guaranteeing it.
Alternate Posts Outside the Gulf
As of mid-2026, news reports named Cairo and Ankara among US embassies outside the Gulf that were still processing visas. The 17 September table lists their next B1/B2 slots at 1 and 4.5 months, but for anyone without nationality or residence there the 15 July 2026 guidance warns of significantly longer waits, and fees cannot be refunded or transferred.
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.
An applicant interviewed in Abu Dhabi said in an unverified Reddit comment on 29 September 2026 that an agent's bots booked the appointment as soon as one opened. 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 let applicants pick consulates globally for shorter queues. It particularly affects Gulf expats whose home countries have long queues, many of whom had used GCC posts as the faster route.
The guidance was last updated on 15 July 2026. It keeps the rule, asks for proof of residence where that is the basis, and warns of significantly longer waits elsewhere.
Interview-Waiver Restrictions — September 2025
Since 2 September 2025, the dropbox process has been limited mainly to same-category renewals expiring less than 12 months earlier, plus certain diplomatic and official categories. The age-based exemptions went with it. Applicants under 14 and over 79 now attend in person like everybody else.
Security Disruptions — February to August 2026
The escalation beginning in late February 2026 triggered cascading post closures, and the summer recovery was uneven. The UAE moved from full suspension to limited nonimmigrant appointments by August 2026, Kuwait reopened in June, and Qatar stayed on emergency footing into August.
The order kept shifting into October. Kuwait announced full consular services including visas on 2 September, and by 6 October its visa page said all categories can schedule. Bahrain confirmed routine visa services on 5 and 19 September, and Qatar limited visa services on 1 and 19 September. The wait-time table of 17 September raised Abu Dhabi's B1/B2 prediction from 6 to 12.5 months and cut Kuwait's from 3.5 months to one. On 6 October the UAE, Saudi and Oman visa pages still said routine visa processing is not available.
FAQ
Can an Indian expat living in Dubai apply for a US B-1/B-2 visa at the Dubai consulate?
Yes, in principle. Under State Department guidance last updated on 15 July 2026, applicants should apply at the post in their country of nationality or residence, and an Indian national with UAE residency qualifies at either the Dubai consulate or the Abu Dhabi embassy. The guidance says applicants must be able to demonstrate that residence. On 6 October 2026 the mission's visa page still said routine visa processing is not available, and the table dated 17 September 2026 put the next B1/B2 slot at 11.5 months in Dubai against 12.5 months in Abu Dhabi. Note also that every applicant needs an in-person interview regardless of age, infants included, so a family booking means one slot and one DS-160 per person.
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 US and UAE holidays. The mission adds that it may occasionally release extra appointments outside that schedule. Monitoring the portal during that window gives the best practical opportunity to secure a newly available slot.
Is the US Embassy in Bahrain open for visa appointments?
Yes, as of the security alerts of 5 and 19 September 2026, which state that the embassy remains open for routine American citizen and visa services. That is a clear change from April 2026, when Manama had suspended routine consular services. The embassy's visa page sends applicants to the State Department's wait-time tool, and the table dated 17 September 2026 lists Manama's next B1/B2 appointment at under half a month. Check the embassy's alerts page for the current position.
Did the US Embassy in Kuwait resume visa interviews?
Yes, on paper. The embassy's security alert dated 2 September 2026 says the embassy in Kuwait City is providing full consular services, including visas and notarials, after the limited reopening effective midnight on 24 June 2026. By 6 October the visa page had dropped its older notice that visas were unavailable and said full visa services have resumed, with all categories able to schedule online. The table dated 17 September 2026 lists the next B1/B2 appointment at one month, yet an applicant in r/Kuwait reported on 4 October that the scheduling system showed no B1/B2 slots, so confirm availability before making travel plans.
Does the August 2026 immigrant visa pause affect B-1/B-2 or student visa applicants?
No. The worldwide pause announced on 26 August 2026, and still running in early September 2026, applies only to immigrant visa appointments. Nonimmigrant categories, including B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas, F-1 student visas, and H and L work visas, are not covered by it 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?
Qatar has partly recovered. The embassy's visa page, checked on 6 October 2026, states that limited visa processing is available, and the security alert of 19 September 2026 says the same. Appointments are scheduled through the ustraveldocs.com/qa portal, and the table dated 17 September 2026 lists the next B1/B2 slot at 3.5 months, so check often for earlier ones. If travel is urgent and you live in another country, guidance last updated on 15 July 2026 allows applying there, provided you can demonstrate that residence.
How do I request an expedited US visa appointment in Saudi Arabia?
Through the official ustraveldocs.com/sa portal rather than any third party. Bear in mind the wider position: on 6 October 2026 the mission's visa page still stated that routine visa processing is not available in Saudi Arabia at this time, even though Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran are open. State Department guidance specifies that weddings, graduation ceremonies, annual business conferences and last-minute tourism do not qualify as grounds for expediting. Medical emergencies and urgent documented travel typically carry more weight.
What is the current wait time for work visas at the UAE posts?
The State Department's table dated 17 September 2026 puts the next available appointment for H, L, O, P and Q work visas at half a month in Abu Dhabi, down from 6 months in August, and 4.5 months in Dubai. The Department calls that column a prediction, notes that new slots are added regularly, and updates the table monthly. With the UAE visa page still saying routine processing is unavailable, treat the figures as a rough guide. In the April 2026 reporting period, Abu Dhabi's average wait for these categories had been 14.5 months.
Can I apply for a US visa in a GCC country if I am not a resident or citizen there?
State Department guidance in place since 6 September 2025, last updated on 15 July 2026, says applicants should schedule in their country of nationality or residence. Those who book elsewhere might find it more difficult to qualify and should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment. Fees paid for such applications will not be refunded and cannot be transferred, so confirm eligibility before paying the MRV fee. Final decisions on any application rest with the consular officer, not with any agency or platform.
