us tourist visa appointment abu dhabi

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How to Apply for a US Tourist Visa in Abu Dhabi

Previously, we’ve shared how you can apply for a  Schengen visa  that would enable you to travel around different countries in Europe. Today, we’re going to talk about another type of visa… a tourist visa that would allow you to travel across the United States (US).

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Unless you are a citizen of a country that is part of the US Visa Waiver Program (see below), you will need a visa before traveling to the United States. Emiratis, as well as certain Abu Dhabi residents who are foreign nationals, need to apply for a US visa before going there.

Prerequisites

Required documents, additional information, guide to applying for a us tourist visa in abu dhabi.

Basically, there are two types of UAE visit visas: the B1 visa for business visitors, and the B2 visa for tourists . This article focused on the B2 visa, which enables people to enter the US for tourism purposes, visit family and friends, enroll in a short course, or get medical treatment.

To get a B2 visa, you will need to apply and submit an application to the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi , which is located at Plot 38, Rabdan Street, Airport Road Embassies District, Sector W59-02, Abu Dhabi . Its main telephone number is +971 2 414 2200 .

Before applying for the B2 visa, please take note of the following prerequisites, required documents, and procedure first:

To obtain a B2 visa, you should be able to prove that:

• Your intention for visiting is compliant with the B2 visa allowed purposes
• You have adequate financial means to cover your visit to the US
• You do not intend to stay in the US and that you will leave as soon as your visa expires
• Valid passport
• US visa photo
• Form DS-160 confirmation page & code
• Interview confirmation page
• Receipt of paid visa fees
• Letter describing your purpose for travel
• Invitation letter from family or friends in the US
• Photocopies of relative’s status in the US
• Proof of financial means ( e.g. bank statements, payslips, etc.)
• Ties to your home country ( e.g. job contract, property deed, etc.)
• Letter from authorities stating that you don’t have prior convictions
• Diploma or transcript of records (for students)
• Letter from doctor on your diagnosis & treatment (for medical patients)
• Complete and submit Form DS-160. The first part of the form contains questions about personal information, while the second part focuses on security and background information. Click here  to fill up the form online.
• Pay the visa fees. The application fee is USD 160, although you may have to pay other fees, such as the visa issuance fee, which varies from country to country.
• Schedule your visa interview. This is done upon submission of your Form DS-160. After setting an appointment, you will receive a confirmation page, which you should bring on the day of the interview.
• Gather your B2 visa document file ( i.e. required documents stated above).
• Attend the visa interview. Be sure to arrive ahead of time!
• The processing time for B2 visas could take a few weeks up to a few months, depending on the workload at the US Embassy where you applied in.
• The B2 visa is valid for a maximum of 6 months. As soon as your visa expires, you will need to leave the country.
• In case your B2 visa application gets denied, you can still re-apply. However, your visa fee will not be returned, and you will need to pay it again when you re-apply. Also, be sure to present proof to avoid visa denial.
• As mentioned earlier, there is a US Visa Waiver Program that exempts certain nationalities. If you are a citizen of any of the following countries, you only need a US Electronic Travel Authorization to enter the US: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan , and United Kingdom .

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DISCLAIMER: The above guide is presented for information-sharing purposes only. To know more about how to apply for a US tourist visa in Abu Dhabi, please visit the official website  of the US Embassy & Consulate in the UAE.

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• Visa and Immigration in UAE

US Embassy in UAE to expedite visa appointments amid high demand

The covid-19 pandemic restricted the interviewing of many candidates for the non-immigrant visa, which led to a backlog.

SM Ayaz Zakir

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With appointments for US visas available only after a year, a diplomat has said the mission in the UAE is trying to speed up the process.

“We are working to expand and improve to increase our capacity and expedite appointments,” Ron Packowitz, country consular coordinator, told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview.

“There is a high demand to travel to the US post-pandemic, not just from UAE, but worldwide,” added Packowitz.

In an earlier interview with travel industry experts in the UAE, Khaleej Times reported about the unprecedented demand among UAE residents to travel to the US , and the closest available date for an appointment in Dubai is October 18, 2024. In Abu Dhabi, it is only in November 2024.

Pandemic creates backlog

Elaborating on the reasons for the delay, Packowitz said that the pandemic restricted the interviewing of many candidates for the non-immigrant visa, which led to a backlog. “By law, we are required to interview visa applicants. Because of the pandemic and some of the restrictions put by the local governments, we were unable to bring them into our consular section for interviews. Many of them still want to travel to the US,” said Packowitz.

"Post-pandemic, we have received more applications for non-immigrant visas than we received pre-pandemic. Now the pandemic is over, there is enormous interest in travel from around the world,” said Packowitz.

Priority for some

The consular coordinator further mentioned that for some applicants, the embassy is working on improving the backlog and offering visa appointments more quickly.

“We prioritise visa interviews for some travellers like students, medical emergency, urgent business travel, and people with expired visas,” said Packowitz.

“For students travelling to the US, we do everything we can for them to arrive the first day of their classes. Businessmen with urgent travel requirements travelling to the US to sign an important deal have also been given attention, along with travellers seeking urgent medical care,” said Packowitz.

However, for residents with largely expired visas in the last four years, “it is not necessary to visit the consulate and they can receive it via Emirates post,” said Packowitz.

Visa appointment elsewhere

Appointments for US visas can be obtained in any country and people are entitled to apply wherever they like, said Packowitz.

“Depending on the availability of the appointments, residents can opt to appear for the interview in any GCC countries or their preferred location,” added Packowitz.

Additional daily appointments

Every day, the embassy adds additional appointments to ease the process and quicken the interview process for UAE residents.

“Each day we look to see whether we are able to add additional appointments, and we do that periodically,” said Packowitz adding that it is possible to visit the official website periodically to find appointments much sooner than the actual appointment.

‘Plan a year ahead’

Packowitz advised the residents to plan at least a year ahead of their travel to the US. “I advise travellers to plan far ahead of their travel. People who know that they have travel coming up must plan over a year in advance and they should start the application process as soon as they have travel in mind,” said Packowitz.

“It is essential not to make irreversible plans until they have their visas in hand,” added Packowitz.

Recommendations

Undoubtedly, there are thousands of destinations and attractions across the United States of America for a memorable trip or vacation. However, for the residents of the Middle East, Packowitz recommends taking a trip to Chicago, New York, Southern and Northern California, and Orlando.

“One can experience great food and local sports in Chicago. New York will never disappoint you, it will exceed your expectations. In California, travellers can visit theme parks and Redwood trees that have trunks wide enough to carve a tunnel,” said Packowitz.

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How to apply for or renew a U.S. tourist visa

If you visit the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. Learn how to get and renew this type of nonimmigrant visa.

To enter the U.S., you must bring a passport issued by your country of citizenship along with your visa. Officials at your port of entry into the U.S. will also issue you a Form I-94, which electronically records your arrival and departure dates. Learn more about Form I-94 and how to apply .

Find out if you need a visa to visit the U.S.

Check to see if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) . If it does, you can get a waiver and will not need a visa. If you do not see your country listed, you will need a visitor visa.

Visitor (tourist) visa

The visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa, is a type of nonimmigrant visa for people who wish to temporarily enter the U.S. There are two categories:

• B-1 for business travel
• B-2 for tourism and medical treatment

Learn about B-1 and B-2 visas , including:

• Reasons you would need each type of visitor visa
• How to apply
• What documents you will need
• Application fees
• How to prepare for your interview at your U.S. embassy or consulate

How to renew a visitor visa

You must renew your visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Only diplomatic visa holders and their dependents can renew their visas within the U.S.

The process to renew a visitor visa is the same as getting one for the first time. Follow the process to apply for a visitor visa from the Department of State.

Find the contact information for your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and contact them for visa renewal information.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Abu Dhabi to invest $10bn in infrastructure as part of new tourism plan

Words:  Bea Mitchell

| 2 min read

Plan signals a new era of expansion and development in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi ‘s culture and tourism department has revealed plans to invest more than $10 billion in infrastructure as part of its new tourism strategy for 2030.

Per a press release, the plan signals a new era of expansion and development in Abu Dhabi’s travel and tourism sector.

Abu Dhabi will introduce new theme parks , cultural sites, retail experiences and hotels. The emirate will increase hotel room availability, enhance infrastructure, and streamline visa processes.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak , chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, told the National : “[When it comes to] infrastructure, in terms of museums, theme parks and hospitality – [with] the private sector playing a significant role – we are hovering at over $10 billion of investment from now to 2030.”

The tourism strategy aims to boost annual visitor numbers from nearly 24 million in 2023 to 39.3 million by 2030. It also means to raise the sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP from around AED 49 billion to AED 90 billion annually.

Additionally, it will generate an estimated 178,000 new jobs by 2030. It also aims to nearly double international overnight visitors from 3.8 million to 7.2 million, and expand hotel room availability from 34,000 to 52,000.

New theme parks and museums

Al Mubarak said the plan represents “a vital lever in our ongoing evolution”. He added: “Delivered alongside our key partners, the strategy underscores our steadfast commitment to fostering sustainable growth and strategic development in the travel and tourism sector.

“Through carefully crafted initiatives that will unlock economic opportunities, amplify our distinctive culture and enhance the emirate ’s value proposition, we are laying the foundation for a vibrant and prosperous future that transcends generations.”

New attractions coming to Abu Dhabi include a  Harry Potter-themed land  for Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, as well as the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi , Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi.

Image courtesy of Miral

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Bea Mitchell

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