For many UAE residents who want to travel to the United States for vacation or business, obtaining a U.S. visa is important. However, the lengthy waiting times for visa appointments in the UAE might pose a big challenge. Luckily, there’s an alternative: apply for a U.S. visa from neighbouring Gulf countries. This has been found to help hasten the process greatly, and some applicants have received their visas within seven days only. In other words, USA visa for UAE residents is possible. This is how UAE residents can take advantage of this method.
The Problem: The Long Wait Times in the UAE
People have to wait longer to get appointments for visas, after which they can finally obtain them. According to travel agents in the UAE, it normally takes around 10-12 months, while others go beyond that period. Such a delay may be quite overwhelming, especially when one requires travelling urgently.
The Solution: Applying in the Gulf Neighbouring Countries
To avoid long waits in the UAE, many residents are beginning to choose to apply for their U.S. visas in other countries of the GCC, such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. This strategy has worked well for several applicants who have quickly gotten their visas.
Success Stories
One particularly remarkable case is Anshil Ponthuveetil Thekkumpurath, an Indian expatriate in the UAE. Faced with possibly spending one year waiting in the UAE, Thekkumpurath decided to apply at the American Consulate General in Dammam, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, instead. Within seven days, he had finished the entire visa process, and his passport returned with a United States visa within that time frame. According to Thekkumpurath, US visa application was the easiest compared to other visas like Schengen or Canadian Visas.
Official Guidelines And Recommendations
“U.S. Visa Appointments can be obtained from any country,” confirmed Ron Packowitz, the deputy consular coordinator at Abu Dhabi. He added that applicants can apply from wherever they choose as long as their nationalities do not restrict them. The flexibility of the country’s consulates in this process is a great advantage to people living in the UAE who want to get their visas quickly.
Shamsheed CV, an outbound travel senior consultant with Wisefox Tourism, has pointed out that wait times are much shorter in nearby GCC nations. In Oman, it takes about three months, while in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, it is two to three weeks. It usually takes five days after candidates finish their interviews to get their passports back.
Practical Steps To Apply For A US Visa In GCC Countries
This guide will outline how a USA visa for UAE residents is possible in 7 days, and those who wish to obtain a U.S. visa can go about doing so through one of the GCC countries nearby:
Research and Choose the Country: Find out the current wait times for obtaining visas in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. Pick whichever country has the shortest waiting period and most convenient travel options.
Book an Appointment: Visit the official U.S. Embassy or Consulate website of the chosen country to book a visa appointment. Make sure you have all the necessary documents prepared, including your passport, DS-160 confirmation page, and visa appointment confirmation.
Prepare for the Interview: Gather all required documentation for your visa category. This typically includes proof of your travel intent, financial stability, and ties to the UAE to demonstrate your intent to return after your U.S. visit.
Travel to the Consulate: Plan your travel to the consulate in the chosen advised by the U.S. embassy in Abu Dhabi; arrive that you come at least 15 minutes before your scheduled stay in Abu Dhabi before going into the consular section. It is good to note that children under 14 years are not required to attend visa interviews unless stated otherwise.
Attend the Interview: Attend your visa interview at the U.S. consulate. Be sure to give honest answers and provide any additional documents a consular officer requests.
Wait for Processing: If approved, processing normally takes about five days. Once processed, you will receive your passport with a U.S.a U.S. visa.
Return to the UAE: When you receive your passport, you can return to the UAE and advance with your journey to the U.S.
Advantages of Applying in GCC Countries
Shorter Wait Times: Visa appointments are often available more quickly than in the UAE or the Russian Federation.
Quick Processing: Viva! Lower visa processing periods, sometimes as little as a week!
Flexibility: Ability to choose which country is most convenient for you when applying for a visa.
Neighbouring GCC countries present practicality and efficiency that UAE residents face long wait times for U.S. visa appointments. By following these steps and choosing the right country, applicants can significantly reduce their waiting time and speed up their travel plans. This approach saves time and reduces stress and ambiguity associated with unnecessarily prolonged visa application procedures. A USA visa for UAE residents is an advantage other countries cannot have.
This could be an option worth considering for people who want to travel urgently to the USA. To ease your application process, consult with respective U.S. embassies or consulates on current guidelines and requirements.
