For a US visitor visa, your passport matters more than for almost any other country. It decides how long your visa will last: 10 years for some nationalities, 5 years for most others on this page, and only 3 months for one. In 2026 it can also decide whether a visa can be issued at all. Your UAE residence decides where you apply: at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai. This page explains both.
Checked on 5 October 2026 against the US Department of State, US Embassy statements and the presidential proclamation in force. Sources at the end. US visa policy changed often in 2025 and 2026, so check travel.state.gov before you pay.
Before you pay any fee: as of 13 September 2026, the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai said they were processing only a very limited number of nonimmigrant visas, including B1/B2 visitor visas, mainly for urgent travel such as critical medical needs. Check the current position on the US Embassy UAE website and in our US visa appointment guide before you apply.
On this page
- Who can apply in the UAE
- Comparison by nationality
- The 2026 travel restrictions
- Why visa length differs by passport
- Fees in 2026
- Interview waivers
- What the interview turns on
- Questions people ask
Who can apply in the UAE
Since September 2025, the State Department requires visa applicants to apply at the US embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or country of residence.
- UAE residents with a valid residence visa and Emirates ID can apply in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, whatever their passport.
- Visitors to the UAE, for example on a tourist or visit visa, generally cannot. They must apply in their home country or country of residence.
Waiting times for interviews in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are covered in our US visa appointment guide.
Comparison by nationality
| Passport | Maximum B1/B2 visa validity | Affected by 2026 travel restrictions? |
|---|---|---|
| India | 10 years, multiple entry | No |
| Philippines | 10 years, multiple entry | No |
| Pakistan | 5 years, multiple entry | No |
| Egypt | 5 years, multiple entry | No |
| Bangladesh | 5 years, multiple entry | No |
| Sri Lanka | 5 years, multiple entry | No |
| Nigeria | 3 months, one entry | Yes: B1/B2 issuance partially suspended |
Validity is the maximum allowed by the State Department’s reciprocity schedule for each nationality. A consular officer can issue a shorter visa. Validity is how long you can use the visa to travel, not how long you can stay: the officer at the US border decides that on each entry, usually up to 6 months.
The 2026 travel restrictions
Presidential Proclamation 10998 took effect on 1 January 2026. It fully restricts visas for nationals of 19 countries and partially restricts them for 20 more. Nigeria is on the partial list. For Nigerian nationals, that means:
- Issuance of B1/B2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visas, and immigrant visas is suspended, with limited exceptions.
- The restriction follows nationality, not residence. Living in the UAE does not exempt you.
- You can still apply and attend an interview, but you may be found ineligible for a visa. You would lose the application fee.
- Visas issued before 1 January 2026 were not revoked. If you hold a valid US visa, you can still use it, subject to the normal checks at the border.
None of the other nationalities on this page are on the travel restriction lists. The State Department reviews the lists every 180 days, so check the current version before applying.
Separately, in January 2026 the State Department paused immigrant visa issuance (green cards) for nationals of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria and Pakistan. That pause does not apply to visitor visas.
Why visa length differs by passport
The United States sets the maximum length of each visa type by nationality, partly to match how each country treats US citizens. This is called reciprocity, and it can change. In 2025, for example, B1/B2 visas for Nigerian nationals were cut to 3 months and a single entry.
In practice:
- Indian and Filipino applicants usually receive 10-year visas if approved, so one successful interview covers many trips.
- Pakistani, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan applicants can receive up to 5 years. Plan to renew more often.
- Unlike a Schengen visa, a US visa can stay valid after your passport expires. Travel with the old passport containing the valid visa together with your new passport, as long as the visa is undamaged.
Fees in 2026
| Fee | Amount | When paid |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application fee (MRV) | US$185 | Before booking your interview. Not refunded if refused |
| Visa integrity fee | US$250 or more | When the visa is issued, where collected |
| Reciprocity (issuance) fee | None for the nationalities on this page | — |
The visa integrity fee was created by US law in July 2025. It is charged when a visa is issued, on top of the application fee, and can in principle be refunded after the visa expires if you followed all the visa conditions. Collection has been introduced unevenly, so check the US Embassy UAE fee page before you apply to see whether it is currently being charged in the UAE.
Interview waivers
Since September 2025, almost every visitor visa applicant needs an in-person interview. The main exception is a renewal: you may be able to skip the interview if you are renewing a B1/B2 visa that was issued for its full validity and expired within the last 12 months, you were at least 18 when it was issued, you are applying in your country of nationality or residence, and you have never been refused a US visa. The consulate can still ask you to attend.
What the interview turns on
US law presumes every visitor visa applicant intends to stay in the US unless they show otherwise. The officer decides in a short interview, mostly from your answers and your DS-160 form. Documents are often not even looked at. For UAE residents of any nationality, the strongest answers are about your life here:
- Your job: what you do, who you work for and how long you have been there.
- Your residence: how long you have lived in the UAE, and when your residence visa expires.
- Your family: who lives with you in the UAE, and who stays behind while you travel.
- Your trip: a clear, short answer about where you are going, why and for how long.
- Your travel history: previous US, UK, Schengen or other visas used correctly.
Answer every DS-160 question truthfully, including previous refusals from any country and the social media accounts you have used in the last five years. A false answer can make you permanently ineligible.
Our Schengen and UK pages explain how the same passports are treated by Europe and the UK: see Schengen visa by nationality and UK visitor visa by nationality.
Questions people ask
Can I apply for a US visa in Dubai if I am not Emirati?
Yes, if you are a UAE resident. Since September 2025, you must apply in your country of nationality or residence, so a UAE residence visa qualifies you to apply in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
Can Nigerians in Dubai get a US visitor visa in 2026?
B1/B2 issuance for Nigerian nationals is partially suspended under Proclamation 10998, with limited exceptions. UAE residence does not change this. Nigerians who already held a valid US visa on 1 January 2026 can still use it.
Why did I get a 5-year visa when my colleague got 10 years?
Maximum validity depends on nationality. Indian and Filipino nationals can receive 10 years. Pakistani, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals can receive up to 5 years.
How much does a US tourist visa cost from the UAE?
The application fee is US$185. A US$250 visa integrity fee may also apply when the visa is issued. Check the US Embassy UAE fee page for current charges.
Do I need an interview to renew my US visa?
Usually, unless you qualify for a waiver: your previous B1/B2 visa had full validity, expired within the last 12 months, and you have no refusals.
Related guides
- US visa appointment in Dubai: booking and wait times
- UK visitor visa from the UAE by nationality
- Schengen visa from the UAE by nationality
- Canada visitor visa from Dubai
Sources
- US Department of State — Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country: travel.state.gov
- Presidential Proclamation 10998, 16 December 2025, effective 1 January 2026
- US Mission Nigeria — Update on visa issuance under Proclamation 10998: ng.usembassy.gov
- Congressional Research Service — Expanded travel ban to take effect 1 January 2026: congress.gov
- Public Law 119-21 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), section 100007 — visa integrity fee
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 October 2026. Rechecked monthly while US visa rules are changing quickly. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.