US Visa for Jordanians in the UAE: Where to Apply (2026)

Jordanian citizens need a visa for the United States, and Jordanians living in the UAE should currently plan to apply at the US Embassy in Amman, because routine visa processing is not available in the UAE. Jordan is not on the Presidential Proclamation 10998 list. The reciprocity schedule allows a multiple-entry B1/B2 visa of up to 60 months with no reciprocity fee, while F-1 and F-2 student visas carry an $81 reciprocity fee if issued.

Last checked 24 September 2026.

Applying from the UAE or from Amman

The US Embassy in Amman and the US Embassy in the UAE both say nonimmigrant applicants should book at a US embassy or consulate in their country of residence or nationality. On 24 September 2026, the UAE visas page added that “routine visa processing is not available in the United Arab Emirates at this time”, and a Mission notice dated 1 March 2026 says routine US visa services in the UAE are suspended. The Amman visas page carried no equivalent suspension notice when we checked.

Applying in Amman is within the rule, because Jordan is your country of nationality. The officer will still ask about your life in the UAE, so bring clear evidence of work, residence and family there. Many Jordanian families time the interview around a planned visit home.

Presidential Proclamation 10998: is Jordan on the list?

No. Proclamation 10998 (Federal Register, 19 December 2025, 90 FR 59717) has suspended or limited visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries and for Palestinian Authority travel documents since 1 January 2026. We checked the proclamation and the State Department’s implementation notice on 24 September 2026, and Jordan is not named. One point matters for some families: the proclamation also covers people applying on travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. A Jordanian passport holder applies as a Jordanian national.

What a Jordanian passport holder can receive

The $81 reciprocity fee is charged only if the student visa is issued, on top of the $185 application fee. These are maximums; the consular officer decides the actual validity and entries. Jordan is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so ESTA is not an option.

Step by step: a Jordanian UAE resident applying in Amman

1. Check the Amman wait on the State Department’s wait-time tool, which says the figure is only an estimate.
2. Complete a DS-160 for each traveller, choosing Amman as the location and listing your UAE address and employer.
3. Pay the $185 fee per person and book through the appointment system linked from the US Embassy in Jordan’s visas page.
4. Prepare one consistent family file: the same dates, US address and funding on every form.
5. Attend the interview with passports, confirmation pages and supporting documents.
6. After the interview, allow time for passport return. A 221(g) letter means more information or processing; a 214(b) refusal means reapplying with a new fee.

Documents that make a Jordanian file clear

Each person needs their own DS-160 and fee, but the files should tell one story. Our DS-160 and appointment guide walks through the form, and our translation guide covers Arabic documents.

Common refusal reasons

The State Department’s visa denials page explains the grounds. For Jordanian applicants these come up most:

• 214(b): the officer is not persuaded the trip is temporary. Recent job changes, a short UAE residence or relatives in the US without a clear return plan need explaining.
• 221(g): missing information or administrative processing. The State Department allows one year to respond before a new application and fee are needed.
• 212(a)(6)(C)(i): misrepresentation, such as undisclosed previous refusals. Disclose every refusal, including other countries where the form asks.

Read our 214(b) explainer before reapplying.

Students from Jordan

For an F-1 you need the I-20 from a SEVP-certified school and the SEVIS fee receipt, alongside proof that the first year’s costs are covered. The State Department asks F, M and J applicants to make their social media accounts public for vetting. Budget for the $81 reciprocity fee on issuance. See our US student visa guide.

How Visa Doctor helps

We prepare B1/B2, F1 and F2 applications for Jordanian residents of the UAE, including families interviewing in Amman: the DS-160, a supporting file that lines up across family members, translations and interview preparation. We cannot create appointments or shorten official queues, and the consular officer decides every case. For Europe, see our Schengen guide for Jordanian citizens; for the UK, see our UK guide for Jordanians.

Call +971 58 509 5268 or message us on WhatsApp. Our office is Office 311, Stadium Point, Dubai Sports City, open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 20:00.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and official references

All sources checked 24 September 2026.

• US Embassy in Jordan: Visas
• US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE: Visas, routine processing status
• US Mission UAE: Suspension of routine visa services notice, 1 March 2026
• Federal Register: Proclamation 10998, 90 FR 59717
• US Department of State: Suspension of visa issuance under Proclamation 10998
• US Department of State: Reciprocity schedule, Jordan
• US Department of State: Visitor visa requirements
• US Department of State: Visa denials
• US Department of State: Visa appointment wait times