# US Visa for Kazakhstanis in the UAE: Where to Apply 2026 Source: https://visadoctor.ae/kazakh-citizens-us-visa-from-dubai/ Last updated: 2026-09-30 Publisher: Visa Doctor FZC, licensed visa documentation agency in Dubai (SPC Free Zone licence 4417571.01) Kazakhstan is not on the Presidential Proclamation 10998 list. The reciprocity schedule is generous: up to 120 months with multiple entries for a B1/B2 visitor visa and up to 60 months for an F-1 student visa, with no reciprocity fee. Last checked 24 September 2026. ## Applying in the UAE or in Kazakhstan US missions in both countries apply the same rule: book your interview at a US embassy or consulate in your country of residence or nationality. In Kazakhstan, interviews are held at the Embassy in Astana and the Consulate General in Almaty. Point | UAE posts | Astana or Almaty | Status on 24 September 2026 | B1/B2 and student visa appointments available at the US Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate General Dubai | Appointments available in Astana and Almaty; waits are set locally | Who uses it | Kazakhstani citizens living in the UAE; Visa Doctor targets about 7 working days for an appointment, agreed in writing, with the service fee refunded if it is not secured | Kazakhstani citizens, plus Russian nationals, for whom Astana is a designated post | Deadline rule | Standard DS-160 before booking | Appointments are finalised at 5:00 pm three business days before the interview, so the DS-160 must be complete by then | Ties shown | UAE job, residence and bank history | Bring the same UAE evidence, plus any ties in Kazakhstan | The Kazakhstan posts also serve Russian applicants, which adds demand there, so compare the published Astana and Almaty waits before you pay. Kazakhstan is your country of nationality, so applying there is within the rule; the officer will still ask why you live in the UAE and what brings you back. ## Presidential Proclamation 10998: is Kazakhstan on the list? No. Proclamation 10998, published in the Federal Register on 19 December 2025 (90 FR 59717) and in force since 1 January 2026, suspends or limits visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries. We checked the proclamation text and the State Department’s implementation notice on 24 September 2026, and Kazakhstan is not named. Its Central Asian neighbour Turkmenistan is, but only for immigrant visas. ## Visa length and official fees Item | Kazakhstani citizens | B1/B2 maximum validity | 120 months, multiple entry | F-1 maximum validity | 60 months, multiple entry | Reciprocity fee | None for B1/B2 or F-1 | Application fee | $185, non-refundable | These are maximums; the officer decides the actual validity, and each stay is set at the US border. Kazakhstan is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so ESTA is not available. ## Step by step: a Kazakhstani UAE resident applying at home - **Pick Astana or Almaty** after checking both waits on the State Department’s wait-time tool. It says the figure is only an estimate. - **Complete the DS-160** with your name in the passport’s Latin spelling and your UAE address and employer. - **Pay the $185 fee and book** through the appointment system linked from the US Mission to Kazakhstan’s visas page. - **Submit the final DS-160 in time,** by 5:00 pm three business days before the interview. - **Attend the interview** with your passport, confirmation page and supporting file. - **After the interview,** allow time for the passport to be returned before flying back to the UAE. A 221(g) letter means more information is needed; a 214(b) refusal means a new application and fee. ## Documents for Kazakhstani residents of the UAE Document | Notes | Kazakhstani passport | Valid at least six months beyond the stay; bring old passports with visas | DS-160 confirmation and fee receipt | Names exactly as in the passport’s Latin spelling | UAE residence visa and Emirates ID | Shows where you live and why you will return | Employment letter or trade licence | Role, salary, start date and approved leave | UAE bank statements | About six months, consistent with income | Travel history | Schengen, UK or other visas and entry stamps | Trip documents | Itinerary, event registration or invitation | Kazakhstani applicants often hold funds or property in Kazakhstan. Those can support a file, but lead with UAE evidence and add Kazakh or Russian documents, translated into English, as backup. Our [US bank balance guide](https://visadoctor.ae/bank-balance-us-visa-from-dubai/) explains how officers read statements, and our [translation guide](https://visadoctor.ae/document-translation-visa-application-dubai/) covers the paperwork. ## Common refusal reasons The State Department’s visa denials page explains the grounds officers apply. For Kazakhstani applicants who live in the UAE: - **214(b):** ties not shown. Officers look at how long you have lived in the UAE, your job, and where your family is. - **221(g):** incomplete application or administrative processing. You have one year to respond before a new application and fee are needed. - **212(a)(6)(C)(i):** misrepresentation. Different Latin spellings across documents are not misrepresentation, but inconsistent answers can look like it, so explain them. Our [214(b) guide](https://visadoctor.ae/us-visa-214b-refusal-explained-dubai/) and [name mismatch guide](https://visadoctor.ae/name-mismatch-passport-visa-application-dubai/) go into both issues. ## Family, business and renewals Each traveller, including children, needs their own DS-160 and application fee, and family files should match on dates, US address and who is paying. For business travel, bring a letter from your UAE employer and an invitation or conference registration from the US side. A B1/B2 covers meetings, conferences and negotiations; it does not allow paid work in the US. Students need the I-20, the SEVIS fee receipt and evidence of funding, and the State Department asks F, M and J applicants to set social media accounts to public; see our [US student visa guide](https://visadoctor.ae/us-student-visa-dubai/). If you already hold a US visa that has expired, check whether you qualify for an interview waiver renewal. Our [US visa renewal guide](https://visadoctor.ae/us-visa-renewal-dubai/) covers the eligibility rules. ## How Visa Doctor helps We prepare B1/B2, F1 and F2 applications for Kazakhstani citizens living in the UAE, including those interviewing in Astana or Almaty. That covers choosing the post, the DS-160, translations, a consistent supporting file and interview preparation. We cannot create appointments or shorten official queues, and the consular officer decides every application. Planning Europe as well? See our [Schengen rules by nationality](https://visadoctor.ae/who-needs-schengen-visa-from-uae-by-nationality/). Call +971 58 509 5268 or message us on [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/971585170900). Our office is Office 311, Stadium Point, Dubai Sports City, open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 20:00. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do citizens of Kazakhstan need a US visa? Yes. Kazakhstan is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visa is needed for tourism, business, study or a US connection. ### Can I apply in Dubai with a Kazakhstani passport? Yes. Kazakhstanis living in the UAE can apply at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai as UAE residents. Applying in Astana or Almaty is an alternative. The interview waiver (dropbox) is not available to most applicants at present, so most need an interview. ### Is Kazakhstan on the 2026 US travel ban list? No. Kazakhstan is not named in Presidential Proclamation 10998. ### How long is a US visa for Kazakhstanis? Up to 120 months for B1/B2 and up to 60 months for F-1, multiple entry, under the reciprocity schedule. The officer decides the actual length. ### What is the DS-160 deadline in Kazakhstan? The US missions in Kazakhstan finalise appointments at 5:00 pm three business days before the interview, so the DS-160 must be complete and submitted by then. ### Is there a reciprocity fee for Kazakhstani citizens? No reciprocity fee is listed for B1/B2 or F-1. The $185 application fee applies. ## Sources and official references All sources checked 24 September 2026. - [US Embassy and Consulate in Kazakhstan: Visas and DS-160 deadline](https://kz.usembassy.gov/visas/) - US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE: Visas - [US Embassy in Russia: designated posts, including Astana](https://ru.usembassy.gov/visas/) - [Federal Register: Proclamation 10998, 90 FR 59717](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/19/2025-23570/restricting-and-limiting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states) - [US Department of State: Suspension of visa issuance under Proclamation 10998](https://travel.state. html) - [US Department of State: Reciprocity schedule, Kazakhstan](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Kazakhstan.html) - [US Department of State: Visa denials](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visa-denials.html) - [US Department of State: Visa appointment wait times](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html)