US Visa for Kazakhstanis in the UAE: Where to Apply 2026

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.

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

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

1. Pick Astana or Almaty after checking both waits on the State Department’s wait-time tool. It says the figure is only an estimate.
2. Complete the DS-160 with your name in the passport’s Latin spelling and your UAE address and employer.
3. Pay the $185 fee and book through the appointment system linked from the US Mission to Kazakhstan’s visas page.
4. Submit the final DS-160 in time, by 5:00 pm three business days before the interview.
5. Attend the interview with your passport, confirmation page and supporting file.
6. 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

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 explains how officers read statements, and our translation guide 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 and name mismatch guide 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.

If you already hold a US visa that has expired, check whether you qualify for an interview waiver renewal. Our US visa renewal guide 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.

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 and Consulate in Kazakhstan: Visas and DS-160 deadline
• US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE: Visas
• US Embassy in Russia: designated posts, including Astana
• Federal Register: Proclamation 10998, 90 FR 59717
• US Department of State: Suspension of visa issuance under Proclamation 10998
• US Department of State: Reciprocity schedule, Kazakhstan
• US Department of State: Visa denials
• US Department of State: Visa appointment wait times