US B1/B2 and student visas from Dubai
The official calendar shows about 11.5 months for a US visa interview in Dubai. We take that wait down to about 7 working days: we watch every appointment release, book the earliest confirmed date we can reach, and prepare your DS-160 and supporting file so the slot is not wasted.
US visitor and student visas from Dubai and Abu Dhabi: B1, B2, F1 and F2.
The US Department of State publishes the next available B1/B2 interview at about 11.5 months in Dubai and 12.5 months in Abu Dhabi (updated 17 September 2026). B1/B2 and student visa appointments are available in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. You can also apply in your home country. New interview appointments are released on Friday mornings between 7:30 and 11:30, and occasionally outside that window. We watch those releases, book the earliest confirmed date we can reach, and we prepare the DS-160 and the supporting file so the slot is not wasted. We also handle ESTA travel authorisation, which is not a visa. We do not handle work, immigrant or transit categories. If we do not secure your appointment in the time we agree in writing, we refund our service fee. The visa decision belongs to the consular officer.

We are a Dubai based visa documentation team. We prepare and check US visa files for UAE residents every day, so we know how the B1/B2 process really works, from the US visitor visa application and the DS-160 to the consular interview. When a change like the new $750 fast track appears, we look at what it actually means for people applying from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, not just the headline. See how we help on our Dubai visa services page.
Quick answer: the United States has started a $750 fast track option that gives B1/B2 visa applicants an interview appointment in about 10 business days. It runs as a pilot from July to December 2026. It only speeds up the appointment, not the approval, and it is offered at a limited number of US embassies and consulates. It does not help you inside the UAE, because the UAE posts are not in the pilot. Visa Doctor’s own appointment service for Dubai and Abu Dhabi is separate and targets about 7 working days, agreed in writing, with the service fee refunded if it is not secured. For UAE residents it is only useful if you apply as a third country national at a US post abroad that takes part in the pilot.
In mid 2026 the US Department of State began testing a paid expedite option for visitor and business visas. You pay an extra $750 on top of the standard $185 MRV application fee, which comes to about $935 in total. In return, eligible applicants are offered a US visa interview within roughly 10 business days of payment, instead of waiting weeks or months for a normal slot.
Two points matter most. First, the fee buys you an earlier interview, not a faster or easier decision. The consular officer still reviews your B1/B2 application the same way and can still refuse it. Second, the service is limited. It is offered only at selected posts and in small numbers, and the pilot is set to end on 31 December 2026 unless the State Department extends it.
This is the same programme that Gulf News and several US immigration law firms covered in July 2026. You can read the Gulf News report here.
No. The pilot covers a short list of posts in the Americas and the UAE is not one of them, so there is no $750 option to buy in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
The UAE posts are simply not in the pilot. There is no State Department paid queue-jump in the UAE, but Visa Doctor’s own appointment service targets about 7 working days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with the timeframe agreed in writing.
Book in the UAE first. B1/B2 appointments are available in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and UAE residents can book there. The pilot route only matters if you choose to apply as a third country national, which means booking your interview at an embassy or consulate in another country. If the post you choose takes part in the $750 pilot, you may be able to pay the expedite fee there and get an earlier interview date.
Before you go down this route, think about a few things:
If you are planning a US trip, it is worth reading our full USA visa guide for UAE residents and checking current visa processing times from the UAE first.
It depends on your situation. If your travel is time sensitive and you can apply at a post that offers the fast track, an earlier US visa interview can be the difference between making a trip and missing it. If your dates are flexible, the standard route saves you the fee. The one thing to keep in mind is simple. You are paying for speed of access, not for a better chance of approval. A weak application does not get stronger because you paid to be seen sooner.
Here is how the numbers stack up for a B1/B2 application from the UAE in 2026:
These are the US government fees only. They do not include flights to a third country, accommodation, or any help you use to prepare your file.
We check whether a third country application makes sense for your nationality and profile, prepare your DS-160 and supporting documents, help you present strong ties to the UAE, and get you ready for the interview so the earlier slot actually counts. If the fast track is available at the post you use, we make sure your file is complete before you pay for it. Talk to our team on our contact page.
Looking for an early or earlier date? Read our guide on how to get an earlier US visa appointment in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
No. It only gives you an earlier interview appointment, subject to availability. Your visa is still approved or refused by the consular officer based on your application.
No. The UAE posts are not part of the pilot, so the fee cannot be paid here.
The expedite fee is $750 on top of the $185 MRV application fee, so around $935 in total, before any service fees.
The official advice is your country of nationality or residence, which for UAE residents includes the UAE, where appointments are available in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Applying at a post where you are neither a national nor a resident is still possible but carries longer waits, no fee transfer and a lower approval rate.
Eligible applicants who pay are offered an interview within about 10 business days, where the service is available.
The MRV fee and the expedite fee are generally non refundable, even if the visa is refused.
US visa rules and fees set by the US government can change. If you want a clear read on the best way to get your US visa from the UAE, our Dubai team is here to help.
Every requirement, fee and timeline on this page is checked against the issuing authority before publication. These are the primary sources used for this article:
Government rules change without notice. We re-verify this page on a rolling schedule, but always confirm your own case with us before you book flights or pay fees.
Written and fact-checked by
Co-founder, Visa Doctor · Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Bartu Ulucay is a co-founder of Visa Doctor, the Dubai-based visa documentation agency behind this site. He works alongside the team that prepares and reviews visitor visa files for UAE residents applying to Schengen, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and 40+ other destinations.
Published 23 July 2026 · Last reviewed and updated
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