US Visa Application from UAE: New Interview Rules 2025

If you’re planning a US visa application. The U.S. Department of State has announced a significant policy change for immigrant visa applicants, requiring most to undergo an interview in their country of residence or nationality.

As of an August 28 posting on the US Department of State website, “The Department of State is now requiring US Visa application to interview in the consular district designated for their place of residence, or in their country of nationality if requested, with limited exceptions.”, most individuals are required to go to their visa interview in the country that they reside in or their home country if requested.

For UAE residents, this will mean that the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate Dubai will be taking an even greater share of the application process.

New Policy: The US Visa Interview Rule Change 2025

The new policy is straightforward: your interview must be scheduled in the country where you live. If you’re a Pakistani working in Dubai, your interview will be in the UAE. Gone are the days when you could travel to another country for a faster appointment.

Think of it like renewing your Emirates ID—you must do it where you’re officially registered, not elsewhere.

Why This Change Was Announced

The State Department introduced this change for efficiency, consistency, and security. By centralizing interviews, they aim to:

Reduce delays caused by applicants “shopping” for faster appointments abroad.

Standardize the vetting process.

Ensure local embassies handle cases from their jurisdiction.

Key Dates to Remember

• August 28, 2025 – Policy officially announced.

• September 2, 2025 – Non-immigrant applicants in the UAE lose most interview waivers.

• November 1, 2025 – New rules take effect for immigrant visa applicants.

 Impact on UAE Applicants

If you live in Dubai, Sharjah, or Abu Dhabi, your US visa application will now be tied to UAE-based embassies. While this removes flexibility, it also simplifies the process by making the US Embassy Abu Dhabi the main hub.

Role of the US Embassy Abu Dhabi

The US Embassy Abu Dhabi is more than just a local consulate—it has been designated as the main processing center for applicants from certain countries with closed embassies, such as Iran. This makes Abu Dhabi a crucial stop for thousands of regional applicants.

Changes for Immigrant Visa Applicants

For immigrant visas:

• The National Visa Centre (NVC) schedules interviews, not the embassy.
• Interviews must be attended in your country of residence.

• Exceptions will be very limited.

This ensures every case follows a single streamlined system.

US Visitor Visa Requirement Changes 2025

Biggest update: interview waivers are nearly gone. Before, children under 14 and adults over 79 didn’t need interviews. Starting September 2025, they must attend too.

Even if you renewed your visa without an interview in the past, you’ll now likely need to appear in person.

Children and Elderly Applicants Now Included

Families traveling with kids should plan ahead. Younger children now need to attend interviews, and elderly applicants can’t skip this step either. This means scheduling will require more coordination.

Designated Posts for Residents

The new rules are particularly important for residents of countries where routine visa operations have been suspended or paused. The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi has been officially designated as a processing post for immigrant visa applications from Iranian nationals, for example.

The new policy specifies the following designated posts for residents of other nations with suspended operations:

• Afghanistan (except Special Immigrant Visas): Islamabad

• Belarus: Warsaw

• Eritrea: Addis Ababa, Nairobi

• Haiti: Nassau

• Iran: Abu Dhabi, Yerevan, Ankara

• Libya: Tunis

• Niger: Abidjan

• North Korea: Guangzhou

• Russia: Warsaw, Almaty (for IR-5 visas) and Tashkent (for IR-5 visas)

• Somalia: Nairobi

• South Sudan: Nairobi

• Sudan: Cairo

• Syria: Amman, Beirut (for Palestinians with Syrian Travel Documents)

• Venezuela: Bogota

• Yemen: Djibouti

• Zimbabwe: Johannesburg

This ensures no one is left without an assigned location.

What Happens to Existing Appointments

If you already have an appointment booked, don’t worry—it will remain valid. The new policy applies to future applications only.

Transferring Cases Under the New Policy

Previously, you could email an embassy to request a transfer. Not anymore. Now, all transfer requests must go through the NVC’s Public Inquiry Form. This keeps the process centralized.

Exceptions to the Rule

The Department of State has stated that exceptions will be rare and only for:

• Medical or humanitarian emergencies.

• Urgent foreign policy needs.

Applicants should not expect special treatment unless it’s a critical case.

 What Diversity Visa Applicants Should Know

Winners of the DV-2026 program will also need to attend interviews in their country of residence. No more shortcuts or choosing alternate posts.

 Tips to Prepare for Your US Visa Interview

• Apply early—appointments will fill up fast.
• Check the US Embassy Abu Dhabi and US Consulate Dubai websites for updates.

• Prepare your paperwork carefully to avoid delays.

• Expect to appear in person, even if you had previously obtained exemptions.

Final words

The US visa interview rule change 2025 is one of the biggest immigration updates in recent years. For UAE residents, it means the US Embassy Abu Dhabi is now the central place for applications. While this may feel restrictive, it ensures fairness, order, and consistency across all applicants.

If you’re planning a US visa application soon, mark the key dates, prepare your documents early, and be ready to attend your interview in person.