Embassies and consulates · United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi: U.S. visa waits, scheduling and visas issued
As of September 17, 2026, the State Department lists a wait of 15 days for student visa appointments and 12.5 months for visitor visas at Abu Dhabi. 0 of 186 posts list a shorter student wait.
Source: U.S. Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times · Published 2026-09-17 · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2026-09-17
By visa type
Student and exchange visas
15 days wait
1,497 issued in the past 12 months
Details →
Visitor visas
12.5 months wait
15,922 issued in the past 12 months
Details →
Temporary work visas
15 days wait
268 issued in the past 12 months
Details →
Immigrant visas
Scheduling Mar 2025
3,961 issued in the past 12 months
Details →
Appointment waits at Abu Dhabi
The State Department lists how long applicants at each post wait for an interview, in months. It published these figures for Abu Dhabi on September 17, 2026.
| Visa class | Abu Dhabi | Median post | Posts with a shorter wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor (B-1/B-2), next available | 12.5 months | 1 month | 176 of 187 |
| Student and exchange (F, M, J) | 15 days | 15 days | 0 of 186 |
| Petition-based work (H, L, O, P, Q) | 15 days | 15 days | 0 of 184 |
| Crew and transit (C, D, C1/D) | 15 days | 15 days | 0 of 174 |
Source: U.S. Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times · Published 2026-09-17 · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2026-09-17
Abu Dhabi student wait over time
Abu Dhabi has ranged same day to 14.5 months across 24 months on record, so treat today's figure as a snapshot rather than a guarantee. The median over that time was 1 month.
Source: U.S. Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times · Published 2026-09-17 · Retrieved 2026-09-17 · Coverage 2022-11/2026-09
Immigrant visa interview scheduling at Abu Dhabi
In its October 7, 2026 update, the State Department listed the month a case had to become documentarily complete for the National Visa Center (NVC) to be scheduling its interview at Abu Dhabi.
Immediate relative
March 2025
19 months behind
Family-sponsored preference
August 2025
14 months behind
Employment-based preference
October 2023
36 months behind
Source: U.S. Department of State: IV Scheduling Status Tool · Published 2026-10-07 · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2026-10-07
Earlier scheduling months at Abu Dhabi →Visas issued at Abu Dhabi
The State Department reports how many visas each post issues every month. These counts are where visas were issued, not the nationality of the people who received them.
Nonimmigrant visas, February 2026
1,313
60% fewer than February 2025 (3,271). 21,534 over the past 12 months (sum of monthly reports, not an official total).
Immigrant visas, February 2026
113
69% fewer than February 2025 (366). 3,961 over the past 12 months (sum of monthly reports, not an official total).
Sources: U.S. Department of State: Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances and U.S. Department of State: Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2022-10/2026-02
Every visa class issued at Abu Dhabi →Visitor visa refusal rate for United Arab Emirates nationals
The State Department publishes refusal rates by nationality, counting applicants at every post, not by post. A refusal is what applicants usually call a visa rejection. This is the rate for nationals of United Arab Emirates wherever they applied, not a rate for Abu Dhabi.
Adjusted B visa refusal rate, FY2025
2.17%
Ranks 196 of 199 nationalities, highest first.
How the rate is calculated →Source: U.S. Department of State: Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas by Nationality · Retrieved 2026-07-24 · Coverage FY2025
Get an email when Abu Dhabi changes
Visitor (B-1/B-2), next available: 12.5 months now
We email you once each time the State Department publishes a different figure. Every email has an unsubscribe link.
Other U.S. posts in United Arab Emirates
- DubaiStudent wait 5 months
Where these figures come from
- U.S. Visa Appointment Wait Times by EmbassyPublished 2026-09-17 · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2026-09-17
- U.S. Student Visa Appointment Wait Times Over TimePublished 2026-09-17 · Retrieved 2026-09-17 · Coverage 2022-11/2026-09
- U.S. Immigrant Visa Interview Scheduling by EmbassyPublished 2026-10-07 · Retrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2026-10-07
- U.S. Visa Issuances by Post, MonthlyRetrieved 2026-10-15 · Coverage 2022-10/2026-02
- U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa Refusal Rates by NationalityRetrieved 2026-07-24 · Coverage FY2025
The State Department publishes each of these separately, on its own schedule. We show each one with its own date and never add figures from one to another.