UAE students bound for US universities face visa crunch as families struggle to secure appointments

DUBAI — For UAE families whose children have been admitted to US universities this autumn, the final weeks before term have turned into a scramble to secure visa appointments, as limited consular processing in the Emirates and a shortage of slots in applicants' home countries leave many uncertain their children will reach campus in time.

Routine US visa processing is currently unavailable in the UAE. The US missions told Khaleej Times that while the embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai remain open, routine visa services have been paused, with consular teams prioritising assistance for US citizens after non-emergency staff departed amid the threat of armed conflict in the region.

Embassy spokesperson Maura Pfeifer said routine visa processing was “not available in the United Arab Emirates at this time,” and advised applicants to apply as early as possible and to anticipate additional processing time. Applicants have been told to schedule interviews in their country of residence or nationality, and were warned that applying elsewhere can mean limited appointment availability and greater difficulty establishing eligibility. The mission pointed applicants to the Global Visa Wait Times tool on travel.state.gov and noted that an expedite option exists but is granted only at a consular officer's discretion.

For families, the practical effect has been gridlock. Akshay Jain, a UAE resident of more than 20 years whose son is due to start at a university in California, said that after being redirected to apply in India, the family had spent weeks trying without securing a single appointment slot at any visa application centre there. Attempts elsewhere in the region also came to nothing, he said, leaving his son's plans hanging in the balance.

Others have changed course altogether. Alok Bhagwat said his son held offers from several US universities but, unable to find an appointment in either India or the UAE, ultimately opted for Imperial College London after his IB results confirmed he had met the offer — a relief that ended the family's search for a US slot.

Education counsellors say the appointment crunch is compounding wider pressures on overseas study. Rema Menon Vellat, founder and director of Counselling Point Training and Development, said the current geopolitical climate was making appointments harder to secure while some countries had introduced caps on student visas. She urged families to weigh affordability and post-study prospects carefully, noting that rising tuition and a strong dollar were straining budgets measured in home currencies.

The disruption comes as US consular services across parts of the Gulf have been curtailed amid heightened regional tensions, and as universities in the UAE report growing interest from students rerouting from the United States. For families still waiting on appointments, the coming weeks may determine whether deferring to a later term becomes unavoidable.