Visas for UAE residents
US Visa Appointment in the UAE: DS-160 and Interview Preparation
To get a US visa appointment in the UAE you complete the DS-160 form, pay the visa fee and book an interview at the embassy in Abu Dhabi or the consulate in Dubai. Happy Journey does all three for you and prepares you for the interview. You always attend the interview in person, and the consular officer decides.
- 4.6Google rating, 280 reviews
- 2walk-in offices, Abu Dhabi and Dubai
- Since 2020at Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi
- 7 daysopen every day, Sunday from 2pm
At a glance
US visitor visa from the UAE at a glance
Checked 7 November 2026
- Visa for holidays and business trips
- B1/B2 visitor visa
- Who attends
- You, in person; we prepare you but cannot attend for you
- Our service fee
- On request
01
Who applies for a US visa from the UAE
Most expats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai need a US visa before they can visit, whatever their job or salary. Holders of passports in the Visa Waiver Program use ESTA instead.
People we see most at our desk are families planning Orlando or New York in the summer, parents visiting children who study or work in the US, and professionals heading to conferences and trade shows. Many come back five or ten years later for a renewal.
02
US visa types for visitors: B1/B2 and renewals
B2 tourist
- For
- Holidays, visiting family and friends, medical treatment
- What to know
- Usually issued together with B1 as a B1/B2 visa
B1 business
- For
- Meetings, conferences, negotiations; not paid work in the US
- What to know
- Bring an employer letter and the event or meeting details
B1/B2 renewal with interview
- For
- Expired visa, new passport or a change in your situation
- What to know
- Same steps as a first application
B1/B2 renewal without interview
- For
- Some applicants renewing in the same category
- What to know
- Ask us
Children
- For
- Each child needs their own visa and DS-160
- What to know
- Ask us
The visitor visas we help with. We confirm the right category before any fee is paid.
| Type | For | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| B2 tourist | Holidays, visiting family and friends, medical treatment | Usually issued together with B1 as a B1/B2 visa |
| B1 business | Meetings, conferences, negotiations; not paid work in the US | Bring an employer letter and the event or meeting details |
| B1/B2 renewal with interview | Expired visa, new passport or a change in your situation | Same steps as a first application |
| B1/B2 renewal without interview | Some applicants renewing in the same category | Ask us |
| Children | Each child needs their own visa and DS-160 | Ask us |
We do not prepare student, work, exchange or immigrant visas. Those need a different process and specialist advice, and we will say so at the start.
03
Documents for your DS-160 and interview
The DS-160 asks for your full travel history, work and education history, family details and social media accounts used in recent years.
Checklist
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID
- A recent digital photo that meets US rules: white background, no glasses, taken in the last six months
- Your travel dates and the address of your first hotel or host in the US
- Employer name, address, salary and start date; earlier jobs for the last five years
- Details of parents, spouse and any relatives in the US
- Earlier US travel dates and any past refusal
- For the interview: DS-160 confirmation page, fee receipt and appointment letter
- Supporting papers to carry: salary certificate or trade licence, bank statements, proof of family in the UAE
The officer may not ask to see any of your supporting papers. Carry them anyway, in order, so you can answer a question with a document in seconds.
04
How Happy Journey handles the DS-160 and appointment
- 01
Check your case
We look at your passport, residence, job, travel history and any earlier US visa or refusal, and confirm whether you need an interview.
- 02
Fill the DS-160
We complete the form with you, field by field, and you check every answer before we submit it. Small mistakes here cause most interview problems.
- 03
Prepare you
We print your file in order and run a short practice interview so your answers are clear and match the form.
We never promise a visa, a faster decision or a slot others cannot get. The consular officer decides, and appointments are released only through the official system.
05
Appointment waiting times in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Waiting times for a visitor visa interview change every week, and can differ between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We do not quote a fixed number.
- Cancelled slots appear without notice, which is why we keep checking for you
06
US visa cost from the UAE
US government application fee, B1/B2
- Amount
- Ask us
- Notes
- Paid before booking; not refunded if refused
Issuance or reciprocity fee
- Amount
- Ask us
- Notes
- Only some nationalities, paid after approval
Other US government fees
- Amount
- Ask us
- Notes
- We check on the day you apply
Happy Journey service fee
- Amount
- On request
- Notes
- DS-160, fee payment, booking, slot checks and interview preparation
Renewal without interview
- Amount
- On request
- Notes
- Eligibility check and drop-off file
Travel insurance for the trip
- Amount
- On request
- Notes
- Not required for the visa, but US medical bills are high
What you pay, dated 7 November 2026. Every line goes on your written quote before you pay.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US government application fee, B1/B2 | Ask us | Paid before booking; not refunded if refused |
| Issuance or reciprocity fee | Ask us | Only some nationalities, paid after approval |
| Other US government fees | Ask us | We check on the day you apply |
| Happy Journey service fee | On request | DS-160, fee payment, booking, slot checks and interview preparation |
| Renewal without interview | On request | Eligibility check and drop-off file |
| Travel insurance for the trip | On request | Not required for the visa, but US medical bills are high |
For cover while you are there, see our travel insurance for the US.
07
Interview tips and common refusal reasons
- 01
Know your form
Read your DS-160 the night before. Dates, employers and past trips must match what you say.
- 02
Answer the question asked
Short, direct answers in your own words. Do not recite a script.
- 03
Explain your plan simply
Where you will go, for how long, who pays and when you return to your job in the UAE.
- 04
Carry papers, offer them when asked
Keep your salary certificate, statements and family documents ready, but do not hand over a pile unasked.
Weak ties to the UAE
- What it looks like
- New job, short residence, family already abroad
- How we prepare
- We help you explain your job, home and family here plainly
Answers do not match the DS-160
- What it looks like
- A different employer, date or trip length at the interview
- How we prepare
- We check the form against your documents and practise
Trip does not fit your means
- What it looks like
- Long trip, low salary, no clear payer
- How we prepare
- A realistic plan and length, with the payer named
Unclear purpose
- What it looks like
- Vague answers about where and why
- How we prepare
- A simple day-by-day outline you can describe
Past overstay or undeclared refusal
- What it looks like
- History the officer can see but you did not mention
- How we prepare
- We ask about every past visa and declare it honestly
Refusal reasons we see most. Most visitor refusals are under section 214(b): the officer was not convinced you will return.
| Reason | What it looks like | How we prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Weak ties to the UAE | New job, short residence, family already abroad | We help you explain your job, home and family here plainly |
| Answers do not match the DS-160 | A different employer, date or trip length at the interview | We check the form against your documents and practise |
| Trip does not fit your means | Long trip, low salary, no clear payer | A realistic plan and length, with the payer named |
| Unclear purpose | Vague answers about where and why | A simple day-by-day outline you can describe |
| Past overstay or undeclared refusal | History the officer can see but you did not mention | We ask about every past visa and declare it honestly |
A 214(b) refusal is not permanent. You can reapply when your situation or your file is stronger, and we tell you honestly when that is. Need another visa too? See every visa we help with, our Canada visa from Dubai service, the UK visa application from the UAE, or our Turkey visa for UAE residents for an Istanbul stopover.
Questions
US visa FAQs
Start on WhatsApp or visit our visa and travel agency in Abu Dhabi at Mushrif Mall with your passport and any old US visas.
How do I get a US visa appointment in the UAE?
You get a US visa appointment by completing the DS-160 form, paying the visa fee and booking a slot on the official appointment system for the embassy in Abu Dhabi or the consulate in Dubai.
What are the US visa requirements from Dubai?
You need a valid passport, UAE residence visa, a digital photo that meets US rules, the DS-160 confirmation, the fee receipt and the appointment letter. For the interview, bring proof of work, funds and ties to the UAE.
What is the US visa cost from Dubai?
We tell you the full amount in writing before we start your application.
Can I renew my US visa in Dubai without an interview?
We check your previous visa and travel history, and if you qualify we prepare the file and book the document drop-off.
Can Happy Journey get me an earlier interview date?
No agency can buy or reserve an earlier US visa interview date. Appointments are released by the official system only.
Why do US visas get refused at the interview?
Most US visitor visa refusals happen when the officer is not convinced the applicant will return, often because ties to the UAE look weak or answers do not match the DS-160. We check your form against your documents and run a practice interview so your answers are clear and consistent.
It's your smart choice
Let's plan your trip together
Send your dates and travellers on WhatsApp, or walk in at Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi or BurJuman, Dubai. We reply with options and today's prices.
Enquiry
Send us your enquiry
Tell us where, when and who is travelling. A consultant replies by phone, WhatsApp or email.
- Abu DhabiOffice 329A, 3rd Floor, Mushrif Mall
- DubaiShop 1041, BurJuman
- Call us02 679 8008