The United States Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai have announced the temporary suspension of all visa appointment bookings and fee payment services from May 15 to May 29, 2025. The suspension is part of a planned transition to a new visa service provider, which will officially take over operations from May 30.
According to the official announcement, the new contractor will introduce updated systems for accessing visa information, processing application fees, scheduling or rescheduling interviews and managing document delivery options. To facilitate this transition, the current system will stop accepting new appointments and visa fee payments from May 15.
During the blackout period, applicants will not be able to initiate new visa procedures. However, any non-immigrant or immigrant visa appointments scheduled before May 19 will remain valid. The embassy confirmed that these appointments will not be impacted by the system change and applicants are advised to attend their scheduled interviews as planned.
Individuals who have already paid their visa fees but have not yet scheduled an appointment are urged to do so before May 19 using the current system. Those planning to apply for a visa but have not yet started the process are encouraged to complete the payment and appointment scheduling as early as possible, as the existing system will no longer accept fee payments after May 15.
Applicants who have been instructed to submit documents to the Consular Section should ensure the materials are delivered to authorized drop-off locations no later than May 24, as document acceptance will be halted after that date.
For emergencies during the transition window—such as urgent medical travel, family crises, business needs or the imminent start of academic programs—expedited appointments may be requested. Applicants in Abu Dhabi can email ADNIVExpedite@state.gov, while those in Dubai should contact DUBNIVExpedite@state.gov
The US diplomatic missions in the UAE have advised all applicants to plan ahead and avoid last-minute arrangements during the transition period to ensure smooth visa processing.