Travel consultants are warning UAE residents hoping to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States that they must start the B-1/B-2 visa process immediately. According to Dubai-based agencies, interview-appointment availability at the US Consulate in Dubai dropped below the 120-day mark this week—an early sign of the historic demand spikes seen before previous tournaments.
Unlike Schengen visas, US tourist visas remain valid for up to 10 years, so mobility experts advise prospective travellers to avoid the 2026 rush by securing appointments during December and January, when corporate traffic traditionally lulls. The US Mission is operating at full staffing but still faces a global backlog from post-pandemic understaffing, meaning premium “interview-waiver” renewal slots are scarce.
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Corporate travel managers should flag the issue to employees who have US client meetings scheduled around the tournament dates (11 June–19 July 2026). HR teams sponsoring assignees’ dependants are urged to bundle family applications to maximise the chance of consecutive appointments.
Practical tips from consular advisors include ensuring DS-160 forms list any dual nationality, uploading a recent 5×5 cm photo that meets the strict white-background rule, and paying the AED 704 MRV fee via Emirates NBD to avoid transaction delays. Applicants should also build in courier time for document return if they live outside Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Failure to plan could lead to eye-watering secondary-market airfares: seat inventory models suggest economy fares to host-city hubs such as Houston and Los Angeles could exceed AED 9,000 if travellers wait until visa issuance in mid-2026 before booking flights.
Unlike Schengen visas, US tourist visas remain valid for up to 10 years, so mobility experts advise prospective travellers to avoid the 2026 rush by securing appointments during December and January, when corporate traffic traditionally lulls. The US Mission is operating at full staffing but still faces a global backlog from post-pandemic understaffing, meaning premium “interview-waiver” renewal slots are scarce.
Corporate travel managers should flag the issue to employees who have US client meetings scheduled around the tournament dates (11 June–19 July 2026). HR teams sponsoring assignees’ dependants are urged to bundle family applications to maximise the chance of consecutive appointments.
Practical tips from consular advisors include ensuring DS-160 forms list any dual nationality, uploading a recent 5×5 cm photo that meets the strict white-background rule, and paying the AED 704 MRV fee via Emirates NBD to avoid transaction delays. Applicants should also build in courier time for document return if they live outside Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Failure to plan could lead to eye-watering secondary-market airfares: seat inventory models suggest economy fares to host-city hubs such as Houston and Los Angeles could exceed AED 9,000 if travellers wait until visa issuance in mid-2026 before booking flights.
