Football fans in the Emirates worried about lengthy US visitor-visa queues received welcome news on 3 December 2025. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed to Khaleej Times that it has launched the “FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System” (PASS), giving UAE ticket-holders front-of-queue access to B-1/B-2 interview dates ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Non-priority interview waits in Abu Dhabi and Dubai exceed 400 days, meaning many applicants were being offered dates in 2027—far beyond the June–July 2026 tournament window spread across 16 US host cities. Under PASS, fans who have already purchased match tickets can upload proof through the Embassy’s portal and secure an appointment within three weeks, consular officials said.
![US Embassy opens priority World Cup 2026 visa interview slots for UAE residents]()
The initiative mirrors previous priority programmes for Expo 2020 Dubai and the 2024 Paris Olympics and reflects pressure on US consulates worldwide to chip away at pandemic-era backlogs.
Corporate mobility teams should advise employees that standard visa-eligibility requirements remain: strong UAE residency ties, travel history and financial evidence. Premium appointment fees apply (USD 205 standard plus USD 300 expedition surcharge), and each family member must book separately.
Travel consultants recommend completing DS-160 forms promptly; appointment slots are released in weekly batches and expected to be snapped up quickly given the UAE’s large football-fan base and the country’s 1.2 million American visitors in 2024.
Non-priority interview waits in Abu Dhabi and Dubai exceed 400 days, meaning many applicants were being offered dates in 2027—far beyond the June–July 2026 tournament window spread across 16 US host cities. Under PASS, fans who have already purchased match tickets can upload proof through the Embassy’s portal and secure an appointment within three weeks, consular officials said.
The initiative mirrors previous priority programmes for Expo 2020 Dubai and the 2024 Paris Olympics and reflects pressure on US consulates worldwide to chip away at pandemic-era backlogs.
Corporate mobility teams should advise employees that standard visa-eligibility requirements remain: strong UAE residency ties, travel history and financial evidence. Premium appointment fees apply (USD 205 standard plus USD 300 expedition surcharge), and each family member must book separately.
Travel consultants recommend completing DS-160 forms promptly; appointment slots are released in weekly batches and expected to be snapped up quickly given the UAE’s large football-fan base and the country’s 1.2 million American visitors in 2024.
