How To Get A USA Visa For UAE Residents?
Ready to holiday in the dreamland with vibrant wonders? America perfectly combines the liveliest attractions and exciting locales. From rocking Las Vegas to the Great Canyon, breathtaking lakes to a fun, extravagant lifestyle, await you at every turn. Worried about the USA Visa formalities though? Don’t be put off! Here is a guide to the USA visa for UAE residents with a comprehensive list of types of visas and procedures. So, forget about the visa planning worries and get ready to explore the American dream vacation.
Get A USA Visa for UAE Residents: Here’s How?
Guide To USA Visa For UAE Residents (Nationals)
I) Tourist Visa Types
Visitor Visa
All UAE nationals who wish to travel to the United States must get a non-immigrant visa for a temporary stay. The Embassy provides the visa category B2 for tourism in the country.
Visa Validity:
The validity varies between 1 month and 10 years. It allows a single entry, double-entry, or multiple entries. The maximum period of stay in the USA is for six months.
Visa Requirements:
- Duly filled Non-Immigrant Visa Application form (Form DS-160) confirmation page
- Valid passport for at least six months beyond your period of stay
- Separate application forms per family member with a passport to be provided
- Application fee payment receipt
- One printed photo in color taken within six months of travel. The background should be plain white or off-white
- Purpose of the trip
- Intent to depart from the United States after the travel
- Financial proof to pay all costs of the trip
- Bank statements of six months with a bank seal prior to the departure date
- Letter of invitation or intent to travel
- Previous USA Visa
- Interview confirmation page
- Details of social media accounts
- Ties to your home country
- Letter from employer and payslips of the last three months
- Criminal records or a letter from the authorities stating you do not have a criminal record
How To Apply?
Visas are obtained by attending an interview at an appointed date at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the UAE. Know more.
II) Work Visa
Business Visa
The USA Business Visa is a temporary visa under the non-immigrant visa category. The visa is needed for persons who enter the United States for a business conference, scientific conventions, estate settlement, or contract negotiation. It is under the category B1.
Visa Validity:
The validity of a Business Visa is between 1 month and 10 years. The maximum period of stay in the USA is for six months. It allows for single, double, or multiple entries.
Visa Requirements :
- Duly filled non-immigrant Visa Application Form (Form DS-160) confirmation page.
- Valid passport for at least six months beyond your period of stay
- Separate application forms per family member with a passport to be provided
- Application fee payment receipt
- One printed photo in color taken within six months of travel. The background should be plain white or off-white
- Purpose of the trip
- Intent to depart the United States after the travel
- Financial proof to pay all costs of the trip
- Bank statements of six months with a bank seal prior to the departure date
- Letter of invitation
- Previous USA Visa
- Interview confirmation page
- Details of social media accounts
- Ties to your home country
- Letter from the employer and payslips of the last three months
- Documents of the previous visit
- Letter from the sponsor detailing the purpose of the trip
- Letter from the authority stating that there are no criminal records under your name
How To Apply?
Get a visa by attending an interview at an appointed date in the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the UAE. Know more.
Guide To USA Visa For PAK Expats in the UAE
I) Tourist Visa Types
Non-Immigrant B2 Visa
The B2 Visa is required for Pakistan expats in the UAE for entry into the United States. The purpose of travel should be recreational, sightseeing, visits to friends and relatives, and other activities of social service nature.
Visa Validity:
The maximum period of stay in the USA is for six months with the validity of visa between 1 month to 10 years. It allows for single, double, or multiple entries.
Visa Requirements:
- Duly filled DS-160 form (Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application Form)
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in the USA
- One 5cm*5cm latest photograph taken within six months of application
- Receipt of visa payment
- 10 years’ travel history
- List of siblings and children
- Letter of the purpose of your trip
- Evidence of funds
- Social or economic ties in your home country
- Previous USA Visa travel documents
- No criminal record proof
- Photocopies of relatives’ proof of status in the USA
How To Apply?
Visas are obtained by attending an interview at an appointed date at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in UAE. Know more.
II) Work Visa
Business Visa B1
Pakistan expats in the UAE have to apply for a B1 visitor visa for a temporary stay in the USA. This is a visa required to attend conferences, business meetings or conferences. It is a temporary stay visa.
Visa Validity :
The Business Visa is valid for a stay of up to a maximum of six months. There is a single, double, or multiple entry given. The visa validity is between 1 month to 10 years.
Visa Requirements:
- Duly filled non-immigrant Visa Application form (Form DS-160) confirmation page
- Valid passport for at least six months beyond your period of stay
- Letter from the sponsor or an invitation to attend a conference
- Proof of residence in your hometown
- Letter from your employer on the purpose of visit
- 3 month’s salary slips from the employer of the home country
- Application fee payment receipt
- One printed photo in color taken within six months of travel. The background should be plain white or off-white.
- Purpose of the trip
- Intent to depart from the United States after the travel
- Financial proof to pay all costs of the trip
- Bank statements of six months with bank seal prior to the departure date
- Letter of invitation
- Previous USA Visa
- Interview confirmation page
- Details of social media accounts
- Letter from the authority identifying that you have no criminal records
- Documents of the previous visit
How To Apply?
Visas are obtained through the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the UAE. Know more.
Guide To USA Visa For EU Expats in the UAE
I) Tourist Visa Types
Visitor Visa B2 / Non-Immigrant Visa
All EU expats living in the UAE who wish to travel to the United States must get a non-immigrant visa for a temporary stay. Visit the Embassy nearest to you and submit the required documents.
Visa Waiver Program
Citizens of listed countries can avail of the Visa Waiver Program provided for travel to the USA.
Visa Validity
The validity of the B2 Visa varies between 1 month and 10 years. The maximum period of stay in the USA is for six months. You get a single, double, and multiple-entry visa.
The validity of stay without a visa in the Visa Waiver Program is up to 90 days.
Visa Requirements for B2 Visa:
- Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form (Form DS-160) confirmation page to be correctly filled
- Passport with validity for at least six months beyond your period of stay
- One-colour photo latest within six months of the application. The background color should be white
- Application fee payment receipt
- Letter of intent of the trip
- Bank statements of six months with a bank seal prior to the departure date
- Previous USA visa and travel documents
- Interview confirmation page
- Details of social media accounts
- Ties to your home country
- Letter from employer and payslips of the last three months
- Criminal records or letter from authority stating you do not have a criminal record
Requirements for Visa Waiver Program :
- Travelers must possess a passport with a machine-readable zone on the biographic page
- The passport must have a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner. This is called an E-Passport.
- E-Passports are to be issued by the authority that ensures international standards. Security aspects should not be compromised.
- Passports must possess a digital photograph printed on the data page, without which the traveler will have to get a visa.
- Passports with integrated computer chips that store biographic information from the data page, a digital photograph, and other biometric information of the passport owner.
- A passport containing a machine-readable zone issued before October 26, 2005, that joined the Visa Waiver Program can still travel without a visa.
- Approvals have to be obtained through ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) prior to traveling under the Visa Waiver Program.
How To Apply?
You can visit the Embassy on the scheduled date of the interview in the UAE. Know more.
II) Work Visa
Business Visa
The Non-Immigrant B1 Visa is a temporary visa. EU expats living in the UAE must get a Business Visa B1 for travel to the USA for a business conference or negotiating contracts.
Visa Waiver Program
EU expats living in the UAE from countries that can avail Visa Waiver Program can travel to the US on a temporary stay.
Visa Validity :
The validity of the B2 Visa varies between 1 month and 10 years. The maximum period of stay in the USA is for six months. Travelers can avail of a single entry, double-entry or multiple entry visas.
The validity of stay without a visa in the Visa Waiver Program is up to 90 days.
Requirements for B1 Visa:
- Duly filled DS 160 US Visa Application Form confirmation page.
- The Visa Application Centre should duly stamp the confirmation page
- Letter of appointment for the USA Visa interview
- All previous passports
- Receipt of payment of visa fee
- Passport with a validity of six months from the date of travel
- Support letters underlying the intent of travel
- Insurance documents
- Proof of finance in the home country
- Letter from the employer if traveling on the company title
- Travel itinerary and hotel booking
- One latest passport size photograph
Requirements for Visa Waiver Program *: (same as above)
How To Apply?
Visit the Embassy on the scheduled date of the interview in the UAE. Know more.
Guide To USA Visa For Philippines Expats in the UAE
Tourist Visa Types:
Philippines expats living in UAE need to apply for a US visa at the nearest US embassy. They can get the B2 Visitor Visa for a temporary stay. The travel must be only for sightseeing and casual meeting to visit friends or relatives.
Visa Validity:
The validity of the B2 visa varies between 1 month and 10 years. The maximum period of stay in the USA is for six months. You get a single, double, and multiple-entry visa.
Requirements for B2 Visa:
- Duly filled DS-160 Non-Immigrant form. We can download the document from iVisa.com.
- Valid passport for at least 6 months from the intended date of travel
- Recent photo
- Visa fee receipt for the B2 visa
- Letter underlying the intent of travel
- Current proof of property, income tax payments, business ownership, or assets in the home country
- Travel itinerary
- Letter from employer with an explanation on the planned trip
- Criminal record, if any
- Photocopies of relatives’ proof of status in the USA
- Previous visits to the USA
How To Apply?
Visit the Embassy on the scheduled date of the interview in the UAE. Know more.
II) Work Visa
Business Visa / Non-Immigrant Category
The Non-Immigrant B1 Visa is a temporary visa. EU expats living in the UAE must get a Business Visa B1 for travel to the US for a business conference, conducting negotiations, etc.
Visa Validity:
The US Business Visa has a validity of 1 month to 10 years. It permits a maximum stay of six months and elicits single or multiple entries to the USA.
Requirements for B1 Visa:
- Duly filled application form
- Passport valid for six months from date of departure
- Proof of funds
- Letters to support your reason for the visit
- A Letter from the employer
- Proof of business ownership or assets in the home country
- Insurance and other supporting documents
- Letter of an invitation from the sponsor
- Travel itinerary
- Old visa and travel documents
- Proof of bank statements within six months from date of travel, duly stamped
- One latest passport size photograph on a white background
How To Apply?
Visas can be obtained at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the UAE. Click here to know more.
Recommended Reads:
How to Obtain a Pakistan Visa for UAE Residents?
How To Obtain a Philippines Visa for UAE Residents?
Nikita Aswani