New easier US visa service for Emiratis

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received a note from the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi about a non-immigration visa service to UAE nationals to the US. Ahmed Saeed Al Dhaheri, Director of Consular Services at the ministry, said the new appointment system for US visa service, which takes effect on January 6, would be more easier and convenient. The US mission to the UAE is transitioning to a new appointment service for anyone applying for a non-immigrant visa to the US. Under the new process, applicants can work online or by phone and in a few minutes can complete the visa application, pay the visa-application fee, schedule an appointment and arrange to have their passport delivered to an Empost office anywhere in the UAE. The new system will be available 24 hours a day and during daytime hours, applicants can also get assistance from a call centre with services in Arabic, English and Farsi who are able to assist with scheduling an appointment, provided the applicant has already paid the visa application fee. As part of the transition from the current visa-application process, there will be a brief interim before the transition takes place during which it will not be possible to schedule a visa interview. After it debuts on January 6, appointments will be available at both the embassy and consulate-general. The US mission wants to ensure that applicants already in the scheduling process are not negatively impacted by the change. From Khaleej Times