Please follow the steps below before your first appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Important Update:

You will visit the embassy at least twice during the immigrant visa process: once to complete in-person document review and a second time for your visa interview. Applicants traveling from outside of the UAE for their visa appointment should plan to remain in the UAE for at least 10 days to complete both the in-person document review and the visa interview appointments.

First Visit: In-Person Document Review and Biometrics

Your first visit to the embassy is for in-person document review. During this visit, we will make sure you have all the required paperwork, take your fingerprints, collect your photos, and confirm your passport details. This helps shorten your time in the waiting room and, more importantly, makes it more likely that your visa can be approved after your interview.

Your NVC/KCC-scheduled appointment is for in-person document review and biometrics only. You must complete an in-person document review before you can schedule your visa interview. During this first appointment, we will set a follow-up appointment for your visa interview, which will usually happen about a week later. Make sure to complete your medical exam at least one day before your first appointment.

If you do not speak English, you must bring an English translator to your in-person document review and interview appointments.

Second Visit: Visa Interview

Your second visit to the embassy is for your visa interview. The date and time for this interview will be given to you during your in-person document review appointment. The visa interview will usually happen about a week after your first appointment.

After you receive your visa interview appointment, you must complete each of these steps below.  If you do not complete each step before your visa interview appointment the consular section may require you to reschedule for a later date.

All applicants must follow the instructions below before you go to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Step 1: Register your appointment online

Before your visa interview appointment, you must register online here.

Your registration ensures we have the correct information to return your passport and documents after your visa interview.  Registration also allows you to cancel or reschedule your interview if necessary.

Register >>

Step 2: Get a medical exam in United Arab Emirates

As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in UAE. (Applicants from Iraq have the option to schedule a medical exam in Iraq.) Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated doctors’ offices in UAE (and Iraq). Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your first appointment.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist

It is important that you bring all required original documents, as well as one photocopy of each, to your first appointment. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your appointment along with the listed documents.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before or after your visa appointments.

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

Everyone applying for an immigrant visa, no matter how old they are, must have a medical exam before they can get their visa. Only a physician approved by the U.S. Embassy is allowed to do this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam at one of the clinics listed below before your visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy. Medical exam results from other clinics will not be accepted.

Approved Clinics in UAE (for all applicants)

New Medical Center
Zayed the First Street (Electra Street),
Building 1, Mezzanine Floor
Abu Dhabi, UAE
TEL. NO: +971-(0) 2-6332255

New Medical Center
Opp. Abu Hail Metro Station
New Al-Safia Building
Deira - Dubai, UAE
TEL. NO: +971-(0) 4-2683131

Approved clinics in Iraq (only for applicants from Iraq)

IOM Baghdad

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sunday–Thursday
Telephone: +964-772-990-0525, +964-772-990-0535, +964-772-990-0545, +964-782-782-4146

IOM Erbil

Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday–Thursday
Telephone: +964-772-173-9254, +964-773-090-1643, +964-773-090-1645, +964-773-090-1647

Items to bring to your medical examination

You should bring the following items to your medical exam:

• Your visa interview letter,
• Your passport,
• Four (4) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
• A copy of your immunization records, and
• DS-260 confirmation page.

You must pay all medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, directly to the examining physician.

During the medical exam

The medical exam will include:

• A medical history review,
• A physical exam,
• A Chest X-ray, (for applicants 15 years of age or older),
• Blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older), and
• Tuberculosis (TB) testing (for applicants two years of age and older).

Be prepared to discuss your medical history, the medications you are taking, and current treatments you are receiving. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to get certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available on CDC.Gov. There you can find information like what vaccines you need based on your age. You can also read Frequently Asked  Questions about our medical exam requirements at Travel.State.Gov.

After the medical exam

When your exam is done, the doctor will either give you the exam results in a sealed envelope or send them directly to the U.S. Embassy. IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW: DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview.

If the doctor cannot finalize your medical exam due to additional tuberculosis (TB) screening and tests, DO NOT ATTEND YOUR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. Please contact us via the U.S. Visa Navigator on our website for guidance on next steps and future scheduling.

Any x-rays taken will be given to you. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time. The medical report must be less than six months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

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Pre-Interview checklist

Please use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview. Any documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation:

• A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).
  
  
• Unexpired passport valid for six months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located).
  
  
• Two (2) color photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch).  Please review our online photo requirements.
  
  
• Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/.
  
  
• Your original birth certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.
  
  
• Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results).
  
  
• Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying).

Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below should bring these additional documents:

For family-based visa applications:

• The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.
  
  
• Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card).
  
  
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (such as photographs, letters, or emails).

If you are married: Your original marriage certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you were previously married: Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you are older than 16 years of age: The original police certificate from your country of current residence and countries of previous residence. If these three items are all true, you must bring a more recent police certificate to the interview:

1. You are older than 16 years;
2. You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than one year ago; and
3. You still live in the country that issued the police certificate.

For employment-based visa applications: Letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime: Court and criminal records, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you have served in any country’s military: Military records, English translation, and a photocopy. If you were exempted from a country’s military, your exemption record, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you are adopted: Adoption papers or custody documents, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, English translation, and a photocopy along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.

 

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Interview Guidelines

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please go to the U.S. Travel Docs website to register your case and select a new appointment date. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned.

For family-based and job-based visas, there’s no guarantee that a visa will still be available if you reschedule your appointment. Check the Visa Bulletin carefully before you reschedule your interview. If you’re applying for a Diversity Visa (DV), remember that visas are limited in number and must be issued by September 30 of the program year.

Please note: You need to register your original NVC/KCC appointment online (see Step 1) before you can reschedule it. Rescheduling is only possible on a date after your assigned appointment.

Security screening procedures

Everyone visiting the U.S. Embassy must follow security rules. If you refuse to go through security screening, you won’t be allowed to enter. To avoid delays for yourself and others, only bring what you need for your appointment.

No bags are allowed other than items required for baby or hygiene care; please carry the papers you need for your interview in a clear plastic bag. Cell phones and other electronics, including battery-operated items, are not allowed in the embassy.

Accompanying persons

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter:
  • For the in-person document review appointment: If you do not speak English, you must bring your own interpreter.
  • For the visa interview: If you do not speak English, you must bring your own interpreter.
• Special Needs Visitors:  Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Immigrant Visa Fees

If you have not paid all required fees to the National Visa Center, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview. All fees may be paid in either U.S. dollars or the UAE equivalent in dirhams. We accept cash and credit cards only. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found at travel.state.gov.

Do not make travel plans outside of UAE

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport to you later via courier services only (Step 1) within 3-5 days. If you travel within the UAE while your passport is still with us, please make sure you have a valid picture ID other than your passport.  If you have to depart the UAE before we issue your visa, we will return your passport to you and the consular officer will issue a temporary refusal until he/she receives the passport; you may return your passport to the embassy later via courier services (Step 1) only.

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After Your Visa Interview

A consular officer can decide on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not quit your job, sell your property, or make non-refundable travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.

If your visa is denied, the consular officer will tell you why. Many factors could make an applicant ineligible to receive a visa. For more information, please refer to Ineligibilities for U.S. Visas.

In some instances, the law might allow you to apply for a waiver of ineligibility. If you can apply for such a waiver, the consular officer will advise you on the steps to take. Please review the Visa Denials webpage for more information.

Sometimes a consular officer refuses a visa application to review additional documents or for administrative processing.

For additional documents: 

• The consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. 
• The letter will include instructions on how to submit those documents to the consulate.  

For administrative processing:  

• This means the embassy or consulate needs more time to review your case.  
• How long this takes depends on your specific situation.  

Except in cases of emergency travel (i.e. serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family), Wait at least 180 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later.

What happens after visa approval

Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We may also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you. Do not put it in your checked luggage. If your visa is annotated “IV DOCS IN CCD” then you will not receive a sealed envelope.  If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are:  children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents (SB-1), and people traveling on a fiancé(e) (K) visa. 

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six months from the date of your medical exam. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21^st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country. We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you are in compliance with their rules. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you may lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custody papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your first appointment; enroll in the required courier service; and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants.

Bring to your interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website.
  
  
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR two (2) years of qualifying work experience in the five (5) years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available online).
  
  
• Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee for each visa applicant.

Review your DV Lottery entry

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).

Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country.

Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application. You can review the eligibility requirements online.

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