Watch this guide as a video
The Dubai appointments are real — here is proof
I know there is a lot of scepticism going around. When I shared an update about Dubai embassy appointments being available, the most common question I received was: how do you know, and why is there no official announcement? Those concerns are completely valid. So let me give you something more concrete than a rumour. One of my clients — an F1 student — recently completed her visa interview at the Dubai embassy, received her visa, and is in all likelihood already in the United States as you read this. I sat down with her father to get the details directly from someone who lived through the process, and I am passing every bit of that conversation on to you.
Their original application was in India — here is how they transferred it to Dubai
This family's case started in India. Their visa application was already filed there, which meant they could not simply walk up and book a Dubai slot. They had to write to the embassy to formally request a transfer of the application to Dubai. Once that transfer was approved, the next step was filling out a fresh DS-160 form — this time with Dubai selected as the interview location — and uploading it. That was it. No complicated workaround, no special connection. Just a written transfer request and a new DS-160.
Want personalized feedback on your answers?
Shachi does 1-on-1 mock interviews — get real-time coaching before your consulate visit.
Book a Mock InterviewWhy are so many people saying the portal is not working?
When I asked her father about this, he was genuinely puzzled — because for his family, the process was smooth. His best explanation, and one I think is worth paying attention to, is that the confusion may come down to visa category. From everything he observed and heard, Dubai has opened slots specifically for F1 visas. B1/B2 visitor visas are a different story. There is some anecdotal information that B1 interviews originally scheduled from March are now slowly moving forward, but he was clear — and I want to be equally clear — that this is not confirmed. What is confirmed, from direct experience, is that F1 appointments in Dubai are moving.
Students who could not get appointments in India are now getting them — and the visas — in Dubai
Perhaps the most reassuring thing her father told me is that his daughter's situation was not an isolated case. Several of her friends who had been stuck waiting for appointments in India made the same move — shifted their applications to Dubai, booked their slots, appeared for the interview, and received their visas. His words were that it has been 'really smooth' across the board. If you are currently staring at a long wait for an F1 interview in India, transferring your application to Dubai is a real, working option right now — not a rumour.
Need help with your visa preparation?
Have questions after reading this guide? I’m happy to help.
Chat with Shachi on WhatsAppNext steps
Continue your preparation with these resources.
Related Guides
What is Trump's new F1 visa rule and how does it affect OPT, CPT, and university transfers?
The U.S. government has just published a major change to the F1 visa system — and no, it does not mean your visa ends at four years or that OPT and CPT are going away. What it does mean is that the rules around how long you can stay, whether you can switch universities, and whether you can pursue a second master's are changing significantly from September 2026.
Can Indian students give their US visa interview outside India?
A new US visa rule is directly affecting Indian students — and if you were planning to book your F1 interview in Dubai, Singapore, or Vietnam to avoid long wait times in India, that option has now been closed off.
What should I know before giving my F1 visa interview from Singapore?
In the last two weeks, several of my students gave their F1 visa interviews from Singapore, and here is exactly what happened — slot availability, approval patterns, interview questions, and how long you will wait for your passport.