By Staff Reporter
Dubai: As excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, UAE residents are grappling with growing uncertainty around US visa processing, with experts warning that evolving immigration policies are complicating travel, employment mobility and long-term career planning.
While demand for leisure travel and major events remains strong, industry analysts and visa facilitation firms say stricter rules, rising costs and longer timelines are reshaping how travellers and professionals approach the US market.
“The new US visa regime is sending ripples through both leisure and professional travel markets in the UAE,” said Alena Iakina, founder of visa insights platform visarun.ai. “Leisure demand remains resilient, but corporate travel and long-term relocation plans are facing heightened scrutiny and rising cost pressures.”
World Cup travel still requires standard visas
Despite special facilitation measures introduced for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, US Embassy officials in the UAE have confirmed that fans must still apply for standard B-1/B-2 visitor visas. While the FIFA PASS may help ease appointment bottlenecks, it does not alter eligibility requirements or approval criteria.
As a result, many prospective visitors are being urged to plan well in advance and not assume ticket-linked privileges guarantee entry.
H-1B changes deepen uncertainty
Beyond tourism, professionals are facing increasing regulatory headwinds — particularly those linked to the H-1B work visa programme.
In late 2025, a presidential proclamation sharply increased costs for certain new H-1B applications, introducing a one-time fee of $100,000 payable by employers, in addition to existing filing charges. The move triggered widespread concern among employers and employees, prompting cancellations and delayed travel plans across the region.
“The immediate reaction was panic,” said a UAE-based travel operator. “Many people postponed or cancelled flights because they feared being barred from re-entering the US or losing future employment opportunities.”
Although US Citizenship and Immigration Services later clarified that the fee does not apply to current H-1B holders, renewals or extensions, the initial uncertainty had already unsettled the expatriate community and travel industry.
Further changes are expected in early 2026, when a new rank-based H-1B selection system comes into effect. The overhaul prioritises higher-paid, highly skilled roles — a shift that could complicate hiring strategies for multinational firms and professionals based in the UAE.
Visa complexity reshapes travel behaviour
Visa uncertainty is already influencing how UAE residents plan travel.
According to Iakina, travellers are increasingly opting for refundable or flexible air tickets and submitting visa applications much earlier than before. Consultants report a surge in early submissions, more comprehensive documentation and heavier reliance on specialist advisory services to navigate interviews and procedural requirements.
“Visa processing has become a central part of travel planning, rather than an afterthought,” Iakina said.
Industry observers have also noted a shift away from US destinations in some cases, with travellers opting for alternatives such as Canada. This trend coincides with a broader decline in B-1/B-2 tourist visa applications from the region following the H-1B policy changes.
Corporates rethink mobility strategies
Multinational companies with operations in the UAE are also reassessing staff mobility policies. Rising costs and regulatory complexity are prompting firms to explore alternative visa categories, remote work models and regional talent deployment.
“These changes are already affecting travel budgets, relocation packages and long-term workforce planning,” Iakina noted, particularly in sectors such as technology and professional services where US visas have traditionally played a key role.
A divided visa outlook
The contrast between facilitation for short-term leisure travel — such as World Cup-related measures — and tightening rules for professional mobility highlights broader tensions in US immigration policy.
For UAE residents, the message is clear: apply early, prepare thoroughly and understand the limitations of event-related travel privileges. At the same time, professionals considering long-term career moves to the US must now factor in deeper strategic planning as policy frameworks and cost structures continue to evolve.
“Leisure and event travel will surge,” Iakina said. “But structural constraints on professional mobility are reshaping ambitions and outcomes in ways we are only beginning to understand.”
