Iran Conflict Spells Extended Visa Disruptions in Middle East

Strikes on Iran and neighboring countries have led to suspended visa services at nearly two dozen American consulates and embassies in the region, the latest barrier for business travelers, temporary workers, and would-be immigrants to come to the US.

The State Department is shifting operations entirely to assisting US citizens in the region, standard practice when war or other emergencies occur, immigration attorneys and former consular officials say.

A spokesperson for the State Department said “there is no higher priority” than the safety and security of US citizens, meaning routine consular processes are often paused in a crisis to allow all resources to be focused on Americans abroad. Those efforts have helped almost 47,000 citizens return safely from the region since Feb. 28.

But the war in Iran comes just months after the Trump administration restricted options for visa applicants to interview at offices outside of their home countries, blocking a key path to avoiding appointment backlogs in normal circumstances and now potentially those fleeing from the conflict.

Consulates in locations like Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Beirut, and Tel Aviv said after the war began they would pause services, in some cases citing the threat of missile and drone strikes. That suspension means the thousands of tourist and business visitor visas issued in a typical month won’t be processed.

It also means US employers that are already facing labor shortages, like hospitals, will see longer absences for some physicians returning from the region. Wait times for visa appointments will grow, said Matt Mauntel-Medici, an immigration attorney at BrownWinick Law Firm and a former visa officer at the State Department.

“Anybody that has time sensitive needs—whatever US company, organization, or person affected—is going to have to sit tight and expect there will be further delays,” he said.

US Citizens Prioritized

In March 2025, the US Embassy and consulate for the United Arab Emirates in Dubai issued more than 4,600 visas for business travelers and tourists. The one in Abu Dhabi issued more than 2,700 temporary B visas. And the embassy in Doha, Qatar approved more than 1,300.

Those embassies were among the posts in 11 countries in the Middle East that have announced suspensions of routine visa appointments as well as those for US citizen services.

“I don’t think anything is going to move for weeks and potentially longer than that,” said James Hollis, a partner at McEntee Law Group.

If those offices are doing any work in a conflict zone, it’s assisting Americans in evacuating the area, said Regina Cocco, an immigration attorney and former visa specialist at the State Department.

“Consular affairs has an order of priorities: American citizens, then immigrant visas, and then non-immigrant visas at the bottom,” she said.

But visa services are a big part of bilateral relations with countries like Saudi Arabia, so it’s not in the US interest to have those operations frozen indefinitely, Cocco said.

Third County Processing

Before President Donald Trump’s order last year, green card applicants or temporary foreign workers could travel outside their immediate region for a visa interview at a consulate where operations are unaffected.

Artists, athletes, and entertainers have frequently used that option to skip long appointment wait times for urgent visa needs. And offices like the US embassy in Poland, for example, handle applications for applicants from Russia where the US doesn’t have active visa services.

The State Department in September said it would require applicants to attend interviews in their country of nationality or residency—one of a slew of new visa hurdles from the administration, including the elimination of interview waivers for most applicants.

“It really hinders the ability of folks to navigate the situation,” Hollis said.

The agency didn’t respond to a request for comment on whether it could restore interview flexibility in response to the conflict, but it encouraged visa applicants to check the websites of local embassies or consulates for updates on visa processing.

The Foreign Affairs Manual—the handbook that guides decisions by visa officers—still allows for applications by individuals physically present in a country, although consulates have more often used their discretion to limit third country processing.

“We are hopeful that posts will be receptive and understanding to the rapidly changing circumstances,” said Claire Pratt, an immigration attorney and principal at Jewell Stewart Pratt Beckerson & Carr PC.

Some visa seekers are still trying their luck and getting appointments at consulates outside their home country, like in Muscat, Oman, where normal services continue, Mauntel-Medici said. But they’ll often need to secure visas to even travel to third countries for that option and the policy hasn’t been applied consistently.

“Every mission has their own little fiefdom they are responsible for,” he said. “As long as it’s not against policy, they can do what they want.”