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| United Arab Emirates |  Review on January 15, 2012: |
Fifth Echelon
Rating:  | Review Topic: H-1B Visa
Note that this review applies to the US Consulate in Dubai, not the Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
I applied for an H-1B visa based on an approved petition and change of status from F-1. My appointment was for 9 am, and that is when I showed up. The wait time in the cabin outside the WTC building was about 30 minutes. After about 30 minutes, our group was moved into the WTC building, where we went through security, had our documents checked, and were allowed into the consulate.
At this point we were required to take a number and get in a line to submit all of our documents, evidence and passport. I was slightly confused here because I didn't see the machine dispensing tokens, and a consulate worker behind one of the counters (seemed like somebody hired locally, Indian, not an American stationed at the consulate) was extremely rude in asking me and others to get in line. Seemed to be on a power trip of some sort.
In any case, I did get a token and waited in line, dropped my docs off and was told to leave and come back at around 1 pm, since they did not process petition based visas until then. So I left and returned in the afternoon, which is when I had my actual interview with an American consular officer. It barely lasted a minute. She asked where I worked, what kind of work I did, and where I lived. Very polite and professional (unlike the locally hired handler earlier in the morning). Visa was issued the following and couriered back.
I would have given this consulate a 5 if it were not for the extremely rude handler. I should also mention that I noticed a lot of folks being denied or issued AP notices. My sense is that this consulate operates very professionally and efficiently. If you're missing anything at all, you will be denied. If everything is in order, they don't make a fuss about approving you at all.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #9011