US Pauses Visa Operations in Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan Amid Ebola Outbreak (May 2026)

On 18 May 2026 the US Department of State announced a temporary pause of all visa operations at three of its diplomatic posts in East and Central Africa. The official notice on travel.state.gov states: "In light of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the Department is temporarily pausing all visa operations in South Sudan, the DRC, and Uganda." Appointment scheduling at these three posts has been suspended, and previously scheduled appointments will be rescheduled once the pause is lifted.

The pause is comprehensive in scope. It covers immigrant visas (family-based, employment-based, diversity visa) as well as the full range of nonimmigrant categories — including tourist and business travelers (B-1/B-2), students (F, M), exchange visitors (J), temporary workers (H, L, O, P), and all other nonimmigrant classes. The State Department has not specified an end date and has stated only that its website will be updated when appointment scheduling resumes.

The pause is a direct response to the ongoing Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has cross-border implications for neighbouring Uganda and South Sudan. As of mid-May 2026, the Congolese Health Ministry has confirmed approximately 350 suspected cases and approximately 91 suspected deaths, and the World Health Organization has declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The US has mobilised USD 13 million in initial response aid and the CDC has deployed enhanced surveillance measures for US-bound travelers.

For the vast majority of UAE residents, this pause has no direct effect. UAE-based US visa operations at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate General in Dubai continue normally. However, two specific UAE-resident cohorts should pay attention.

Separately from the visa-issuance pause, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced entry restrictions and enhanced airport screening for non-US-citizen travelers who have been physically present in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or South Sudan within the past 21 days. This is the broadest UAE-relevant surface of the policy package: any UAE resident — Emirati or expatriate — returning from those countries and onward-travelling to the US will be routed through designated CDC screening locations. The CDC will update specific airport routing on its website as the response evolves.

1. 1If you hold a valid US visa: no action needed. Your visa is unaffected and you may travel under it as normal.
2. 2If you are a Ugandan, DRC, or South Sudanese passport holder living in the UAE and need a new US visa: continue with — or begin — your application at the US Embassy Abu Dhabi or the US Consulate General Dubai under your UAE residence. The three African posts are not your only application option.
3. 3If you have travelled to Uganda, DRC, or South Sudan in the past 21 days and have US travel booked: check the CDC website for the latest airport-screening routing and 21-day entry-restriction details before flying.
4. 4If you had a US visa appointment booked at Kampala, Kinshasa, or Juba: wait for direct notification from the post. Do not attempt to rebook at the same post during the pause.
5. 5If you are travelling to Uganda, DRC, or South Sudan for non-essential reasons: review the latest WHO advisory and consider deferring the trip until the outbreak situation stabilises.

This update is based on publicly available information from the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs (travel.state.gov) as of 18 May 2026. The pause is limited to the US embassies in Juba (South Sudan), Kinshasa (DRC), and Kampala (Uganda); it does not affect US Embassy Abu Dhabi, US Consulate Dubai, or any other US post, and it does not invalidate US visas already issued. The CDC airport screening and 21-day entry-restriction measures referenced are administered separately by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This analysis is provided for informational purposes to help UAE residents understand the policy change. It does not constitute legal advice. For the latest official information, always refer to the US Department of State at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/temporary-pause-of-visa-operations.html.