Important Visa Information

Nonimmigrant Visas

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manama is responsible for providing visa services to those seeking to enter the United States for a temporary period and for those wishing to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the United States. Please visit our Global Support Services (GSS) website for complete information on applying for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa, including a directory of nonimmigrant visa categories.

Expiration of COVID-Era MRV Fee Receipts:

All receipts for payment of Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fees issued before October 1, 2022, will expire September 30, 2023. There will be no extensions of fee validity. Applicants must schedule an appointment or submit an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023 to avoid paying a new fee. Please note that the interview itself does not need to take place before September 30, 2023, but an interview appointment needs to be made in the system, even if it is scheduled months into the future. Furthermore, applicants using MRV fees paid before October 1, 2022 to book an appointment are cautioned not to attempt to change their appointment dates on or after October 1, 2023. Doing so will result in forfeiture of both the original appointment slot and the MRV fee receipt. The applicant will be required to pay a new fee and submit a new application package.

If you have emergency travel, please submit an expedite request through your account.

For Travelers to the United States:

The Administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, 2023, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. This means starting May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. CDC’s Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic will no longer be in effect when the Presidential Proclamation Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic is revoked.

Please see: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/01/the-biden-administration-will-end-covid-19-vaccination-requirements-for-federal-employees-contractors-international-travelers-head-start-educators-and-cms-certified-facilities/

View Nonimmigrant Visa Appointment Wait Times

Immigrant Visas

The Embassy’s ability to accept immigrant visa case transfer requests is extremely limited. To request a transfer, please email ManamaConsular@state.gov with the subject line “IV Case Transfer Request – Case Number”. Please include the beneficiary’s full name, date of birth, and visa class.

Immigrant visas to the United States are processed for citizens and residents of Bahrain at the U.S. Embassy in Manama.

To apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen seeking to immigrate generally must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident immediate relative(s), or prospective U.S. employer, and have an approved petition before applying for an immigrant visa. The sponsor begins the process by filing a petition on the foreign citizen’s behalf with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You may wish to review our Directory of Visa Categories on usvisas.state.gov to learn about the different types of immigrant visas to the United States, including our Diversity Visa Program. Then, follow the steps on the Immigrant Visa Process, or on the Diversity Visa Process, on usvisas.state.gov to begin applying for an immigrant visa.

Once USCIS has approved your petition and you have completed pre-processing with the National Visa Center (NVC), or if you have been selected in the Diversity Visa Lottery and completed processing with the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), review the instructions given to you by the NVC or the KCC, along with the information presented on this website, for further guidance and instructions.

Appointments & Locations

All visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Manama, Bahrain are handled on an appointment basis only.

U.S. Embassy’s address is:

Street Address: Building No. 979
Road 3119, Block 331
Zinj District
Manama – Kingdom of Bahrain

Applicants should enter the Consular Section at the Embassy’s North gate on Road 3119. Parking is available on Road 3118 in the lot next to the North gate. The only form of public transportation to and from the Embassy is by taxi.

Contact Us

Individuals seeking general information about U.S. visas or needing to schedule a visa appointment should visit Apply for a U.S. Visa or you may call:

+973 1619 8885 (7:00 am to 7:00 pm) from Bahrain, or
+1 (703) 520 2241 between 7:00 am to 3:00 pm EST if you are in the United States.

You may also email your questions to support-Bahrain@ustraveldocs.com.

Security Information

Embassy Access: All visitors must identify themselves to a security guard at the main gate in order to gain access to the Embassy. Please bring valid picture ID with you.

Electronic devices such as mobile phones, Blackberries, iPods, iPads, notebook computers, PDAs, headsets, remote-entry automobile key “fobs” or anything with a power plug or battery are not allowed within the Embassy grounds. The Embassy provides storage facilities only for mobile phones and small bags.

Large bags, such as backpacks, suitcases or packages are not allowed within the Embassy grounds.

Visitors who do not follow these instructions will experience considerable delays at the security check point, which could result in the interview being cancelled.

Please note the following persons may accompany a visa applicant during Consular-related visits:

Interpreter: Embassy staff can assist in translation from Arabic to English. If an applicant speaks a native language other than those previously listed and does not speak English well enough to participate in an interview, they may bring ONE interpreter to the interview.
Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly or disabled.
Parents may accompany minor children when applying for a visa or a U.S. passport.
Attorney: Attorneys will NOT be permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or at their interviews without an appointment.
Travel agents are NOT allowed to accompany applicants to the Embassy.

Due to waiting room size, the large volume of applicants and the time required to screen consular clients, other accompanying persons cannot be admitted to the waiting room. Drivers, friends, extra relatives must wait outside or return to meet the applicant after the interview has been completed.

Hours of operation excluding U.S. and Bahraini holidays:

Visas and American Citizen Services are available only by appointment.

Please see our holiday schedule.

Reasonable Accommodation

If you need reasonable accommodation for your appointment, we encourage you to request your accommodation immediately once you schedule your appointment. We make every effort to provide accommodations to persons with disabilities and medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations vary, depending on the situation and the person’s needs.
Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to:

If you require a private appointment due to a medical condition or disability, we may schedule an alternative time for you to come in for your interview.
If you or your child has special needs that requires a private appointment in a quiet space without distractions, we may schedule an alternative time for you or your family to come in for your interview.
If you are unable to speak, you may be allowed to respond to questions in an agreed-upon nonverbal manner such as using pen and paper.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may bring a sign language interpreter to translate during the interview if needed.
If you have low vision, we may provide you with communications in large print.

If you are unable to provide fingerprints because of a medical condition, including birth defects, physical deformities, skin conditions, you may qualify for a fingerprint waiver for certain fingers.

Interview waivers are only granted in extreme situations, such as having a medical condition that requires flying in an air ambulance.

The waiting room of the Consular Section and its restroom is wheelchair-accessible.

U.S. Embassy in Bahrain