Mohak Nahta, founder and CEO, Atlys/Image: Supplied
For UAE residents, securing a US visa can often be an exercise in patience — with appointment wait times stretching for months and unpredictable embassy backlogs leaving travellers uncertain. Atlys, a travel-tech platform founded by Mohak Nahta, is seeking to change that by using data intelligence and automation to bring transparency and predictability to the visa application process.
“Visa timelines are primarily shaped by sustained demand and finite appointment capacity at consular posts,” said Nahta. “The UAE is a major travel hub with consistently high application volumes, and during periods of elevated demand appointment availability can become uneven and difficult to predict.”
Atlys was built to reduce that uncertainty. “Our platform continuously monitors appointment availability and surfaces new openings the moment they appear, giving applicants immediate visibility and a clear path to the next available slot,” he explained. “This approach helps many applicants complete the appointment stage in about eight weeks. We do not change government processes; we make them easier to navigate and more predictable for applicants.”
Real-time visibility meets regulatory compliance
Atlys’ model is powered by a purpose-built monitoring engine that scans publicly available embassy appointment data in real time. “We use purpose-built technology to monitor publicly available appointment information in real time and detect new openings as they are released,” said Nahta. “When availability changes, the platform notifies applicants so they can act promptly.”
He stressed that regulatory alignment is central to the company’s design. “Compliance is foundational. Atlys is engineered to operate with transparency and integrity and to align with applicable U.S. and UAE requirements. Our systems are intended to enhance visibility and reduce friction while fully respecting the boundaries of official processes.”
While visa processing often feels unpredictable, Atlys’ data models have introduced a level of certainty that traditional systems lack. “Over several years we’ve observed consistent patterns that allow us to forecast timelines with a high degree of accuracy,” said Nahta. “By combining those insights with continuous monitoring, we consistently help travellers reach an appointment in roughly eight weeks, fully within official guidelines.”
According to Nahta, these forecasts are dynamic. “Our predictive systems continuously ingest real-time demand and availability signals and adjust promised timelines accordingly,” he said. “When availability improves we can move timelines forward; when demand spikes we update expectations and communicate revised timing to users.”
Balancing automation and assurance
A key feature of Atlys is its AI-powered DS-160 form automation and mock interview tool, designed to help applicants prepare and submit error-free applications. But for Nahta, automation is only as effective as its accuracy and security.
“Security and privacy are non-negotiable,” he said. “Atlys employs 256-bit AES encryption together with strict internal and external access controls, and we are compliant with GDPR and ISO standards. These measures ensure user data is handled to independently recognised benchmarks.”
Automation, he added, is used to eliminate repetitive errors, not remove human oversight. “Automation is used to reduce clerical errors and accelerate repetitive tasks such as form population and document validation, which improves consistency and reduces the risk of simple mistakes. We also provide 24/7 customer support by live chat and phone so travellers can receive immediate clarification on requirements and status updates.”
The visa system is inherently a government function, but private innovation is filling gaps in accessibility and user experience. Nahta believes the relationship should remain complementary, not competitive.
“Atlys is designed to complement government workflows,” he said. “We do not replace official processes; we simplify them for applicants by clarifying requirements, reducing repetitive tasks, and providing reliable timelines.”
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Predictability, he said, is the company’s core value proposition. “We provide an exact delivery commitment down to the minute. For example, ‘Your visa (decisions) will be ready on October 19 at 1:34 PM.’ That level of certainty allows customers to plan precisely and removes operational ambiguity.”
While the platform gained early traction with U.S. tourist visas, Atlys now supports visa applications for more than 100 destinations, including Schengen states and the United Kingdom. “We continue to deepen coverage across the GCC and other regions where applicants face appointment and documentation challenges,” said Nahta.
A key differentiator is Atlys’ data reuse feature, which allows verified applicant data to be securely applied across multiple visa applications. “Once a traveller completes one visa application, they can optionally reuse their verified data securely across other destinations so subsequent applications can be completed much more quickly,” he said. “In practice, that means users become visa-ready for 100+ countries, enabling applications to multiple destinations in a matter of seconds.”
Third-party visa services often face credibility challenges, but Nahta emphasised that transparency and accountability are central to Atlys’ model. “Credibility starts with visibility and accountability,” he said. “Atlys provides real-time status updates, clear step-by-step guidance, and transparent pricing so customers always know where their application stands and what to expect next.”
The company also offers refund protections and dedicated customer support. “We offer refund protections in the event of a visa rejection and back our service with continuous customer support,” he said. “Our objective is to deliver a professional, precise, and consistently excellent experience that removes uncertainty from the visa application process.”
Towards a digital mobility ecosystem
Looking ahead, Nahta sees technology and public policy converging to redefine how mobility is managed globally. “Global mobility is moving steadily toward digital frameworks,” he said. “E-visas, digital identity systems, biometric verification, and AI-assisted risk assessment are being adopted more broadly, which will make visa processing faster, more secure, and more consistent.”
“Atlys is built to align with that evolution,” he added. “As governments continue their digital transformation, our role will be to provide the user-centric layer that helps travellers navigate those varied public systems with clarity and confidence, contributing to a unified, seamless and trustworthy mobility ecosystem.”
