The United States Mission in Pakistan recently announced the expansion of interview waiver eligibility for Pakistani citizens who are renewing B1/B2 tourist and business visas. All Pakistani citizens, regardless of age, whose B1/B2 visas are valid or have expired within the last 48 months are eligible to participate. Learn more here.
U.S. Embassy Islamabad and Consulate General Karachi prioritize students/exchange visitors (F and J visas) and temporary employees (H, L, O, P, and C1D visas). First time applicants can find more information about the visa process here. Other travelers with urgent (i.e., matter of life or death) travel needs should check the requirements and process for an expedited appointment here.
Please note that certain cases are eligible for interview waiver, including certain renewals and most applicants under 14 or over 79. While we continue to expand our visa processing, please note that we have a significant backlog of cases and wait times are much longer than usual. Learn more about the eligibility criteria here.
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and Consulate General Karachi are 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.
All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee. Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period. Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period. There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period. All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.
Contact Us
Consular Section
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5
U.S. Embassy Islamabad
Pakistan
Nonimmigrant Visa Inquiries
Check the status of your case at https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/.
To submit an inquiry to the NIV section, click here.
Karachi:
Consulate General of the United States of America
3,4,5 New TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road
Karachi
Visiting the Embassy or Consulate
Location
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is located in the Diplomatic Enclave in Islamabad. To visit the Consular Section for an interview you must take the diplomatic shuttle from the Diplomatic Shuttle Service building located at Avenue 3, Quaid-i-Azam University road in sector G/5. Please arrive at the shuttle service building 30 minutes prior to your appointment. The shuttle will take you to the Consular Section’s reception area where guards will conduct a screening and bring you inside the section.
Hours of Operation
The visa section of the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, conducts immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interviews, by appointment only, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except for Pakistani and American public holidays and administrative closures.
Security Restrictions: What Not to Bring to the Interview
The Embassy does not permit interested parties such as friends, relatives, attorneys, or business contacts to attend visa interviews with the applicant.
The following items are not allowed in the Embassy during your interview: mobile phones, electronic personal digital assistants, cameras, smart watches and glasses, audio or video recording devices, laptop computers, portable music players, travel bags, back packs, brief cases, suit cases, cosmetics (including but not limited to spray perfume/cologne and talcum/baby powder), bottles of any kind, food items, and any sealed envelopes or packages.
Other items may be prohibited based on security staff discretion. There is no storage at the Embassy for prohibited items, but you may leave cell phones and other small personal items with the shuttle service. If you bring prohibited items with you to the Embassy, you will have to dispose of them before entry.
