US embassy reduces time for visa application process; Details inside

ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy in Pakistan announced a significant reduction in visa appointment wait times, cutting them from 440 days to 230 days. This move aims to streamline and expedite the visa application process for Pakistani applicants.

An embassy official stated that the initiative will benefit those applying for student visas, business visas, family reunion visas, and more. The embassy has implemented several measures to accelerate processing times and is working to minimize wait periods further.

Previously, the embassy processed around 10,000 visa applications per month in Islamabad and Karachi. The official mentioned that the embassy is continually enhancing its procedures to further shorten wait times.

For those who have already applied, the embassy offers a system to review cases via email, with decisions typically made within three to four working days after the interview. The standard application fee, applied globally, remains unchanged.

Moreover, The official also noted that last year saw the highest number of applicants ever, indicating a growing demand for US visas in Pakistan. There has been a recent hike in US  visa applications which will soon break all the records.

According to the Embassy officials reported, that the number of visas issued by the Karachi Consulate and the US Embassy in Islamabad reached its highest level in 2023. They noted that by October 2024, this figure is expected to surpass last year’s total, reflecting an increase in visa applications from Pakistanis.