United States Visa from Pakistan

After completing your DS-160 and paying the MRV fee on the US Visa Scheduling platform, book the earliest available regular appointment slot. If you have an urgent humanitarian, business, or academic need (such as imminent university start dates for F1 students), you can submit an Emergency Appointment Request with supporting documents through your portal dashboard.

The US Visa Bulletin is published monthly by the Department of State. It regulates immigrant visa availability and specifies 'Final Action Dates' and 'Dates for Filing'. An applicant's priority date must be earlier than the published cut-off date to file Form I-485 adjustment of status or receive an immigrant consular interview in Islamabad.

October is shoulder season for United States — fewer crowds, faster processing, and competitive flight prices. AMG Visa recommends filing your United States visa application at least 4-6 weeks before your intended travel date to account for embassy processing timelines and biometric appointment availability.

United States visa processing times in October 2026 vary based on current embassy workload. Standard processing typically takes 10-15 business days for sticker visas and 24-72 hours for e-Visas. AMG Visa's fast-track service can expedite processing by coordinating directly with consular scheduling systems.

To book a US visa appointment: 1) Fill out your DS-160 form on ceac.state.gov, 2) Create a profile on the official US Visa Scheduling portal (usvisascheduling.com), 3) Generate your MRV Fee deposit slip ($185 for B1/B2, F-1, J-1) and pay at authorized bank branches in Pakistan, 4) Enter your fee receipt number on the portal, and 5) Select your preferred consular interview slot at the US Embassy in Islamabad or US Consulate General in Karachi.

The EB-3 is a 3rd preference employment-based immigrant visa leading directly to a US Green Card. It comprises Skilled Workers (minimum 2 years training/experience), Professionals (holding a US bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent), and Other Workers (unskilled labor). Requirements include a permanent, full-time job offer from a US employer, an approved PERM Labor Certification from the US Department of Labor, and an approved Form I-140 petition from USCIS.

The J-1 is a nonimmigrant exchange visitor visa for scholars, professors, research assistants, trainees, and Summer Work Travel participants issued under Form DS-2019. Under INA Section 212(e), certain J-1 holders (such as government-funded Fulbright scholars or those in specialized skills lists) must physically reside in Pakistan for at least two years after completing their program before being eligible to adjust status to H, L, or permanent resident (Green Card) status, unless a 212(e) waiver is granted.

The H-1B is a specialty occupation work visa requiring a bachelor's degree and an employer petition selected in the annual USCIS electronic lottery cap. The L-1 visa is for intracompany transferees (L-1A executives/managers and L-1B specialized knowledge experts) who have worked continuously for at least 1 year for a foreign affiliated company in Pakistan before transferring to the US branch. Both require an approved Form I-129 petition from USCIS.

For a US citizen sponsoring their Pakistani spouse for permanent residence, the US petitioner files Form I-130 with USCIS. Once approved, the case moves to NVC where civil documents (NADRA FRC and MRC) and the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support (proving petitioner meets 125% of HHS federal poverty income guidelines) are submitted. If married under 2 years at entry, the spouse receives a 2-year conditional Green Card (CR-1); if married over 2 years, a 10-year permanent Green Card (IR-1) is granted.

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program allows foreign investors to obtain US Green Cards for themselves, their spouse, and unmarried children under 21. Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, the minimum qualifying investment in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA / rural or high unemployment area) is $800,000, and the investment must create at least 10 direct or indirect full-time American jobs.

You can track your nonimmigrant (DS-160) or immigrant visa status on the official Consular Electronic Application Center (ceac.state.gov) by selecting your consular post (Islamabad or Karachi) and entering your CEAC Application Barcode or Case Number. Once issued, your US Visa Number is the 8-digit red alphanumeric number printed on the bottom right of the visa foil in your passport.

The United States spans four main continental time zones: Eastern Time (New York, Washington D.C., Florida) is 9 to 10 hours behind Pakistan (UTC+5); Central Time (Chicago, Texas) is 10 to 11 hours behind; Mountain Time (Denver, Arizona) is 11 to 12 hours behind; and Pacific Time (California, Washington) is 12 to 13 hours behind Pakistan Standard Time.

Anti-fraud advisory: The US Department of State charges mandatory statutory MRV fees ($185 for B1/B2, F-1, J-1 visitor visas and $205 for petition-based work visas). The official Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Lottery) is free to register only on the official domain dvprogram.state.gov. There is currently no general visa ban on Pakistani nationals; each application is evaluated individually on its merits under INA Section 214(b).