ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy in Pakistan has announced a significant reduction in appointment wait times for various visa categories.
An embassy spokesperson said that the wait time has been reduced from 440 days to 230 days. This effort is part of a larger initiative to streamline the visa application process for Pakistani applicants, with particular emphasis on student visas, business visas, family reunion visas, and more.
“We are diligently working to accommodate the increased demand and assist as many applicants as possible,” the embassy official stated, highlighting their commitment to reducing wait times. This change signifies a key shift in the embassy’s strategy to address the backlog in visa processing, especially for student visas.
The embassy is currently processing around 10,000 visa applications per month, with a focus on student visas. This prioritization reflects the embassy’s dedication to supporting educational opportunities for Pakistani students.
For applicants who have already submitted their visa applications, the embassy has implemented a system for case reviews via email. Each application is individually reviewed, with decisions typically made within three to four working days after the interview, the official explained.
Regarding fees, the embassy clarified that it charges only the standard application fee, consistent with the global US visa application charges. The spokesperson also noted that the past year saw the highest number of visa applications the embassy has ever processed, indicating a growing demand for US visas in Pakistan.
