October 16, 2026
Planning to visit family in Houston, see New York or attend a business meeting in Chicago? Before you book acflight, one question decides the whole trip: can you convince a US visa officer that you will return to Pakistan?
In fiscal year 2025, more than half of Pakistani applicants could not, with an adjusted refusal rate of 52.32% for visitor visas. The most common reason, Section 214(b), has little to do with missing paperwork or a low bank balance. It means the officer was not convinced the applicant would come back.
This guide explains how to apply for a USA visit visa from Pakistan in 2026 and how to prepare a file that answers that question before the officer asks it.
Key Takeaways: USA Visit Visa from Pakistan 2026
- Application fee: $185 per applicant, non-refundable even if the visa is refused. The payment receipt must be used to book an interview within 365 days.
- Interview: most applicants must attend an in-person interview at the US Embassy in Islamabad or the US Consulate General in Karachi.
- Interview wait: in mid-October 2026, the next B1/B2 appointment was about 7.5 months away in Karachi and 12.5 months away in Islamabad.
- Refusal rate: Pakistan’s adjusted refusal rate for visitor visas was 52.32% in fiscal year 2025, mostly under Section 214(b). This is a national figure, not a prediction for any individual applicant.
- Validity and stay: Pakistani applicants can receive a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 60 months, but the CBP officer at the port of entry decides the length of each stay, usually up to 6 months.
What Is a B1/B2 Visa?
A B1/B2 visa is the US visitor visa for temporary business or tourist travel. B-1 covers business visits, while B-2 covers tourism, family visits and medical treatment, and the two are usually issued together as one visa.
Pakistan is not part of the US Visa Waiver Program, so Pakistani citizens need this visa even for a short trip.
Visa category | Permitted activities | Not permitted |
B-1 (business) | Business meetings, professional or academic conferences, contract negotiations, settling an estate | Employment or paid work for a US company |
B-2 (tourism) | Tourism, visiting family or friends, medical treatment, social events, short recreational courses not for credit | Study for credit, employment or travelling to give birth in the US |
A B1/B2 visa issued to a Pakistani national can be valid for up to 60 months, with multiple entries and no reciprocity fee. It allows the holder to travel to a US port of entry, where a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer decides how long they can stay, usually up to 6 months for tourism.
Who Can Apply for a USA Visit Visa from Pakistan?
Any Pakistani citizen with a genuine temporary purpose can apply, as long as their passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned stay. Under Section 214(b) of US immigration law, every visitor visa applicant is presumed to be an intending immigrant until they prove otherwise. To overcome this presumption, the applicant must show:
- a clear, temporary purpose for the trip, such as tourism, a family visit or a business meeting
- enough funds to cover travel, accommodation and living costs in the US
- strong ties to Pakistan, such as a job, business, property or close family, that give them reason to return
Since 6 September 2025, the State Department has required nonimmigrant visa applicants to apply in their country of nationality or legal residence. Pakistanis living in Pakistan apply in Islamabad or Karachi, while those legally residing in another country, such as the UAE, can apply there.
How to Apply for a USA Visit Visa from Pakistan: 6 Steps
The first three steps are completed online before the interview:
- Complete the DS-160: fill in the online form on the Consular Electronic Application Center, upload a recent photo and list the social media usernames used in the past 5 years. Print the confirmation page with its barcode.
- Pay the $185 fee: create an account on USTravelDocs (ustraveldocs.com/pk), the US Embassy’s official appointment service, and pay the fee there. The receipt must be used to book an interview within 365 days.
- Book the interview: choose the US Embassy in Islamabad or the US Consulate General in Karachi. Both posts prioritise student visas, so B1/B2 dates are often months away. Applicants with an urgent need, such as medical treatment, can request an expedited appointment.
- Prepare the documents: organise the passport, DS-160 confirmation page, appointment letter and supporting documents that show the purpose of travel and ties to Pakistan.
- Attend the interview: arrive 15 minutes before the appointment time, give digital fingerprints and answer the officer’s questions. Phones and other electronic devices are not allowed inside.
- Receive the decision: the officer usually gives the result at the end of the interview. If the visa is approved, the passport is kept for visa printing and returned by courier.
Some applicants receive a 221(g) notice instead of a final decision, which means their case needs administrative processing. According to the US Embassy, most of these cases are resolved within 60 days of the interview.
Preparing for a US visa interview?
AIRCS Group reviews each applicant’s DS-160, documents and interview answers, and runs a mock interview before the real one. Book a free file review on WhatsApp
How Much Is the US Visa Fee in Pakistan in 2026?
The US visa fee in Pakistan is $185 per applicant for a B1/B2 visa, including children, and it must be paid before the interview is booked. The fee is non-refundable, even if the visa is refused.
Fee | Amount | When it is paid |
B1/B2 application (MRV) fee | $185 (about PKR 51,500)) | Before booking the interview |
Visa Integrity Fee | $250 | At visa issuance, once the US Embassy in Pakistan begins collecting it |
Reciprocity fee for Pakistani nationals | None | Not applicable |
The PKR figure uses the mid-October 2026 exchange rate and will vary with the rate on the payment date. The $250 Visa Integrity Fee was approved in July 2025 and may be refunded after the trip if the visitor follows all visa conditions.
What Documents Are Needed for a B1/B2 Visa from Pakistan?
The US Embassy does not publish a fixed document list for visitor visas, and the officer may not review supporting documents at all. Every applicant must bring the essential documents, and any supporting documents should confirm the answers given in the interview.
Essential documents:
- a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned stay, plus any old passports with previous visas
- the DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
- the interview appointment letter
- the fee payment receipt, if requested
- a printed 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inch) photo with a white background, only if the DS-160 photo upload failed
Identity and family documents:
- the original CNIC, or a Form B (Child Registration Certificate) for children under 18
- the NADRA family registration certificate (FRC)
- a NADRA marriage certificate or Nikah Nama for married applicants travelling with a spouse
Supporting documents:
- Employed applicants: an employment letter confirming approved leave, recent salary slips and 6 months of bank statements
- Business owners: business registration, NTN certificate, FBR tax returns and business bank statements
- Business visits: a letter from the US company or conference organiser stating the purpose and dates
- Medical treatment: a diagnosis from a doctor in Pakistan, a letter from the US hospital with the expected length and cost of treatment, and proof of funds to pay for it
- Ties to Pakistan: property documents and proof of dependants, such as children’s school enrolment
There is no fixed minimum bank balance. An invitation letter or Affidavit of Support is not required either, because the State Department expects applicants to qualify on their own ties to Pakistan rather than on assurances from family or friends in the US.
US Visa Appointment Waiting Time in Islamabad and Karachi (2026)
In mid-October 2026, the next B1/B2 interview appointment was about 7.5 months away in Karachi and 12.5 months away in Islamabad. Wait times change often, and the latest figures are published on the State Department’s Global Visa Wait Times page.
The US Embassy advises applying at least 3 months before travel, but applicants booking in Islamabad currently need to plan about a year ahead. They should also avoid buying non-refundable tickets until the visa is issued.
US Visa Interview Questions and Tips for Pakistani Applicants
A US visa interview often lasts only a few minutes, so every answer should be short, honest and consistent with the DS-160. Officers commonly ask:
- “What is the purpose of your trip, and how long will you stay?”
- “Who is paying for the trip?”
- “What do you do in Pakistan, and how much do you earn?”
- “Do you have relatives in the United States?”
- “Which countries have you visited before?”
- “Have you applied for a US visa before, or been refused one?”
Applicants should answer the question asked, without memorised speeches, and hand over documents only when the officer requests them. A clear travel history, such as previous trips to the UK, Schengen countries or Turkey, can also support the application.
Why Are US Visit Visas Refused for Pakistani Applicants?
Section 214(b) is the most common reason for visitor visa refusals. A 214(b) refusal means the officer was not convinced that the applicant has a genuine temporary purpose and strong enough ties to Pakistan. Other common causes include:
- answers that do not match the DS-160 or the supporting documents
- an unclear purpose of travel or no explanation of who is paying for the trip
- a 221(g) refusal for missing documents or administrative processing, which stays in place until the case is resolved
- a previous US overstay of more than 180 days (3-year bar) or more than one year (10-year bar)
- false documents or misrepresentation, which can lead to a permanent ban from the United States
A 214(b) refusal is not permanent. Applicants can reapply with a new DS-160 and a new $185 fee, but the new application should show a real change in circumstances, such as a new job, stronger finances or new travel history.
What Rules Apply After a B1/B2 Visa Is Approved?
A B1/B2 visa allows travel to the United States, but the length of each stay is decided at the border. The CBP officer records the permitted stay on the electronic I-94 record, and the visitor must leave the US by that date. The I-94 can be checked on CBP’s official I-94 website.
- Extensions: a visitor who needs more time must file Form I-539 with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before the I-94 date expires. USCIS recommends filing at least 45 days in advance.
- Overstays: staying even one day beyond the I-94 date automatically voids the visa under Section 222(g), regardless of how much validity it has left.
- Expired passports: a valid visa in an expired passport can still be used, as long as the visa is undamaged. The traveller must carry both the old passport containing the visa and the new passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the US visit visa fee in Pakistan?
The B1/B2 visa fee is $185 per applicant, paid before the interview is booked. It is non-refundable, and the receipt must be used to book an interview within 365 days.
How long does it take to get a US visit visa from Pakistan?
The longest stage is the interview wait: about 7.5 months in Karachi and 12.5 months in Islamabad as of mid-October 2026. Most applicants receive a decision at the interview, and cases sent for administrative processing are usually resolved within 60 days.
Can a B1/B2 visa be renewed without an interview?
Yes, in limited cases. The applicant must be renewing a full-validity B1/B2 visa that expires within 12 months, have been at least 18 when it was issued, have no previous US visa refusals and apply in Pakistan or their country of residence.
How long can a visitor stay in the US on a B1/B2 visa?
The CBP officer at the port of entry decides the length of each stay, usually up to 6 months for tourism. The visa itself can be valid for up to 60 months.
Can an applicant reapply after a US visa refusal?
Yes. There is no waiting period after a 214(b) refusal, but the applicant must submit a new DS-160, pay the fee again and show a change in circumstances.
Get Expert Help with Your USA Visit Visa
AIRCS Group supports Pakistani applicants through every stage of the USA visit visa process, from DS-160 preparation and document review to interview preparation. Consultations are available at our offices in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad, on WhatsApp or by appointment.
