UAE
Saudi ArabiaAt a glance
- Official name
- B-1 business visitor visa, usually issued as a combined B1/B2 visa
- Application form
- DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application
- Interview
- In person at the US Embassy in Islamabad or Consulate General in Karachi for most applicants
- Length of stay
- Set by the US border officer when you arrive, not by the visa's validity
- Work allowed
- No employment and no salary from a US source
- Visa Waiver Program
- Not available to Pakistani passport holders
Who this is for
- Business owners and managers consulting with US business associates
- Exporters and buyers negotiating contracts with US companies
- Professionals attending business, scientific or professional conferences and trade shows
- Investors looking at sites or opportunities before committing, without running a business
- Technicians installing or servicing equipment bought from their foreign employer, where the sales contract requires it
When another route fits better
- You will be employed or paid by a US company: you need a work visa, such as the H-1B, L-1 or O-1, which usually starts with a US petition.
- You want to run or actively manage a US business you have invested in: look at the investor and employment-based visa categories instead.
- You will study or do hands-on training: other categories, such as the F-1 or J-1, apply.
Documents to prepare
Everyone
- Passport valid for travel to the United States, plus old passports with previous visas
- DS-160 confirmation page
- Interview appointment confirmation and visa fee receipt
- Photograph meeting the US visa photo rules
Business evidence to bring to the interview
- Letter from your Pakistani employer confirming your role, salary, approved leave and the purpose of the trip
- Invitation or meeting confirmation from the US company
- Registration for the conference or trade show, if you are attending one
- Your company's SECP registration, NTN certificate and chamber of commerce membership
- Personal and company bank statements and recent tax returns
- Evidence of trade with US partners, such as contracts, invoices or letters of credit
Step by step
- 1
Confirm the B-1 fits your trip
List what you will do in the US. Meetings, negotiations and conferences fit. If any part of the trip involves doing productive work or being paid by a US source, you need a different visa.
- 2
Complete the DS-160
Fill in the DS-160 online with care. Your answers, including travel history, employment and any previous refusals, must match what you say at interview. Save the confirmation page.
- 3
Pay the fee and book your interview
Use the scheduling service linked from the US Embassy in Pakistan's website to pay the visa fee and book an appointment in Islamabad or Karachi.
- 4
Attend the interview
Explain your business and the purpose of the trip clearly and briefly. The officer may ask to see documents, so bring them organised, but your answers matter most.
- 5
Get your passport back
If approved, your passport is returned with the visa through the delivery service. If you are told your case needs administrative processing, send any extra documents requested and wait for an update.
- 6
Arrive at a US port of entry
A US Customs and Border Protection officer decides whether to admit you and for how long. Carry your invitation and return ticket, and check your admission record after you enter.
Costs to plan for
- The non-refundable visa application fee, paid before you book the interview. Check the current fee on the official site
- Any other government fees in force for B visas when you apply
- Travel to Islamabad or Karachi for the interview, and a hotel if you live elsewhere
- Passport delivery charges
- Flights, accommodation and travel medical insurance, as US healthcare is expensive
Why applications get refused
- Not showing strong enough ties to Pakistan, so the officer presumes you intend to stay (refusal under section 214(b))
- A purpose that sounds like work, such as joining a project team or doing tasks for the US company
- Answers at interview that do not match the DS-160 or the invitation
- A business that is too new or unclear to show genuine trading activity
- Previous overstays or other violations of US immigration rules
- False documents or misrepresentation, which can lead to a permanent bar
Tips before you apply
- Practise explaining your business and the trip in a few plain sentences. Interviews are short.
- Declare every previous refusal from any country on the DS-160.
- Apply in Pakistan if it is your country of nationality or residence. Applicants are expected to apply where they live or hold nationality.
- A valid visa does not guarantee entry. The border officer can still question you about the trip.
Questions people ask
They are separate categories, but they are usually issued together as a B1/B2 visa. You still need to say truthfully what each trip is for.
Most nonimmigrant visa applicants in Pakistan now need an in-person interview. A small group of renewal applicants may qualify for an interview waiver. Check the US Embassy in Pakistan's website for the current rules.
A B-1 visitor may not receive a salary from a US source. Reimbursement of incidental expenses, such as travel and hotel costs, is generally allowed for business visitors.
It means the officer needs more information or checks before making a final decision. You may be asked for documents. There is no set timescale, so avoid booking travel until your passport is returned with a visa.
When this guide was reviewed, Pakistan was not among the countries named in the US entry restrictions that took effect in January 2026. These lists can change, so check the US Embassy in Pakistan's website before you apply.
Official sources
Fees, fund requirements and processing times change. Check the current figures on the official site before you apply.
Last reviewed 8 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. VisaWala is not affiliated with any embassy or government, and only the issuing authority decides a visa application.