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United States · B1/B2 visitor visa

US Visit Visa from Pakistan

Pakistanis travelling to the United States for tourism or to see family need a B1/B2 visitor visa. You complete the DS-160 online, pay the fee, book an appointment and attend an interview at the US Embassy in Islamabad or the Consulate General in Karachi. The officer starts from the assumption that you may intend to stay, so you need to show strong reasons to return.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026

At a glance

Official name
B1/B2 visitor visa (B-2 covers tourism and family visits)
Application form
DS-160, completed online
Interview
Most applicants in Pakistan attend in person
Where
US Embassy Islamabad or US Consulate General Karachi
Length of stay
Set by the officer at the US port of entry, not by the visa's validity
Work
Not allowed

Who this is for

  • Parents and relatives visiting family who live in the United States
  • Tourists planning a holiday in the US
  • Families attending a wedding, graduation or other family event
  • People with pre-arranged private medical treatment in the US

When another route fits better

  • Studying in the US: apply for an F-1 student visa.
  • Working for a US employer: you need the matching work visa, such as an H-1B.
  • Moving to live with a spouse or parent who is a US citizen or green card holder: that needs an immigrant visa based on a family petition.

Documents to prepare

Everyone

  • Valid passport, plus old passports showing previous travel
  • DS-160 confirmation page
  • Fee receipt and interview appointment confirmation
  • A photo that meets US visa requirements, uploaded with the DS-160
  • Evidence of your job or business: employer letter, salary slips, business registration or tax returns
  • Bank statements and evidence of assets such as property
  • Copies of previous US visas, if any

If you are visiting family

  • Invitation letter from your relative describing the visit
  • Copy of your relative's US passport, green card or visa
  • Proof of relationship, such as a NADRA Family Registration Certificate

If someone else pays

  • A letter from the person paying explaining what they will cover
  • Their bank statements or other proof of income

Step by step

  1. 1

    Complete the DS-160

    Fill in the online form carefully and truthfully, including your travel history and the social media details it asks for. Keep the confirmation page.

  2. 2

    Pay the fee and create your profile

    Pay the application fee and set up a profile on the appointment system named on the US Embassy in Pakistan website.

  3. 3

    Book your interview

    Choose Islamabad or Karachi. Apply in the country where you live or hold nationality, as the embassy advises.

  4. 4

    Prepare for the interview

    Be ready to explain the purpose of your trip, who is paying, your job and your family in Pakistan in short, clear answers.

  5. 5

    Attend the interview

    Your fingerprints are taken and an officer asks a few questions. Documents are only looked at if the officer asks for them.

  6. 6

    Administrative processing, if needed

    Some cases need further checks after the interview. Wait for instructions rather than reapplying.

  7. 7

    Collect your passport and travel

    Check the visa details when your passport is returned. At the US border, an officer decides how long you may stay.

Costs to plan for

  • The visa application fee, which is non-refundable even if you are refused. Check the current amount on the embassy website.
  • Any further visa-related fees that apply to your nationality or that the US introduces. Check the embassy's notices before you apply.
  • Travel to Islamabad or Karachi for your interview, and a hotel stay if you live far away.
  • Passport delivery or collection charges.
  • Health insurance for the trip, as medical care in the US is very expensive.
  • Flights and living costs during your stay.

Why applications get refused

  • Not showing strong enough ties to Pakistan, the most common reason, usually cited as section 214(b).
  • Answers at the interview that do not match the DS-160.
  • A vague or changing purpose of travel.
  • Circumstances that suggest you might not return, such as no settled job and most close family already in the US.
  • Past overstays or other US immigration violations.
  • Misrepresentation on the form, which can make you permanently ineligible.
  • Reapplying soon after a refusal with no change in circumstances.

Tips before you apply

  • Know your DS-160 answers well, and answer the officer in your own words.
  • Bring your documents, but expect the interview to rest mainly on your answers.
  • After a 214(b) refusal, reapply only when something meaningful has changed, such as a new job or stronger travel history.
  • Read the US Embassy in Pakistan's notices before applying, as interview and fee rules have changed several times recently.

Questions people ask

The officer at the US port of entry decides and records your permitted stay electronically. The validity printed on the visa only shows the period in which you can travel to the US, not how long you can stay.

The US Embassy in Pakistan advises applicants to schedule interviews in their country of residence or nationality. Applying elsewhere is generally only an option if you live there.

Most applicants in Pakistan must attend in person. Some adults renewing a previous full-validity B1/B2 visa within a set period may qualify for a waiver. Check the current conditions on the embassy website.

No. An invitation helps explain your trip, but the officer mainly looks at your own circumstances in Pakistan and your reasons to return.

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.