US Visa Appointment Wait Times in Pakistan: Islamabad, Karachi and How to Plan (2026)

How long is the US visa appointment wait in Pakistan?

For most Pakistani families planning a US trip, the interview date is the slowest part of the process. The US visa appointment wait time in Pakistan depends on which post you apply at, Islamabad or Karachi, and it changes often. The US State Department publishes an estimate for each post, and that estimate is the figure to trust.

We are not quoting a number of months here, because the official estimate moves from week to week. In a June 2026 rule, the State Department said the median global wait for a nonimmigrant visa appointment was about 30 days, but that at certain posts it exceeded 12 months. That is why it matters to check the current figures for Islamabad and Karachi yourself.

The US Consulate General in Karachi encourages applicants to apply at least six months before their intended travel date, and not to buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is issued. This guide explains how to read the wait-time tool, the B1/B2 process step by step, the fee, interview waivers and expedited appointments.

How do you read the travel.state.gov wait-time tool?

The State Department's visa appointment wait times tool lets you pick a city and see the estimated wait for each visa type.

1. Open the tool on travel.state.gov.
2. Type Islamabad, and then check Karachi as well.
3. Look at the line for visitors (B1/B2) and note the estimate.
4. Check again a week later. The figures are updated regularly.

What the estimate means

• It reflects each post's current workload and staffing, so it can rise or fall quickly.
• It is the wait for an interview appointment, not for the visa.
• It does not include the time an officer needs to decide your case, any administrative processing, or the time to return your passport.
• The State Department also runs a global visa wait times page. It separates the next available appointment from the average wait applicants actually had in the previous month.

Islamabad or Karachi?

Both posts interview B1/B2 applicants. According to the US Mission's visa page:

• US Embassy Islamabad handles immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, by appointment only.
• US Consulate General Karachi handles nonimmigrant visas only.
• Islamabad prioritises student and exchange visitor visas (F and J). Karachi prioritises F and J visas and temporary employment visas.

You can usually choose the post with the earlier date. Factor in travel: for Islamabad, applicants take the diplomatic shuttle from the shuttle service building in sector G-5 and should arrive there 30 minutes before the appointment. Karachi asks applicants to arrive 15 minutes early.

What is the B1/B2 process from Pakistan?

The B1/B2 is the US visitor visa for tourism, family visits, medical treatment and short business trips. The US Mission in Pakistan sets out three main steps, carried out through the official scheduling service run by CGI:

1. Complete the DS-160, the online nonimmigrant visa application, and save the confirmation page.
2. Pay the visa application fee (the MRV fee) through the official scheduling site.
3. Book the interview in Islamabad or Karachi, then attend with your passport and confirmation pages.

After the interview, the officer either issues the visa, refuses it, or places the case in administrative processing. The interview itself is where most decisions are made. Our US visa interview guide covers the questions officers ask in Islamabad and Karachi and how to answer them honestly.

Apply in Pakistan if you live in Pakistan

The US Mission says nonimmigrant applicants should schedule their interview in their country of residence or nationality. Booking in another country to beat the queue is not a route for most Pakistani residents, and visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

How much is the US visa fee in Pakistan?

As of October 2026, the fee for a B1/B2 visa is US$185. This is the fee for non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas in the State Department's fee schedule at 22 CFR 22.1.

• The fee is non-refundable, including if the visa is refused.
• The US Mission says the payment is valid for 365 days from the receipt date. You must book your interview, or submit a waiver application, within that time. The interview itself may fall later.
• Pay only through the official scheduling site linked from the embassy website.

A note on the "visa integrity fee": a US law passed in July 2025 created a new visa integrity fee charged when a nonimmigrant visa is issued. In July 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security said it would be implemented in a future publication. We could not confirm from an official source whether it is being collected in Pakistan as of October 2026, so check the fee page on travel.state.gov before you pay.

Can you get a US visa without an interview in Pakistan?

Very few people can. The US Mission in Pakistan says that, from 11 August 2025, all nonimmigrant applicants in Pakistan, including children under 14 and adults over 79, generally need an in-person interview.

The main exception for visitors is a renewal:

• you are applying for a B1/B2 visa
• your previous visa was a full-validity B1/B2 visa
• it was issued when you were at least 18
• you are applying within 12 months of that visa's expiry

The US Mission says such cases "might be eligible", so a waiver is not automatic and you may still be called for an interview. If your previous visa expired more than 12 months ago, or was issued when you were a child, plan for a normal interview wait.

Can you get an earlier US visa appointment?

Emergency (expedited) appointment requests

The US Mission says travellers with urgent travel needs, meaning a matter of life or death such as a medical emergency, can request an expedited appointment through the official scheduling site. The requirements are strict, and approval depends on availability. A wedding, a holiday or a conference you registered for late is not usually treated as an emergency.

If you request an expedite, keep the evidence short and clear: a hospital letter, a death certificate, or similar official proof of the urgent reason and dates.

The paid expedite pilot

A State Department temporary rule created a US$750 fee for an expedited B1/B2 interview within ten business days. It runs from 1 July to 31 December 2026, is paid on top of the $185 fee, and is offered only at selected posts listed on travel.state.gov. The rule says it does not guarantee a visa and does not speed up any other step. Check the official list before assuming it is available in Islamabad or Karachi.

Rescheduling to an earlier slot

New appointments are added over time, so applicants with a booked date can keep checking the scheduling site for an earlier one. Use only your own account on the official site. Do not pay anyone who claims to "sell" embassy slots.

What happens after the interview?

• Approved: your passport is kept so the visa can be printed, then returned through the document delivery service run by the official provider.
• Refused: visitor refusals are commonly made under section 214(b), meaning the officer was not satisfied you will return. The fee is not refunded.
• Administrative processing: the Karachi page says you are told at the interview if extra processing is needed. Most cases are resolved within 60 days, but timing varies. Wait at least 90 days before asking about your case.

You can track the case on the State Department's CEAC status page.

Common mistakes Pakistani applicants make with appointments

1. Waiting for a "good" wait time before starting. The DS-160 and fee take time too. Start early and pick the earliest date offered.
2. Booking flights or event tickets before the visa is issued.
3. Paying the fee and forgetting to book within 365 days.
4. Assuming parents over 80 or young children are exempt. In Pakistan, they now generally need an interview.
5. Using unofficial agents for slots. Appointments are booked only through the official scheduling site.
6. Errors in the DS-160. A mistake found late can mean a new form and a new confirmation number. Check every answer before you submit.
7. Bringing phones or bags to the embassy. The Islamabad embassy has no storage for electronic devices, so leave them at the shuttle service.

How Sky Raah can help

Sky Raah Travels in Lahore helps Pakistani applicants complete the DS-160 accurately, pay the fee and book through the official scheduling site, and prepare for the interview in Islamabad or Karachi. We cannot shorten the embassy's queue or influence the officer's decision, but we can help you avoid the mistakes that waste a fee or an appointment. Read about our USA visit visa service or start your application.

Official sources

• US Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan: Nonimmigrant visas
• US Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan: Visas (posts and locations)
• US Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan: Important visa information
• travel.state.gov: Visa appointment wait times
• travel.state.gov: Global visa wait times
• 22 CFR 22.1: Schedule of fees for consular services
• Federal Register: $750 expedited B1/B2 appointment fee (temporary final rule, June 2026)
• Federal Register: DHS notice on HR-1 fees, including the visa integrity fee (July 2025)
• CEAC: Visa status check

Rules and fees are correct as of October 2026. Wait times change weekly, so confirm the current estimate, fee and interview rules on travel.state.gov and the US Embassy Pakistan website before you apply.