How to Apply for US Visa in Pakistan

This year I traveled to the US along with my family for the summers. And let me assure you I am a complete Pakistani with an authentic green passport and so do my husband and children.

Whatever we have is from Pakistan and in Pakistan yet when I applied for the American visa it was approved immediately, in fact, it got approved within 3 hours!

Now there is nothing special that I have in my papers, no political affiliations etc.

This was just a regular summer vacation plan with my family to the States and nothing more.

So if you are searching the web and are looking for proper guidance for how to apply for USA visa here are the steps:-

Note: There are many non-authentic websites based on the American visa procedure, so make sure you land on a proper authentic one.

Consulting websites for US Visa

• http://www.ustraveldocs.com/
• https://www.uscis.gov/
• https://travel.state.gov

How to Apply for American Visa

1.Select the Visa Type

I applied for B-2 type which is the visa for tourism and visiting friends and family or medical treatment.

B-1 type visa is for people traveling to United states temporarily for business.

Sometimes both these visas are combined as one the B-1/B-2

This is a very important that you need to recognize your visa type.

2.Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form

This form can only be filled online. There is absolutely no other way of filling up this form and please be very careful when filling up the form.

Note: Once you start filling the form you have to be extremely careful. You cannot go back to the previous page after you completed one page so make sure you fill each page properly and thoroughly revise it before going to the next page.

So it’s highly recommended that whatever information you enter you must save it in your profile online or you can always save it to your computer and if for some reasons you are not able to complete the entire form, you can always login back and continue from the page that you left.

I suggest saving the information on your computer because if  your online profile gets corrupt you can always a create a new one using the saved information.

Before you sit down to fill up the visa application form there are some very important documents that need to be prepared and assembled beforehand.

Requirements for filling the US visa form online

1.Passport Size Photo

Your visa application photo must meet certain criteria regarding size and content. Submitting photos that do not meet these criteria can delay the visa application process. Digital photos uploaded with your Form DS-160 must have been taken within the last six months, via Apply for US Visa in Pakistan

Most of the renowned photographers in the city are well aware of the particular requirements of photos for any country’s visa.

2.Valid Passport

The passport validity should be until 6 months and not less.

3.Financial history

6-month bank statements. This statement must verify your 6-month transaction history and your savings.

4.Employment history

If you are a businessmen man/woman you need to have a complete profile of your work. The amount of money you make each month, tax return papers, no. of employees in your company .

5.Investment Documentation

Proper legal documents of your investments like property, cash, automobiles, etc

6.Academic Records

Keep your school, college, and university certificates handy while filing the form. Becuase there is a clause in the visa application form which inquires about which institute you attended and your joining and leaving date.

3.Pay the Visa Fees

Once you have completed the application then comes the next step which is paying the visa fees.

The visa fees for business/ tourist visa is $160 and in PKR its Rs. 16,960 per person. Even if it’s an infant you are applying for the visa, fees is the same.

You need to submit the visa fees to the designated bank by the American Embassy which is Allied Bank

In Pakistan, you may pay your Visa Fee in person at any branch of Allied Bank of Pakistan. You must first register on the applicant site and choose the Schedule Your Appointment option to access the payment option details. See below for the steps. If you are paying for a group of applicants visit the group appointment page.

Step 1

Log-in to our online applicant system and create a profile. This will ensure the proper amount is paid and activated in timely manner. Values are shown in U.S. Dollars (USD); however the Fee payable is in Pakistani rupee (PKR).This page has more information about the different visa application fees.

Step 2

Click on Schedule My Appointment option on the left-hand side of your screen. Complete steps for Visa Type, Post, Visa Category and Visa Class.

Step 3

Once you are on the Payment screen, click on Payment Options. Review the Cash at Bank section for further details.

The PKR amounts are based on the consular currency exchange rate determined by the U.S. Department of State. Applicants who do not pay the correct fee for their visa type may be restricted from scheduling an interview.

Step 4

Pay the visa fee. When you pay the visa fee, you acknowledge that this is a non-refundable visa application processing fee required as a prerequisite to the processing of an application. It does not indicate the existence of a contract with the applicant, nor does it guarantee a successful application. There is no refund possible regardless of the outcome of this application.

Step 5

Save the bank receipt for your records. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will need the receipt number on the bank receipt to schedule your visa appointment.

Step 6

Once you pay your visa fee, you can schedule your interview after 11:00am the next business day. Log-in to your profile and complete the Schedule Your Appointment steps with your receipt number.

Fee Payment Options

Cash at Allied Bank

You can pay your nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application fee in cash at any Allied Bank branch. Cheques are not accepted. You must bring your passport for identification purposes to make your payment.

1. Before going to the bank you must print and carry the applicable U.S. visa deposit slips (available after logging into your profile). Do not print multiple copies of the same deposit slip. If you print a deposit slip in advance of the day in which you plan to make your payment, take note of the expiration date on the deposit slip. If the expiration date passes prior to using the slip to make your payment, simply return to the website and click the appropriate link to generate a new deposit slip. Allied Bank will NOT accept payments based on expired deposit slips.
2. Take the deposit slip to the bank when you pay your fee. Cheques are not accepted. You must bring your passport for identification purposes to make your payment.
3. Be sure that you pay the exact amount indicated on the deposit slip. After receiving your payment, the cashier will give you a receipt. Save the bank receipt for your records. It cannot be replaced if it is lost.You will need the receipt number on the bank receipt to schedule your visa appointment. via apply for US visa in Pakistan

4. Select an Interview Slot

Once you have deposited the visa fees keep your bank receipt very carefully. (I suggest make a photocopy ASAP especially of the receipt number) then you enter the receipt number in your visa application profile which will then generate a 10 digit barcode number from your confirmation page.

Make a copy of this confirmation page.

The 10  digit bar code receipt number is then to be filled in the visa application form online, then you can select a day and time for your interview from the next business day 11 am onwards.

The interviews usually begin from 6 am onwards.

5. Prepare for The Interview

This is one of the most important parts of the entire process.

Documents Required for the Interview

• Interview application form
• 10 digit confirmation page copy
• Your current and valid passport
• Valid NIC
• Old passports
• If children studying in school a letter confirming their attendance in school is needed
• Your 6-month bank statements
• A complete plan of your travel (when and where you wish to travel for example will you land in new york? how many days will you spend there)
• If you have relatives and family there their names and addresses
• If you plan to stay at your relatives place then an affidavit of support from that relative is required which states that they are in a good financial position to support you for your stay at their place, an attached copy of their tax papers. And clearly explaining that they will only provide accommodation to you and you will bear all other expenses.
• Your employment papers
• If you are the owner of a company then you need to take your tax returns papers
• A bank statement which maintains how much money you make each month
• The no. of employees in your company
• Your business card
• Your company’s number and address
• If you are employed in a company even then you need to state how much money you make each month
• The name and address of your company
• Your investment records like property car etc

Note: All your documents must be original. Do not present false documents. False documents can result in permanent visa ineligibility.

6.Appear for The Interview

Once you have prepared all your documents now is the time for your physical appearance at the interview.

If the thought of sitting across from an interviewer makes your stomach turn, you’re not alone. But don’t let your nerves get the best of you! Try one these strategies that will help you feel calm, cool, and collected—or at least make you appear that way

Nervous fidgeting is one of the most telltale signs that you’re nervous, so this is an incredibly important skill to master. via 5 Ways to Look Confident in an Interview (Even When You’re Freaking Out)

The interview for the US visa in Karachi is held at the American Consulate located near the Mai Kolachi bypass.

If you are coming from a distant area like Nazimabad then leave your home at least 1.5 hours earlier so that by the time you reach the consulate you still have 15 minutes in hand.

Note: Please note that you have to park your car outside the consulate. There is an empty plot right opposite the Consulate. You have to park your car there and then cross the road and walk towards the consulate.

Women, please don’t overdress. A very subtle makeup, hair done neatly and a semi formal ironed outfit is all that you need. Too much of bling jewelry can only cause a distraction. 

Men should dress semi-formally and not look as if they are going to a reception.

However, do give some time to shave and clean your nose and ear hairs as they give a very unhygienic look and are very unaesthetic.

Usually, it’s not a very long line and it’s  more security check that takes time. If you are going with children or elderly carry disposable water bottles and small packaged snacks as they won’t be allowed inside in the consulate.

You can always select your code of language for the interview. Either English or Urdu.

It depends on the interviewer for how long the interview will be. And it’s all up to him/her if they wish to see your documents or not. But you must go prepared with all your documents.

If you are traveling for visiting purposes the general questions are “Have you travelled before?” If yes “Where and when”  After you are done with the interview the interviewer gives you a slip which has a specific number.

7.Wait for a Message/e-mail from American Express to Collect your Passport

Passport Tracking Options

For your convenience, you have several options to choose from to track the location of your passport.

Instant: Enter your passport number below to check on the status. If your passport is not collected within 14 calendar days from selected location it will be sent back to the respective Embassy or Consulate. Note: Please ensure that you provide the correct email address and also check your mail box regularly for notification.

Email: Send an email to passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com and in the subject and/or body enter a valid passport number exactly as it was entered at the time the appointment was scheduled. Do not include any additional text e.g. signature. You will receive an automatic response with the status.

Online: You can track your passport online here.

Telephone: You can track your passport via our 24X7 IVR. via Apply for the US Visa in Pakistan

Note: Always always make 2 photocopies of every document that you are taking for the interview. After all, papers are your identity!