US Visa Applications Poised to Set New Records This Year

ISLAMABAD: US visa offices in Islamabad and Karachi are processing over 10,000 applications monthly, and the appointment waiting time has been cut nearly in half compared to last year.

A senior US embassy official revealed that the number of visas issued from Islamabad and Karachi reached a record high in 2023 and is expected to surpass that number in the current US fiscal year, ending in October 2024.

The official highlighted a crisis in September 2023 when visa appointment waiting times peaked at 440 days. Thanks to recent improvements, this wait has been reduced to 237 days. Visas are now typically issued within five days of the interview, provided the officer is satisfied.

The official attributed delays to the thorough individual evaluation of each application. According to US government figures, 107,183 non-immigrant visas were issued from Pakistan in the fiscal year ending October 2023, up from 72,082 the previous year. This surge in demand is expected to continue into 2024.

Student visa applications are given priority, though the official did not disclose the rejection rate or the total number of applications received. Due to the unprecedented demand in September, the embassy implemented several measures and increased processing capacity at both consulates in Karachi and Islamabad.