U.S. Embassy in Pakistan Speeds Up Visa Processing Amid Record Applications

Islamabad: The United States embassy in Pakistan has announced a significant acceleration in visa processing for Pakistani citizens. This move comes in response to an unprecedented surge in visa applications received by the embassy. In an effort to address the overwhelming demand, the embassy is actively working to shorten visa appointment wait times and streamline the application process.

The embassy has revealed its intention to conduct interviews for a staggering 10,000 non-immigrant visa applications, with interviews originally scheduled for 2024 now being held this year. Furthermore, the Karachi consulate is set to begin accepting applications from individuals who are exempt from interviews starting on September 25. Information regarding interview exemptions can be found on the embassy’s official website.

The surge in visa applications coincides with a significant exodus of over 540,000 Pakistanis seeking enhanced employment opportunities abroad in the first eight months of 2023.

Official data obtained from the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment indicates that precisely 540,282 Pakistani nationals formally registered for overseas employment in the initial eight months of the ongoing calendar year, through August.

By the end of July, the number of Pakistanis embarking on this journey had reached 450,110. This data highlights that in August alone, an astonishing 90,172 Pakistani citizens left their homeland in pursuit of employment opportunities overseas.