ISLAMABAD, SEP 19 (DNA) — In response to an unprecedented surge in visa applications, the United States Embassy in Pakistan is taking proactive measures to expedite visa processing and significantly reduce appointment waiting times for eager Pakistani travelers.
More than 10,000 applicants are set to benefit from this initiative, as their appointments at the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, originally slated for 2024, will now be rescheduled to 2023. The surge in visa applications from Pakistan has reached record levels, prompting the U.S. Embassy to implement a series of innovative solutions.
Over 10,000 Pakistani applicants are about to receive news that their visa appointment dates have been accelerated, offering a glimmer of hope for those eager to visit the United States. Pakistani travelers now have the freedom to choose their interview location, either at the U.S. Consulate in Karachi or the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, in an effort to streamline the visa application process.
Starting September 25, 2023, the U.S. Consulate in Karachi will introduce an interview waiver program for candidates who have previously obtained visas from Karachi. A game-changer for visa applicants, this program aims to simplify and expedite the process.
The U.S. Embassy’s proactive approach underscores its unwavering commitment to strengthening ties between the United States and Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of familial connections, business relationships, and cultural exchange.
A press statement Tuesday said that the U.S. Mission to Pakistan is proud to announce three ways we are working to meet unprecedented demand.
“First, we have expedited thousands of non-immigrant visa appointments. More than ten thousand Pakistani visa applicants originally scheduled for 2024 at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi are receiving notice that their appointments have been rescheduled in 2023, some as early as next week. If you have a visa appointment in the next few months at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, please check your e-mail and log-in to your account at our website, ustraveldocs.com/pk, to confirm your expedited appointment time.
Second, to create added flexibility for Pakistani travelers, visa applicants can rebook appointments at either the Consulate General in Karachi or U.S. Embassy in Islamabad — whichever works best for them. Our hope is that this will allow applicants more freedom and flexibility to find a convenient date, time, and location.
Finally, starting September 25, U.S. Consulate General Karachi will begin accepting new interview waiver applications for some applicants who have previously been issued U.S. visas. Applicants can check ustraveldocs.com/pk to determine whether they are eligible, print out a confirmation letter, and submit their application materials to a drop box without the need for an appointment. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is already accepting interview waiver applications for qualified applicants.
Taken together, these steps demonstrate how deeply the United States values the relationship between our two countries. Our goal is to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States as quickly and efficiently as possible – because we know how important it is to stay connected with family, to strengthen business ties, study, and make cultural connections with the United States,” the statement concluded. — DNA
 — In response to an unprecedented surge in visa applications, the United States Embassy in Pakistan){kind=link}