USA B1/B2 Visitor Visa Checklist from Pakistan

USA B1/B2 Visitor Visa Checklist from Pakistan

Short answer: A Pakistani passport holder visiting the United States for tourism, family, business or medical treatment needs a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visitor visa, applied for with the online DS-160 form and an in-person interview in Islamabad or Karachi. Apply at least six months before you travel. At the interview you must show a genuine, temporary purpose and strong reasons to return to Pakistan.

This guide is for Pakistani passport holders planning a short visit to the United States.

Who Needs This Visa?

Short visits to the US require a nonimmigrant visitor visa. B-1 covers short business trips such as meetings, conferences and negotiating contracts, while B-2 covers tourism, visiting family and friends, and medical treatment. This is a temporary visa: it does not allow you to work, study, or live permanently in the United States. Under US law, every applicant is presumed to intend to immigrate until they prove otherwise (section 214(b)). The interview is largely about showing your trip is genuine and temporary and that your life in Pakistan will bring you home.

Document Checklist

Every item links to its official source. Rules last checked 4 Nov 2026.

  • Completed DS-160 form — The online nonimmigrant visa application, filed at the official Consular Electronic Application Center before you pay the fee and book your interview. Source: US Department of State
  • Visa application (MRV) fee receipt — Proof of payment of the nonimmigrant visa application fee, valid for 365 days from the receipt date. Book your interview within that time; fees are non-refundable. Source: US Department of State
  • Valid passport — Valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay, with one blank visa page. Bring previous passports too. Source: US Embassy in Pakistan
  • Interview appointment confirmation — Booked through the official appointment service. Interviews are in person, by appointment only, in Islamabad or Karachi. Source: USTravelDocs
  • Recent photograph — A recent 2x2 inch (5x5 cm) photograph on a white background, needed only if you could not upload one in the DS-160. Source: US Embassy in Pakistan
  • Proof of employment, business or income — An employment letter showing salary and approved leave, business registration (NTN, FBR), or pension proof. Source: US Embassy in Pakistan
  • Bank statements and tax returns — Bank statements for the last six months and, where relevant, FBR tax returns, showing a stable, explainable history. The embassy sets no minimum balance. Source: US Embassy in Pakistan
  • Proof of your ties to Pakistan — Property documents, marriage and family registration, children's school enrolment, or an employment contract. Source: US Embassy in Pakistan
  • Travel purpose evidence — An invitation letter, a conference or business letter for a B-1 trip, or a hospital appointment letter, plus a rough itinerary. Do not buy flight tickets before the visa is approved. Source: US Embassy in Pakistan
  • CNIC or B-Form and family documents — Identity documents for yourself and any minors; a child travelling with one parent or alone needs consent letters from the other parent. Source: US Embassy in Pakistan
  • Interview-waiver check, if you held a B1/B2 visa before — You might qualify if your previous full-validity B1/B2 visa was issued when you were at least eighteen and you renew within twelve months of its expiry. Since 11 August 2025, almost all other applicants in Pakistan need an in-person interview. Source: US Embassy in Pakistan
  • Expedited appointment request, only for a genuine emergency — For an urgent need such as a medical emergency, you may qualify for an expedited appointment depending on availability. Request it through USTravelDocs. Source: USTravelDocs

There is no official master list of supporting documents; the decision rests mostly on the interview itself.

Fees

The non-refundable MRV fee for a B1/B2 visa is US $185 per applicant, paid separately by every applicant including children. One source checklist (checked 4 Nov 2026) could not read the State Department fee page and listed the fee as not confirmed, so verify the amount on travel.state.gov before you pay. There is no additional issuance fee; visas are generally valid for multiple entries over sixty months. Pay only through the official method shown on ustraveldocs.com/pk/en/.

Processing Time

The embassy encourages you to apply at least six months before you travel. Interview wait times change, so check the State Department's wait-time tool. You will usually be told the outcome on the day of the interview. Most administrative processing cases are resolved within sixty days; wait at least ninety days before asking.

How to Apply

  1. Prepare your passport and supporting evidence first.
  2. Complete the DS-160 online and print the confirmation page.
  3. Create an account and pay the MRV fee.
  4. Book your interview in Islamabad or Karachi, where you actually live.
  5. Attend in person. Leave phones, cameras and bags behind; the embassy has no storage.
  6. Answer briefly, honestly and directly.
  7. If approved, your passport is returned by courier or pickup after visa printing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Buying tickets early. Do not buy non-refundable or non-changeable air tickets before a visa is issued.
  • Letting the fee receipt expire. The MRV payment is valid for 365 days; book your interview within that time or lose the fee.
  • Applying outside your country of residence. Book your interview in your country of residence or nationality.
  • Bringing a phone to the embassy. Prohibited items must be thrown away before entry; there is no storage.
  • Chasing a case too early. After administrative processing, wait at least ninety days before asking.
  • Inconsistent answers. Your DS-160, interview answers and documents must all tell the same story.
  • Fake documents or agents promising a visa. Fraud can lead to a permanent bar; no one can guarantee a visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much bank balance do I need for a US visit visa from Pakistan?

The embassy publishes no amount and has no fixed document list.

How early should I apply and how long does it take?

Apply at least six months before you travel; most administrative processing cases are resolved within sixty days of the interview.

Can I have my interview in Lahore?

No. Interviews are only in Islamabad and Karachi; Karachi handles nonimmigrant visas only.

Can I renew my B1/B2 visa without an interview?

Possibly, if your previous full-validity B1/B2 visa was issued when you were eighteen or older and you renew within twelve months of its expiry.

How long can I stay in the US on each visit?

Visa validity, often up to sixty months, is not the same as stay per trip. A Customs and Border Protection officer decides your permitted stay at entry, recorded on your I-94, typically up to six months for tourism. Never overstay your I-94 date.

Related guides: See the complete visa document checklist for all routes, how to book a visa appointment, and our document pre-check service if you want a real person to review your file before you submit it.

Urdu Summary

امریکہ کے مختصر دورے کے لیے پاکستانی پاسپورٹ پر B1/B2 ویزا درکار ہے، جس کے لیے DS-160 فارم آن لائن بھرا جاتا ہے اور اسلام آباد یا کراچی میں انٹرویو ہوتا ہے۔ فیس $185 ہے، مگر ادائیگی سے پہلے travel.state.gov پر رقم دیکھ لیں؛ فیس کی رسید 365 دن تک کارآمد رہتی ہے۔ سفر سے کم از کم چھ ماہ پہلے درخواست دیں۔ بینک بیلنس کی کوئی مقررہ رقم نہیں، مگر پاکستان سے مضبوط تعلقات کے ثبوت لازمی ہیں۔

This guide is general information only, not legal or immigration advice. Visa rules change — always verify the current requirements on the official embassy or visa-centre page before you apply. SA Global Enterprises cannot guarantee any visa decision.

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