US Visit Visa Documents Checklist for Pakistan Passport Holders

The State Department says a foreign citizen travelling to the United States generally must first get a visa, unless they qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. Pakistan is not in that programme, so Pakistani passport holders apply for a visa before travel. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for people entering temporarily for business (B-1), tourism (B-2) or both (B-1/B-2). The State Department lists tourism, holidays, visiting friends or relatives and medical treatment among B-2 purposes.

The Embassy in Pakistan describes the process in three steps on its official appointment site: 1) fill out the DS-160 online application, 2) pay the application fee, and 3) schedule a visa interview.

The State Department lists these items for a visitor visa interview:

• Passport valid for travel to the United States. It must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the US, unless your country is exempt by agreement. Every person who needs a visa, including family members listed in your passport, submits a separate application.
• DS-160 confirmation page (Nonimmigrant Visa Application).
• Application fee payment receipt, if you must pay before the interview.
• Photo. You upload it while completing the DS-160. If the upload fails, bring one printed photo in the format set out in the State Department's Photograph Requirements.

The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application. The Embassy in Pakistan says that for short-term visits, including tourism and business, applicants can go straight to the DS-160. Print or save the confirmation page, because it is on the official interview list. Answer every question honestly and make sure your travel purpose matches the visa you are asking for.

The State Department's fee schedule lists the non-refundable nonimmigrant visa application processing fee for non-petition-based visas, including B visitor visas, at USD 185.00. The Embassy in Pakistan adds that visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Key points from the Embassy:

• The fee, also called the MRV fee, is valid for 365 days from the date the receipt is issued.
• You must schedule your interview, or submit an interview waiver application, within that 365-day window. The interview itself does not have to take place within the 365 days.
• Fee collection in Pakistan is handled by a third-party company, CGI, through the official appointment site (ustraveldocs.com/pk).

The State Department also says an approved applicant may have to pay a visa issuance fee "if applicable to your nationality". It publishes these in its reciprocity tables. We could not load the Pakistan reciprocity entry on 31 October 2026, so we do not quote an amount here. For other countries' fees, see our visa fees guide for Pakistanis.

• In-person interviews: From 11 August 2025, the Embassy says all nonimmigrant visa applicants in Pakistan, including those under 14 and over 79, will generally need an in-person interview with a consular officer.
• Interview waiver exception: The Embassy says some B1/B2 applicants may qualify for a waiver of the in-person interview. These are applicants who got their previous full-validity visa when they were at least 18 and are renewing within 12 months of that visa's expiry.
• Where to apply: Interviews take place at the US Embassy in Islamabad or the US Consulate General in Karachi (Plot No. 3-5, New TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road). The Embassy says Islamabad prioritises student and exchange (F and J) visas, while Karachi prioritises F and J plus temporary employment categories.
• Arrival time: In Karachi, arrive 15 minutes before your appointment. The Embassy publishes a "What Not to Bring to the Interview" page. Read it before you go.
• Urgent travel: If you have a life-or-death emergency, you can ask for an expedited appointment through the official appointment site, subject to strict requirements and availability.
• Apply where you live: The Embassy says applicants should schedule interviews at the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality.

The State Department and the Embassy do not publish a fixed list of financial, employment or sponsor documents for Pakistani B-1/B-2 applicants, and no minimum bank balance is published. The Karachi consulate says applicants "should bring whatever documentation they believe would substantiate their position in Pakistan and their purpose of travel to the United States."

In practice, that means you choose supporting papers that show:

• your ties to Pakistan: for example your job, business, studies or family responsibilities
• your purpose of travel: for example a business meeting, a family event or a medical appointment

Officers may not look at these papers. The official guidance does not name specific bank statements, salary letters or invitation letters, and we have not invented one.

The official pages we checked on 31 October 2026 do not mention translation requirements for B-1/B-2 supporting documents. If you plan to bring papers in Urdu or another language, check the official appointment site first.

• The Embassy encourages applicants to apply at least six months before their intended travel date.
• It recommends not buying non-refundable or non-changeable air tickets before your visa is issued.
• Some applications need administrative processing. You will be told at the interview if yours does. The Embassy says most cases are resolved within 60 days of the interview, but timing varies. Wait at least 90 days from the interview, or from when you sent extra documents, before you ask about your case.
• Interview wait times change. The Embassy does not publish a fixed figure, so check the official appointment site.

• Presidential Proclamation 10998: The Embassy notes that from 1 January 2026 the US is suspending or limiting entry and visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries. People affected can still apply and attend interviews but may be refused. Check travel.state.gov to see whether it affects you.
• Social media: The Embassy's "make accounts public" instruction lists categories such as F, J, M and H-1B. B-1/B-2 is not on that list.
• Travel advisory: The Embassy page shows a Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" advisory for Pakistan. It is aimed at US citizens and does not change visa rules.

The official pages we used do not list common refusal reasons for Pakistani visitor applicants, so we have not included any.

1. Passport valid at least six months beyond your stay
2. DS-160 completed, confirmation page printed
3. Photo uploaded to the DS-160 (one printed copy if the upload failed)
4. USD 185 MRV fee paid through the official site, receipt kept
5. Interview booked in Islamabad or Karachi, or a waiver submitted if you qualify
6. Your own supporting papers showing your ties to Pakistan and your travel purpose

Comparing destinations? See our UK visit visa documents checklist and visa-free countries for Pakistanis.