Islamabad, Pakistan – In a significant development, the US Embassy in Islamabad has announced a substantial reduction in the processing time for US visa applications. According to officials, over 10,000 applications are being processed monthly, with the current processing time standing at 237 days – a notable improvement from last year’s high of 440 days.
The Embassy attributed the reduction in processing time to the deployment of additional visa officers and a focus on streamlining the application process. “We have increased our staff to meet the growing demand for US visas from Pakistanis,” said an Embassy official.
Students applying for study visas are being given priority, with the Embassy aiming to facilitate their applications as quickly as possible. Additionally, applicants who have previously been issued a visa are exempted from re-interview, further simplifying the process.
The US Embassy emphasized that there have been no changes in visa regulations, only a reduction in processing time. This move is expected to benefit thousands of Pakistanis seeking to travel to the United States for education, business, or tourism.
With the processing time reduced by over half, the US Embassy is confident that it can meet the increasing demand for US visas from Pakistanis. By October 2024, the Embassy expects to have processed more visa applications than in the previous year, setting a new record.