US visa applications ‘may break all records’ this year

ISLAMABAD: The US visa offices in Islamabad and Karachi were processing more than 10,000 applications a month and the appointment waiting time has also been reduced by almost half compared to last year.

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A senior US embassy official told the media here on Wednesday that the number of visas issued from offices in Islamabad and Karachi will reach a record high in 2023.

He predicted that the figure will be surpassed during the current fiscal year, which ends in October 2024.

The source pointed to a crisis-like scenario in September 2023, when the visa appointment waiting time reached 440 days, adding that thanks to a variety of steps implemented by the embassy, the appointment waiting time has now been reduced to 237 days.

However, he stated that visas are provided within five days after the interview if the appropriate official is convinced

According to the official, the delay in visa application processing is due to each application being examined separately and reviewed independently.

According to information accessible on the US government’s website, 107,183 non-immigrant visas were issued from Pakistan during the fiscal year ending October 2023, up from 72,082 visas issued the previous fiscal year.

According to the official, due to the large number of applications, the most visas were awarded last year, and the number is projected to rise again in 2024.

According to the source, the US visa department prioritizes students.

However, the official declined to disclose media about the visa application rejection percentage and total number of applications received at the visa sections in Islamabad and Karachi, citing the fact that such information was not made public.

Due to the highest-ever demand for US visas seen by the US embassy at the Karachi consulate in September last year, the embassy announced numerous steps and increased visa processing capacity at both locations.