US Visit Visa Requirements for Pakistanis
The world of opportunities is presented by the United States and its big cities, classic landmarks, educational activities, and professional gatherings. Usually the procedure of travelling for business and tourism usage, the visa B-1/B-2, this procedure valid for the citizens of Pakistan who are willing to travel to U.S.Although the procedure might appear complicated, it was easy to understand the course of actions and the requirements. Here is a complete guide on all the requirements to apply to a U.S. visit visa in Pakistan.
Understanding the B-1/B-2 Visa
The B-1/B-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa that is granted to people traveling to the U.S. temporarily. The B-1 visa is used in business travel, including a trip to a conference, to negotiate a contract or to hold a meeting with a business partner. The B-2 visa is related to tourism, visiting relatives or friends, or medical treatment. In many cases, these two types are merged into one B-1/B-2 visa, where the purpose of the travel can be easily changed.
Step by Step Guide for the Application Process
Pakistan U.S visa application entails some important steps. It is important to adhere to each of them in order to eliminate delays or inconveniences.
Step 1: Fill the DS-160 Online Application Form
This is the most important section of the application. Online non-immigrant visa application form: The DS-160 is a form that you need to fill out correctly and fully. It stores your personal data, vacation schedule, data on your education and employment background, and data on your family.
- Accuracy is paramount: A visa refusal can be caused by any inaccuracies.
- Take your time: The shape can be elaborate and it may take some time to fill the form. You are able to save what you have done and resume it later.
- Confirmation Page: After you fill in the form, you will get a confirmation page. This page needs to be printed and you need this to interview.
Step 2: Make Payment of Visa Application Fee
You are required to pay a non-refundable visa application fee, which is also referred to as the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee before you can book your interview. Currently, the cost of a B-1/B-2 visa is 185 USD. This payment can be made in special banks in Pakistan. Always ensure that you receive and retain the payment receipt which you will use during your visa interview.
Step 3: Book Your Visa Interview
Then, after paying the fee you will use the receipt number to book an appointment to have your interview at either the U.S. embassy in Islamabad or at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi. Wait times are highly fluctuating, so it is a good idea to look up what the wait times are at present at the official U.S. Department of State site. It is strongly advised that you should not buy travel tickets that are not refundable until you have your visa.
Documents Required for Visa Interview
You have to carry a set of mandatory documents on the day of your interview.
- Passport: it is mandatory for you to have a valid passport whose minimum validity will be six months according to your planning for staying in U.S.
- DS-160 Confirmation Page: The hard copy confirmation page of your web-based application.
- Visa Fee Payment Receipt: This is the receipt which will indicate that you paid visa application fee.
- Recent Photograph: a 2 (1) x 2 inch color photo that fulfils U.S. visa photo requirements. This will be uploaded at some point in the DS-160 procedure but is nice to have it in hard copy.
Paperwork to Show Pakistan Connections
One of the most important sections of the visa application is demonstrating that you have good ties to your home country. This will give the consular officer the assurance that you do not intend to overstay your visa and that you will go back to Pakistan. These documents are most likely the most significant to the success of your application.
- Evidence of Employment: Your employer has signed a letter stating employment, salary, duration and purpose of the trip.
- Financial Documents: If you can afford the trip you are planning you should show the bank statement of three or six months.
- Evidence of Property: Documents that show you are the owner of property in Pakistan; a home, a piece of land or business.
- Family Ties: For recognizing the family roles in Pakistan you needed a marriage certificate, birth certificates of your children or you can use family pictures.
- Travel Itinerary: An itinerary of your intended trip covering hotel bookings, flight bookings (It is not advisable to book flights prior to visa approval).
- Invitation Letter (when required): When you go to visit family members or friends, an invitation letter will be useful. Their visa status or citizenship in the United States and a concise description of the reason behind your visit in the U.S. should be included in this letter.
What Happens in the Visa Interview?
A brief but decisive element of the process is the visa interview. The consular officer will ask your questions to establish whether you are eligible to receive the visa. The interview is not a ruse, it is a discussion to check the facts in your application and evaluate your motive.
Common Interview Questions
Be ready to discuss your answers regarding your trip and your life in Pakistan. The following are some of the common types of questions:
- Reason of your visit: “What is your reason of visiting the U.S.?
- Travel arrangements: So where are you staying? “How long do you plan to stay?”
- Money: Who is going to pay you to take your trip? “What is your annual income?”
- Connections to Pakistan: What do you do? Do you have a family in Pakistan? “Do you own any property?”
- Family and friends in the U.S.: Are you related to any people in the United States? If so, “What is their status?”
After the Interview
At the end of the interview, the consular officer will tell you what his decision is.
- Visa Approved: In this case, on visiting the visa center, your passport is retained by the officer to issue the visa stamp. It will be returned to you through a selected courier service in a couple of days.
- Refusal of Visa: A visa may be refused on many grounds but mostly because you fail to prove strong links to Pakistan or the officer feels that you are intending to immigrate illegally. Should this occur you shall be advised by letter as to the cause of refusal. You may reapply later, but in the meantime you should ask why you were denied.
