Processing time for US visa applications reduced

ISLAMABAD: More than 10,000 applications for US visas are being processed monthly, as processing time has halved compared to last year, US Embassy officials said Wednesday.

Talking to media persons, Embassy officials said the number of visas issued from visa offices of Karachi Consulate and US Embassy in Islamabad was highest in 2023. “By October 2024, this number will be higher than last year, as the visa applications from Pakistanis have increased”.

The main reason for delay in processing visa applications is that each application is reviewed individually. In September last year, there was a crisis in processing of applications, as the time went up to 440 days, they said.

The time reduced to 237 days after emergency measures were taken, they said, adding the time would be further reduced.

Officials said no changes have been made in the visa regulations. Only the processing time has been reduced.

More visa officers have been deployed to speed up processing of applications, the officials informed.

The visa section, they told newspersons, give preference to students applying for study visa. The applicants who have previously been issued a visa are exempted from re-interview, Embassy officials said.