applying for US visitor visa from Pak

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Does anyone here know how long it usually takes for US embassy to issue visa once the interview is done and visa is approved in Islamabad? Do they take additional days/months for background checks,etc?

Also, is it possible to call the embassy and find out the current status for the visa?? Please someone help me out. Thanks!

PS.
pls Mods don’t move this to trav…

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Re: applying for US visitor visa from Pak

It varies from person to person. Some people get thier visa the very next day while it might take longer for others. At the time of your interview they will hand you a letter which will have a phone number that you can call (for the US embassy visa section) to check the status of your visa. There’s also an e-mail address for making inquiries which should be listed on the letter. That was my experience while applying for a student visa last year.

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Re: applying for US visitor visa from Pak

hardly anyone will get it the next day..
You have to apply at AMerican Express travel office. They send the passport and petition / documents to ISL. The embassy send it back in 14 days. Teh American Express office calls you and based on your petition (I-20, H1 etc) they will either give you a specific date to go there or make it a walk in on any business day at ISL.
You go there, they internview, if they say you are approved and will send your passport for security check then you are handed the paper with a the phone no. and email address. You return home and wait for the call from American express office to tell you that your passport is here with the visa.

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Re: applying for US visitor visa from Pak

Thanks for replying both of you.

[quote]
if they say you are approved and will send your passport for security check then you are handed the paper with a the phone no. and email address.
[/quote]

how long does the above process take usually these days?

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Re: applying for US visitor visa from Pak

I know a family who gave an interview on October 4th and embassy told them their visas were approved and will be processed within 30 days. It's been above 2 weeks but no visas recieved. I just wanna know if they say 30 days does it really mean the family will recieve the visas in '30 days'....Is it normal for the US consulate to take more than 2 months after the approval in case of tourist/visit visa?

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Re: applying for US visitor visa from Pak

actually you can call ISL embassy or ask in the interview. Last time I checked they said 45 days is the **minimum **time and it can be as long as 90 days. I know of one case where it came back in less then 30 days from Washington. While more than one friend from INDIA ended up waiting 4-9 months. But have not heard that for PAKISTANIS alhamdolliah..

:blush:

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Re: applying for US visitor visa from Pak

:smiley:
One of my friends who is named Mohammad Khan said that he was notified by the embassy that his visa might take a while as his name had been flagged 38 times, but he still got his visa in a little over a month.