ISLAMABAD: The United States mission to Pakistan announced on Tuesday measures to bring down the wait time for visa appointments for Pak­istanis, revealing that the demand for US visas is the highest it has ever been.

More than 10,000 Paki­stani visa applicants originally scheduled for 2024 at the US Consulate-General in Karachi are now receiving notices that their appointments have been rescheduled in 2023, some as early as next week, the US Embassy in Islamabad says in a press release.

The US mission advised applicants that if they have a visa appointment in the next few months at the US Consulate-General in Karachi, they could check their e-mails and login to their accounts at US mission’s website to confirm their expedited appointment time.

The second measure announced by the US mission is to create added flexibility for Pakistani travellers, visa applicants can rebook appointments at either the Consulate-General in Karachi or US Embassy in Islamabad — whichever works best for them. The mission hopes that this will allow applicants more freedom and flexibility to find a convenient date, time and location.

“We are processing more visa applications than ever before, as we have expedited thousands of non-immigrant visa appointments,” the US Embassy said.

Another good news for Pakistani travellers to the United States is that starting on September 25, the US Consulate-General in Karachi will begin accepting new interview waiver applications for some applicants who have previously been issued US visas.

Applicants can check ustraveldocs.com/pk to determine whether they are eligible, print out a confirmation letter, and submit their application materials to a drop box without the need for an appointment.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2023