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Booking a U.S. Visa Appointment in Pakistan
Applicants in Pakistan book through ustraveldocs.com/pk. Interviews are held at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, and most applicants also attend a short biometrics visit at a visa application centre beforehand.
Nothing can be booked until the DS-160 is submitted and the visa fee has activated in your profile — the single most common reason the booking screen appears empty. The general sequence is on how to book a U.S. visa appointment; this page covers what is specific to Pakistan.
Where interviews are held
| Post | City |
|---|---|
| Embassy | Islamabad |
Unlike India or Mexico, Pakistan has one consular post issuing nonimmigrant visas, so there is no choice of city to compare waiting times across. Everyone applying in Pakistan books into the same calendar, which is part of why slots move quickly.
Before the booking screen will show anything
- Submit the DS-160 and save the confirmation page — the number begins
AA. - Create a profile on
ustraveldocs.com/pk. This is a real account with an email and password, unlike the DS-160, which has no login. - Pay the MRV fee. Methods and activation times are on the Pakistan fee guide.
- Wait for activation. Bank deposits commonly take one to two business days to reflect. Until then, no slots appear.
- Book the biometrics visit and the interview.
Why no slots are showing
- The fee has not activated. Check the timing for the method you used on the Pakistan fee guide before contacting support, and do not pay twice.
- There genuinely are none right now. With a single post serving the whole country, availability can be months out. See visa wait times.
- The DS-160 was saved but never submitted, so no confirmation number exists to enter.
- You are on the wrong country's platform. Profiles and receipts do not transfer between countries.
Cancellations reappear through the day rather than only at a fixed release time, so checking repeatedly is the practical method.
Rescheduling, and the fee
Rescheduling is done in the same profile. Posts commonly allow around three reschedules before the fee is at risk, and missing an appointment without rescheduling in advance can void it — requiring the fee to be paid again.
The fee is generally valid for one year from payment and is tied to your passport and receipt, not to a specific DS-160. Correcting your form produces a new confirmation number, which you use when booking; the fee is not reissued.
Frequently asked questions
Is there more than one place to interview in Pakistan?
Nonimmigrant visa interviews are held at the Embassy in Islamabad. Check your own profile and the embassy's instructions, since consular arrangements can change.
I paid but cannot schedule. What now?
The receipt has almost certainly not activated. Check the activation time for your payment method on the Pakistan fee guide. Paying again does not help and is not refunded.
Can I use a fee paid in Pakistan to interview elsewhere?
No. Profiles and receipts are per country. Applying in another country means a new profile there and paying again.
Do I need a separate biometrics appointment?
Most applicants attend a short visa application centre visit for fingerprints and a photograph before the interview itself. Both are booked through the same profile; check what your booking shows rather than assuming one covers both.