Why Did US Visa Processing Times Surge in September 2023?

 News Desk 

Islamabad: The US visa offices in Islamabad and Karachi are currently processing over 10,000 applications a month. 

The appointment waiting time has also been reduced by half compared to last year. 

According to a report by Dawn newspaper, a senior official from the US Embassy stated that the number of visas issued from the Islamabad and Karachi offices reached a record high in 2023.

The official noted that the number of visas issued for the current US fiscal year, ending in October 2024, is expected to increase even further.

In September 2023, there was a crisis-like situation with appointment waiting times reaching 440 days. However, due to several initiatives by the embassy, the waiting time has now been reduced to 237 days.

If the concerned officer is satisfied with the application, the visa is typically issued within five days after the interview.

The official explained that the delay in processing times is due to the thorough examination and independent evaluation of each application. Data from the US government website indicates that 17,183 non-immigrant visas were issued from Pakistan during the fiscal year ending October 2023, compared to 7,282 visas issued in the previous fiscal year.

The increase in the number of visas issued last year was attributed to a high volume of applicants, and this number is expected to rise further in 2024.

The US visa section prioritizes student visas, although detailed data about visa application rejection rates and the total number of applications received at the Islamabad and Karachi visa sections is not publicly available.

In response to high demand, especially in September 2023, the embassy implemented several measures to improve visa processing capacity.