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Update April 12, 2024

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U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan - ISL

Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Step 1: Register Online and Select a Document Pick-up Location

Only the principal applicant on the case MUST register online with the U.S. Embassy’s passport return service before attending the interview.  Your online registration provides us the information we need to return your passport and visa packet after your interview.  Registration is free; just click the “Register” button below.    

Register >>

Step 2: Get a medical exam in Pakistan

As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in Pakistan. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” link below for a list of designated doctors’ offices. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 3: Complete your pre-interview checklist

It is important that you bring all required original documents to your interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your interview along with the listed documents.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before  your visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa. Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Embassy can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with an approved physician before your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted. Please click the button below for a list of approved physicians in Pakistan.

COVID 19 VACCINE REQUIREMENT Applicants with medical exams scheduled on or after October 1, 2021, are required to complete the COVID-19 vaccination series before the medical appointment. The administered vaccine should be listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) or the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) must have licensed or authorized that particular vaccine.

Please be advised that the medical examination will not be processed unless the applicant provides a valid COVID-19 immunization certificate on the day of the medical appointment.

Exemption: Children or young adults who have been advised by National Command Operation Center (NCOC) against receiving the COViD-19 immunization are exempt from this requirement. Applicants for whom the vaccine is contradicted are required to provide all medical reports supporting the contraindication for their condition.

List of Approved Physicians >>

Items to bring to your medical examination

Bring the following items to your medical exam:

• Your visa interview letter,
• Your passport,
• Six (6) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
• A copy of your immunization records, and
• Medical records and test results for any major illnesses or surgeries you have had previously or for which you are currently receiving treatment.
• DS-260 confirmation page.
• A valid COVID-19 immunization certificate on the day of the medical examination appointment.

You must pay all medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, directly to the examining physician.

During the medical exam

The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, and chest X-ray and blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older.  Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website .

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant vaccination requirements are available on Centers for Disease Control website . You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements online.

After the medical exam

When your examination is completed, the doctor will either provide you with exam results in a sealed envelope or send them to the U.S. Consulate.  IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW, DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview.

Any x-rays taken will be given to you. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time. The medical report must be less than six months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

Approved physicians in Pakistan

It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with one of the physicians below before  your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy.  

WILCARE 4-M, Model Town Extension, Lahore 54700 Phone: 0304 111 0 945 Working hours: Monday to Friday (9am – 6pm) For information and online appointment, email  [email protected]  or visit www.wilcare.org.  

AZIZ MEDICAL CENTER Dr. Ahmed Raza Jan House No. 1, Street 16, F-6/3 Islamabad Phone: 051-287-3191 or 051-287-3192 Fax: 051-287-3193 Email: [email protected] Clinic hours: Monday to Friday (9:30 am - 4:30 pm) For information and online appointment, visit www.amcpk.com

WILCARE JCHS 71, Block 7/8 Jinnah Cooperative Housing Society Karachi, Sindh Helpline: 0304 111 0 945 Helpline timings between 09am-11pm (7 days a week) For information and online appointment, email  [email protected] or visit  www.wilcare.org

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Pre-Interview Checklist

Please use the list below to determine the items that EVERY applicant must bring tot he immigrant visa interview:

• A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).
• Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and  a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located).
• Two (2) recently taken photos of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm).  Please review our online photo requirements .
• Your original   birth certificate , English translation,  and  a photocopy.
• Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results).
• Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant ( even if he or she is not accompanying) .

Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below should bring these additional documents:

For family based applications:

• The appropriate  Form I-864 Affidavit of Support  for  each  financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.  
• Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, Naturalization Certificate, or lawful permanent resident card).
• Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant (such as family photographs, letters, petitioner birth and/or marriage certificate or emails).

If you are married :   Your  original  marriage certificate, English translation,  and  a photocopy.

If you were previously married:    Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, English translation,  and a photocopy. 

If you are older than 16 years of age:  Police certificates are not required from Pakistan . However, an original police certificate is required from any countries where you previously lived.  For more information on obtaining these certificates, visit Reciprocity by Country . If the first three items are all true , or the fourth item is true, you must obtain and bring a more recent police certificate to the interview:

• You are older than 16 years;
• Your stay in that country was more than a year; and
• You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than one year ago; or
• You still live in the country that issued the police certificate and you submitted it to NVC more than one year ago. 

For employment-based visa applications:  Letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime:   Court and criminal records, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you have served in any country’s military:  Military records, English translation,  and a photocopy.

If you are adopted:    Adoption papers or custody documents , English translation,  and  a photocopy.  If you are the petitioner’s stepchild:   The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, English translation,  and a photocopy along with divorce/death records for any previous marriages of either parent.

Interview Guidelines

Arrival at the embassy

The U.S. Embassy is located in the Diplomatic Enclave. All applicants must take a shuttle from the 3rd Avenue, Quaid-e-Azam University Road, Islamabad to the embassy. The fee for the shuttle is approximately 500 Pakistani Rupees for a two-way trip. (The shuttle service is a private company, and the price is subject to change without notice.)

Sending documents to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad

Following your interview, if you need to send us any documents, please DO NOT mail them to us directly. Instead, follow the instructions the consular officer gives you during your interview.

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please notify us through our online go to US Travel docs to select a new appointment date. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned.  For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa may become available within the month you are scheduled by NVC. For some of our numerically limited visa categories, there is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview. Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you request to reschedule your interview. 

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad must follow certain security procedures. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Embassy security personnel will be unable to enter the embassy. You may not bring cell phones, cameras, or any other electronic equipment into the embassy. All bags will be searched. To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview.

Accompanying Persons

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. Only the following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview: 

• Interpreter:  Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or Urdu well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors:  Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to the National Visa Center, please be prepared to pay these fees at the U.S Embassy on the day of your appointment before your interview. All fees may be paid in either U.S. dollars or the Pakistani Rupee equivalent. We accept cash and credit cards only. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded . A complete list of fees can be found on our  Fees for Visa Services webpage .

Do not make travel plans outside of Pakistan prior to visa issuance

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport to you later via courier services only. If you have to travel within Pakistan while your passport is still with us, please make sure you have a valid picture ID other than your passport. 

After Your Interview

A consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.

If more information is needed

Sometimes a consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents or the case requires further administrative processing.  When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the embassy.

Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview. 

What happens after visa approval?

Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give it to the U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive at the port of entry in the United States for the first time.  Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities. 

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are:  children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a fiancé(e) (K) visa.  

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your issued visa. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as all accompanying family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21 st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are: children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a fiancé(fiancé (e) (K) visa. 

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives :  Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country. We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you are in compliance with their rules. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you may lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – Children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school in the United States. Therefore, we recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. Additionally, if your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with the child’s other parent, we recommend that you bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will likely need these papers (translated into English) in the United States for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.

Last Updated: 1/17/2023

Contact Information

Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5 Islamabad, Pakistan

Other Links

After your interview Frequently asked questions Pakistan Document Finder

Interview Preparation Video

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• Nation & World

250,000 Afghan children need education, food and homes after returning from Pakistan, says NGO

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A quarter of a million Afghan children need education, food and homes after being forcibly returned from Pakistan, a nongovernmental organization said Thursday.

Pakistan is cracking down on foreigners it alleges are in the country illegally, including 1.7 million Afghans. It insists the campaign is not directed against Afghans specifically, but they make up most of the foreigners in the country.

More than 520,000 Afghans have left Pakistan since last October.

Save the Children said families are entering Afghanistan with “virtually nothing” and that nearly half of all returnees are children.

A survey of families by the NGO said nearly all of them lacked enough food for the next one to two months. Some returnees and host families had to borrow money for food or rely on friends and relatives for food.

Almost two thirds of children who have returned to Afghanistan have not been enrolled in school, according to Save the Children. The majority told the organization they don’t have the necessary documents to register and enroll in school. In Pakistan, more than two-thirds of these children had been attending school, it said.

An additional obstacle facing child returnees is the ban on girls attending school beyond sixth grade in Afghanistan.

Arshad Malik, Save the Children country director for Afghanistan, said the return of so many people was creating an additional strain on already overstretched resources.

“Many undocumented Afghan children were born in Pakistan,” he said. “Afghanistan is not the place they call home. In addition to the returns from Pakistan, 600,000 Afghans arrived from Iran last year.”

A spokesman for the Refugee Ministry, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, said education was available for any child who was missing out on classes.

“They can register in any class and continue to learn, whether they have documents or not,” said Haqqani. “This problem has been solved by us.”

Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghans who entered illegally struck hard. Many Afghans have lived for decades in Pakistan, driven there by successive wars at home.

When the order was announced, hundreds of thousands feared arrest and fled back to Afghanistan.

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