Important Update: US Pauses Immigrant Visas for Pakistan – What You Need to Know

If you are planning to travel to the United States or are currently in the process of applying for a US visa from Pakistan, there has been a significant official announcement regarding visa policies.

The US Embassy in Pakistan has released a statement regarding a pause on specific types of visa issuance effective January 21. However, it is important to understand exactly who this affects—and more importantly, who it does not affect.

Here is a breakdown of the latest guidelines from the Trump Administration and the Department of State.

The Bad News: Immigrant Visa Issuance Paused

Effective January 21, the US Department of State is pausing the issuance of Immigrant Visas for applicants from selected countries, including Pakistan.

According to the official statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instituted this pause to facilitate a review of vetting procedures. The goal is to ensure that all new immigrants have been screened to the "maximum degree" and to verify that they will not rely on public assistance (government welfare) once they arrive in the US.

What this means: If you are applying for a "Green Card" or permanent residency visa to move to the US permanently, your application issuance is currently on hold until these new vetting standards are met.

✅ The Good News: Non-Immigrant Visas Are NOT Affected

This is the most critical part of the update. The US Embassy has explicitly stated that this pause does not apply to non-immigrant visas.

If you are planning to visit the US temporarily, you can still apply for and receive visas. The following categories remain open and unaffected:

• Tourists (B1/B2)
• Students (F1/M1)
• Athletes
• Skilled Workers (H1B, etc.)
• Families of the above categories

If you are a student planning to study abroad or a professional traveling for work, your process continues as normal.

Official Statement (Urdu & English)

For clarity, here is the text from the official announcement regarding the logic behind this decision:

"The Trump Administration is focused on protecting the American people by upholding the highest standards of screening and vetting of visa applicants... Secretary Rubio has instituted this pause until we can ensure that new immigrants have been vetted to the maximum degree."

اردو میں اہم نکات (Key Points in Urdu):

ٹرمپ انتظامیہ نے ویزا درخواست گزاروں کی جانچ پڑتال کے معیار کو مزید سخت کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔

• 21 جنوری سے پاکستان سمیت منتخب ممالک کے لیے امیگرنٹ ویزا (Immigrant Visa) کا اجراء عارضی طور پر معطل کر دیا گیا ہے۔

• اس کا مقصد اس بات کو یقینی بنانا ہے کہ درخواست گزار امریکی عوام پر بوجھ نہ بنیں اور سرکاری معاونت پر انحصار نہ کریں۔

• خوشخبری: یہ پابندی نان امیگرنٹ ویزا (Non-Immigrant Visa) پر لاگو نہیں ہوگی۔ سیاح، طالب علم، کھلاڑی، اور ہنر مند افراد بدستور ویزا حاصل کر سکیں گے۔

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

1. I have a student visa interview scheduled. Should I cancel? No. Student visas are non-immigrant visas. The announcement states these are not affected. You should attend your interview as planned.

2. How long will the pause last? The announcement does not give an end date. It states the pause is in effect until the Department of State can ensure vetting standards are met. We will update Dareecha.pk as soon as new information is released.

3. Does this apply to people already holding valid visas? The statement specifically mentions the "issuance" of visas. If you already hold a valid visa and are traveling, you should generally be fine, though entry is always at the discretion of border officials.

Final Thoughts

While this news may be concerning for those seeking permanent migration, it is a relief to see that the educational and business corridors between Pakistan and the USA remain open.

Stay tuned to Dareecha.pk for more updates on travel regulations and visa news.