Get your US visitor visa without an agent.
Confused about where to start, where to pay, or which city to choose? You don't need an agent for the B1/B2. You need the steps in the right order, and to know how to answer a short interview honestly. Start with the free overview below.
Independent guide by Visaroo. Not affiliated with the US Government. Nobody can guarantee a visa, and anyone who says they can is not being honest with you.
Applying from the UK instead? See the UK edition
Free overview
The US visitor visa from Pakistan in five minutes
What it is
The B1/B2 is the US visitor visa. B-1 covers short business visits such as meetings and conferences. B-2 covers tourism, visiting family and friends, weddings, graduations and medical treatment. Most people are issued the two combined. It does not let you work for a US employer or study for credit, and it is a temporary visa: it lets you travel to a US border and ask to be admitted for a limited stay.
For Pakistani passport holders, the State Department's reciprocity page currently lists the B-1/B-2 as multiple entry, valid for 60 months, with no extra visa issuance fee. Check the page before you rely on it.
The one idea behind every refusal
US law starts from the assumption that every visitor-visa applicant might want to stay. In plain English, the officer begins the interview presuming you could be an intending immigrant, and your job is to show, truthfully, that you will return. Most refusals are issued under Section 214(b) for exactly this reason: the officer wasn't convinced.
That is why you're asked about your job or business, your family, your income and your past travel. These are your ties to Pakistan: the work, relationships and commitments that make going home the obvious choice. Ties are not just documents. They are the picture your answers paint, and they only work if they're real.
The line you must never cross: never give false information, never use fake or arranged documents, and never let an agent write your story for you. Willful misrepresentation can lead to a permanent bar. If something is true but awkward, explain it calmly instead of hiding it.
The 10 steps, in plain English
This is the order that most often confuses Pakistani applicants, so here it is in one place. Scheduling and fee collection go through the official site run by CGI. The decision is made by the US Embassy or Consulate.
- 1
Get ready
Check your passport, have your CNIC details, old passports and trip plan ready, and gather the facts the DS-160 will ask for.
- 2
Choose your city
Visa interviews take place in Islamabad and Karachi. The Consulate General in Lahore does not process visas.
- 3
Create your account
Register on the official US visa appointment site for Pakistan using your passport details exactly as printed.
- 4
Complete the DS-160
The free online application at ceac.state.gov. The officer reads it before you reach the window. Never pay anyone to fill it in for you.
- 5
Pay the visa fee
US$185, paid at a designated bank using the payment instructions from your account. Non-refundable. Keep the receipt.
- 6
Book your interview
Choose the city, date and passport-delivery option. Waits can be long, so book as soon as your payment shows.
- 7
Prepare your documents
A small, honest folder: CNIC, job or business papers, bank statements in your own name, family and property documents.
- 8
Interview day
No phones or electronics inside, and no storage, so plan ahead. Answers should be short, true and consistent with your DS-160.
- 9
After the interview
Approved, 221(g) more information, or a 214(b) refusal. Each one needs a different response.
- 10
Your visa and travelling
Check the visa, then remember it only lets you ask for entry. The border officer decides how long you may stay.
That's the shape of it. The full guide shows what you'll see on screen at each stage, how to fill each DS-160 section, what to take to the bank, and how to prepare. Confirm current fees, payment methods and wait times on the official sites before you pay.
Five mistakes that cost Pakistani applicants money
Paying someone for an appointment or approval. Appointments can't be bought from individuals and nobody can promise approval. Scammers target applicants exactly when they're stuck on long wait times.
Using arranged documents. Bank statements built for the visa, fake employment letters and "agent files" are recognised quickly, and they can lead to a permanent ban.
Borrowing money to show a balance. A large deposit that appears just before applying raises more questions than a modest, steady balance.
A story that doesn't match the form. A different salary, payer or set of dates in the interview than on the DS-160 is one of the quickest ways to lose the officer's trust.
Hiding a past refusal or a relative's status. A past refusal or a relative in the US can be explained. Concealing it is treated as misrepresentation, which can be far worse.
Answer, anchor, stop
Use one method on every question. Answer the question in the first sentence. Anchor it with one fact that makes it real or ties you to Pakistan. Then stop and let the officer ask the next question. Nervous applicants talk too much, and every extra sentence is another chance to contradict the form.
Why do you want to go to the United States?
Weak answer
"I want to see America and also look at some opportunities."
Strong answer (adapt to your facts)
"My sister is graduating in Houston on 14 May. I'm going for the ceremony and staying twelve days."
Who is paying for your trip?
Weak answer
"My uncle will pay for everything" — when the form says you're paying yourself.
Strong answer (adapt to your facts)
"I'm paying from my savings. I've put aside about Rs 900,000 over two years."
Do you plan to live in the US one day?
Weak answer
"If I get the chance, I would."
Strong answer (adapt to your facts)
"No. My family, home and work are here. This is a short visit."
These examples show the pattern, not words to copy. Your answers have to be true and match your own documents. Officers hear memorised agent scripts every day.
Now you know the order. Here's the detail.
Most people stall on the how: what you'll actually see on the booking site, what to take to the bank, how to fill each DS-160 section, what to carry on the day, and what to say. The full guide walks through every one.
Inside the guide
66 pages written for Pakistani applicants
Written for applicants in Pakistan in 2026, checked against official US Department of State and US Embassy & Consulates in Pakistan information in October 2026.
10 steps, in order
From creating your account to receiving your passport, with the official links and a checklist for each step.
Who to trust, and scam red flags
Which three sites matter, what no one can sell you, and how to avoid payment mistakes.
DS-160, section by section
What to enter, including CNIC and Pakistani address details, and where applicants slip up.
42 interview questions
What the officer is checking, a weak answer, a strong one, and a coach's note, with Pakistani examples.
Playbooks and a 7-day plan
Salaried, business owner, landowner, student, parent, retired, first-time traveller, relatives in the US, previous refusal.
Worksheets and templates
Facts sheet, trip plan, folder index, employer and sponsor letters, and a mock-interview score sheet.
Apply yourself, step by step.
A 66-page PDF that takes you from creating your account to your interview and beyond, for a fraction of what an agent charges.
- Instant PDF download, yours to keep and print
- The full 10-step process for Pakistan, with the official links
- 42 interview questions, 9 applicant playbooks and a 7-day practice plan
- Worksheets, employer and sponsor letter templates
- A recovery plan if you're refused
Educational guide, not legal advice. Not affiliated with the US Government. We can't guarantee a visa, and neither can anyone else. Fees, payment methods and appointment availability change, so the guide tells you where to confirm them before you pay.
It's for you if
- You live in Pakistan and want to apply for a US visitor visa yourself
- You have a genuine trip and a straightforward profile
- You want to avoid agent fees and are happy to follow clear steps
- You're nervous about the interview and want to practise properly
Get an adviser instead if
- You have a criminal record, a past overstay or a removal
- You were refused for misrepresentation or on grounds other than 214(b)
- A relative has filed an immigrant petition for you
- A previous application included documents that weren't genuine
Those cases need a US immigration attorney. The guide explains what to look for.
Questions, answered.
Do I need an agent to apply for a US visitor visa from Pakistan?+
No. The DS-160 is free, the account is free, the fee is paid at the bank using the official site's instructions, and you book the appointment yourself. An agent can't get you a better appointment or improve your chances, and agent-written stories are a common reason for refusal.
Does the guide guarantee my visa will be approved?+
No, and nobody can. The decision is made by a US consular officer. The guide helps you prepare an accurate, consistent application and answer clearly and honestly.
Where are US visa interviews held in Pakistan?+
In Islamabad (US Embassy) and Karachi (US Consulate General). The Consulate General in Lahore does not process visas. The guide explains how to choose between them.
How is the visa fee paid in Pakistan?+
At the time of writing, the US$185 fee is paid in person at a designated bank branch using payment instructions from your account on the official appointment site. The guide walks you through it, and tells you to confirm the current method on the site before you pay.
How up to date is the guide?+
It was checked against official US Department of State and US Embassy & Consulates in Pakistan information in October 2026. Fees, payment methods, wait times and security-related pauses have changed recently, so the guide tells you exactly where to confirm the current position.
Is the US Government involved with this guide?+
No. Visaroo is an independent company. The guide is not legal advice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US Government, the Department of State or any embassy.
Is there a travel ban that affects Pakistani visitors?+
US entry restrictions have changed several times since 2025. At the time of writing, the restrictions we found did not list Pakistan for visitor (B) visas, but lists change. The guide tells you where to check before you pay.
Keep reading
Bank statement requirements for Pakistani applicants
What a clean statement looks like and what to avoid.
Read moreVisa costs from Pakistan in PKR
A rupee-by-rupee breakdown of what visas really cost.
Read moreVisa refused? How to reapply successfully
Our general guide to rebuilding a stronger application.
Read moreFree sponsor letter template
Build an editable sponsor or invitation letter in your browser.
Read moreFree visa readiness check
Six questions, then a personalised document checklist.
Read morePakistan to USA visa service
Prefer us to handle the application? See how our service works.
Read moreReady to do it yourself?
Questions before you buy? Message us on WhatsApp. Prefer to have us handle the application instead? See our Pakistan to USA visa service, or take the free readiness check.