Why US Islamabad Embassy Has Visa Backlog?

The US Embassy in Islamabad has experienced a visa application backlog due to a combination of high demand and staffing shortages.

Key Causes:

• Unprecedented Demand: Record numbers of applicants seeking travel and immigration visas, with U.S. consular offices in Pakistan collectively processing up to 10,000 applications per month during peak periods.
• Staffing Constraints: Limited capacity compared to unprecedented demand, although additional officers have recently been hired to help reduce backlogs.
• Individual Processing: Each visa application is thoroughly vetted, which increases interview and processing times.
• Improvements Underway: The embassy has taken steps—such as hiring more officers and increasing appointment slots—to reduce waiting times and ease the backlog.

While waiting periods have dropped significantly, delays still persist across both immigrant and non-immigrant categories, though non-immigrant visas such as student and business travel receive relatively more scheduling attention. Priority is given to student visas and applicants who can demonstrate urgent travel needs, such as for medical or official purposes, but overall wait times can still range from several months to over half a year, depending on the visa category and demand.