The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulates in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar issued an extraordinary security alert on March 1, 2026 after nationwide demonstrations turned violent outside the Karachi Consulate, leaving at least nine dead and dozens injured. In the advisory—distributed through the embassy’s X (formerly Twitter) account and the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)—officials urged U.S. citizens to avoid large gatherings, monitor local media and ensure their STEP contact information is current.
As a direct safety measure, all immigrant- and non-immigrant-visa interviews scheduled for Monday, March 2 were cancelled. American‐Citizen-Services appointments, including passport renewals and consular reports of birth, were also suspended. Applicants were told that new dates will be offered automatically as soon as conditions permit, and that previously-paid Machine-Readable-Visa (MRV) fees will remain valid for one year. Emergency services for U.S. nationals will continue on a case-by-case basis.
Travelers and global mobility teams scrambling to rebook appointments might consider using a specialist visa-processing service. VisaHQ, for example, can monitor new slot openings, coordinate document logistics, and guide applicants through alternative U.S. consular posts worldwide; its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) consolidates the latest requirements and can shave days off timelines when embassies suspend in-person services.
![U.S. Embassy in Islamabad Cancels All Visa Appointments Amid Violent Protests]()
The unrest is tied to rising regional tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets last week. Demonstrators accuse Washington of escalating the conflict and have called for nationwide protests against U.S. diplomatic missions. Pakistani security forces have ring-fenced the U.S. facilities, but sporadic clashes continue.
For companies moving staff through Pakistan or relying on Islamabad for immigrant-visa processing, the shutdown adds at least several days of delay and may push cases into other posts such as Doha, Abu Dhabi or New Delhi. Employers should advise assignees to keep passports valid for at least six months, maintain flexible itineraries and follow embassy channels for rescheduling instructions.
Although the alert is specific to Pakistan, other high-risk posts—including Jerusalem and Beirut—issued similar warnings this weekend. Mobility managers should expect short-notice appointment cancellations across the region until the security picture stabilises.
As a direct safety measure, all immigrant- and non-immigrant-visa interviews scheduled for Monday, March 2 were cancelled. American‐Citizen-Services appointments, including passport renewals and consular reports of birth, were also suspended. Applicants were told that new dates will be offered automatically as soon as conditions permit, and that previously-paid Machine-Readable-Visa (MRV) fees will remain valid for one year. Emergency services for U.S. nationals will continue on a case-by-case basis.
Travelers and global mobility teams scrambling to rebook appointments might consider using a specialist visa-processing service. VisaHQ, for example, can monitor new slot openings, coordinate document logistics, and guide applicants through alternative U.S. consular posts worldwide; its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) consolidates the latest requirements and can shave days off timelines when embassies suspend in-person services.
The unrest is tied to rising regional tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets last week. Demonstrators accuse Washington of escalating the conflict and have called for nationwide protests against U.S. diplomatic missions. Pakistani security forces have ring-fenced the U.S. facilities, but sporadic clashes continue.
For companies moving staff through Pakistan or relying on Islamabad for immigrant-visa processing, the shutdown adds at least several days of delay and may push cases into other posts such as Doha, Abu Dhabi or New Delhi. Employers should advise assignees to keep passports valid for at least six months, maintain flexible itineraries and follow embassy channels for rescheduling instructions.
Although the alert is specific to Pakistan, other high-risk posts—including Jerusalem and Beirut—issued similar warnings this weekend. Mobility managers should expect short-notice appointment cancellations across the region until the security picture stabilises.
