The U.S. mission in Pakistan has suspended all immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments in Islamabad from 9 through 13 March, with no walk-in options available. A late-night notice confirmed that applicants will receive new interview dates by e-mail, while consular services at the Karachi and Lahore Consulates General remain shut indefinitely. Although the announcement was posted on 9 March local time, the disruption fully encompasses the work-week of 10 March, triggering immediate itinerary changes for business travellers and U.S. companies with Pakistani talent in the hiring pipeline. The embassy did not cite a specific threat, but the move comes amid elevated regional tensions and protests outside major diplomatic facilities. Visa brokers in Islamabad report that more than 3,000 appointments—including B-1/B-2 renewals and F-1 student interviews—will need to be rescheduled, pushing overall wait times well past the 300-day mark recorded in January.
![U.S. Embassy in Islamabad Cancels Visa Interviews 9–13 March Amid Security Review]()
For applicants scrambling to rebook or reroute their interviews, VisaHQ offers a practical lifeline: the platform’s U.S. services page (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) tracks appointment openings at consulates throughout the Gulf and South Asia, provides documentation checks, and can coordinate courier delivery of passports—helping both travelers and employers shave days off an already lengthy process.
For U.S. employers the practical fallout is two-fold: (1) start dates for Pakistani H-1B and L-1 beneficiaries already holding approved petitions may slip beyond the current fiscal year, and (2) executives planning short-notice trips to U.S. headquarters must now fly to third-country posts—typically Dubai or Doha—for emergency visa stamping. Companies should review assignment calendars and consider premium-processing extensions of status inside the United States for workers who cannot depart. American citizens in Pakistan can still obtain routine and emergency assistance, but the embassy has urged nationals to avoid large gatherings and maintain a low profile. Travel-risk teams should ensure travellers are enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time security updates. A return to normal scheduling is expected the week of 16 March, subject to “ongoing assessments,” but the Islamabad press office declined to confirm whether staffing shortages or physical-security upgrades are behind the pause. Mobility managers should therefore plan for rolling cancellations and advise applicants to keep medical exams and police certificates valid for at least six months beyond the current suspension period.
For applicants scrambling to rebook or reroute their interviews, VisaHQ offers a practical lifeline: the platform’s U.S. services page (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) tracks appointment openings at consulates throughout the Gulf and South Asia, provides documentation checks, and can coordinate courier delivery of passports—helping both travelers and employers shave days off an already lengthy process.
For U.S. employers the practical fallout is two-fold: (1) start dates for Pakistani H-1B and L-1 beneficiaries already holding approved petitions may slip beyond the current fiscal year, and (2) executives planning short-notice trips to U.S. headquarters must now fly to third-country posts—typically Dubai or Doha—for emergency visa stamping. Companies should review assignment calendars and consider premium-processing extensions of status inside the United States for workers who cannot depart. American citizens in Pakistan can still obtain routine and emergency assistance, but the embassy has urged nationals to avoid large gatherings and maintain a low profile. Travel-risk teams should ensure travellers are enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time security updates. A return to normal scheduling is expected the week of 16 March, subject to “ongoing assessments,” but the Islamabad press office declined to confirm whether staffing shortages or physical-security upgrades are behind the pause. Mobility managers should therefore plan for rolling cancellations and advise applicants to keep medical exams and police certificates valid for at least six months beyond the current suspension period.
