US Immigrant Visa Pause Is Lifted for Pakistanis: What Applicants Do Now
The State Department says its pause on immigrant visas for 75 countries, Pakistan included, ended on 21 August 2026. See what Islamabad says and what to do.
Short answer: The US State Department says its January 2026 pause on immigrant visas for 75 countries, which included Pakistan, is "no longer in effect" as of 21 August 2026, after a court order. The US Embassy in Islamabad says it is processing immigrant visas in all categories, but waits are long.
If a family member abroad filed a petition for you, or you won a diversity visa slot, this changes what you can do next. It does not make the wait shorter by itself. We read the State Department notice and the Islamabad embassy pages on 12 October 2026, and set out below what they say and what they do not.
Pakistan was one of 75 countries in the pause
The State Department's notice lists 75 countries in the pause, and Pakistan is among them. The pause took effect on 21 January 2026. It covered immigrant visa issuance, which is the visa for people who plan to live permanently in the United States.
The reason given on the notice was concern that some immigrants could depend on public benefits. The notice says the Department is reviewing its screening and vetting policies, so the policy area is still active. The pause did not cover tourist, student or work visas. Those are nonimmigrant visas and follow separate rules.
| Item | What the State Department notice says |
|---|---|
| Start of the pause | 21 January 2026 |
| Countries covered | 75, Pakistan included |
| Current status | No longer in effect from 21 August 2026 |
| Reason the pause ended | Court's order in CLINIC et al. v. Rubio, et al. |
| What applicants may do | Submit applications and attend interviews |
The pause ended on 21 August 2026 because of a court order
The notice says that as of 21 August 2026, in line with the court's order in CLINIC et al. v. Rubio, the January pause "is no longer in effect". It adds that applicants from affected countries may submit applications and attend interviews, and that the Department will keep scheduling them.
That is the whole official statement we found. The notice does not say whether the government will appeal, and it does not say what happens to applications that were refused while the pause ran. Reports we read say the government can appeal and that the court also set aside refusals based only on the pause. We could not confirm either point on a government page, so treat them as reported.
A court order can be changed on appeal. So the safe reading is "not in effect today", not "settled for good".
The Islamabad embassy says it is processing every immigrant visa category
The Islamabad embassy's immigrant visa page says it is processing immigrant visas across all categories. It also says significant backlogs and continuing staffing shortages make interview waits lengthy, and it gives no precise wait times.
The Karachi consulate does not interview immigrant visa applicants. Its page says it conducts nonimmigrant visa interviews only. So immigrant visa interviews for Pakistani applicants happen in Islamabad.
One more detail from the embassy page: its main visa page still carries a notice that points readers to the State Department for "immigrant visa processing". That notice did not describe the court order when we read it. Go by the State Department notice, which does.
| Office | Immigrant visas | Nonimmigrant visas |
|---|---|---|
| US Embassy Islamabad | Processing all categories, long waits | Interviews by appointment |
| US Consulate General Karachi | Not handled | Interviews only |
What an applicant should do now
Follow the instructions on your own case file. The embassy says that once USCIS has approved your petition and you have finished pre-processing with the National Visa Center, or a diversity visa selection with the Kentucky Consular Center, you should follow the instructions those offices gave you.
- Find your case number and check your status with the National Visa Center or the Kentucky Consular Center.
- Make sure your documents are complete, as your case file instructs.
- Wait for the interview notice. The Department says it will continue scheduling interviews.
- If your case was refused only because of the pause, ask the embassy or your attorney whether it can be reviewed. We found no official procedure.
- Do not pay anyone who promises a faster date or a guaranteed result.
Do not confuse this with the visa bond or the entry suspension list
Three separate US measures get mixed up. The immigrant visa pause covered Pakistan. The visa bond for tourist visas did not. The 39 country entry suspension does not name Pakistan either. Each one has its own page and its own rules.
Our report on the US visa bond shows that Pakistan was not among its 50 countries. The immigrant visa pause is a different programme, and it did include Pakistan. For anyone who is paying an agent to "fix" a US case, our checklist on checking an education agent shows how to verify before paying.
Common questions
Is the US immigrant visa pause still in effect for Pakistan?
No. The State Department notice says it is no longer in effect as of 21 August 2026, following a court order. An appeal could change that, so check the notice again before you act.
Which visas did the pause cover?
Immigrant visas only. These are visas for people who plan to live permanently in the United States. Tourist, student and work visas were not covered.
Where are immigrant visa interviews held in Pakistan?
At the US Embassy in Islamabad. The Karachi consulate page says it conducts nonimmigrant visa interviews only.
How long is the wait for an interview?
The embassy gives no figure. It says backlogs are significant and staffing is short, so waits are lengthy. We cannot give you a date range.
Were refused cases reopened automatically?
We found no official statement on that. Reports say the court set aside refusals based only on the pause, but we could not confirm it on a government page. Ask the embassy or a licensed attorney about your own case.
Can an agent speed up my case?
No. Interview scheduling is done by the US government. Anyone who promises a faster slot for money is a risk to you.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the State Department notice on immigrant visa processing for the 75 countries, and the US Embassy Islamabad immigrant visas page and visa services page, on 12 October 2026. The court order, any appeal and the fate of refused cases are not on those pages. The status can change by court order.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
