USA Tourist Visa from Pakistan 2026 Complete Guide

Many Pakistani travellers find the USA tourist visa process stressful because it has strict rules, detailed online forms, and a short interview where you must explain your plan clearly. Common problems include mistakes in the DS-160, documents that do not match the travel story, and weak proof that you will return to Pakistan.

This guide turns the process into a simple, step-by-step checklist so you can apply correctly and avoid the most common refusal triggers.

What Is the USA Tourist Visa

For tourism, Pakistani applicants usually apply for a B-2 visitor visa. Many applicants receive a combined B-1/B-2 visa, which covers temporary travel for business and tourism. Visitor visas are non-immigrant visas for a temporary stay, not for work or permanent residence.

What is Ds-160

The DS-160 is the mandatory Online Non-immigrant Visa Application for the U.S. Department of State, used by nearly all temporary visitors (tourists, students, workers)

to apply for a non-immigrant visa, serving as the foundation for the interview and a permanent government record. You complete it online, submit it, and must print the confirmation page with the barcode to bring to your embassy or consulate interview, where officers use the information to assess your eligibility.

Content:

Gathers extensive personal, travel, family, and employment history, requiring detailed and honest answers.

What You Can and Cannot Do on a B Visa

Understanding permitted activities helps you answer interview questions accurately and avoid problems at the port of entry.

Permitted Activities

• Tourism, vacation, and sightseeing
• Visiting friends or relatives
• Medical treatment with supporting evidence
• Attending conferences or meetings
• Short recreational courses not for academic credit

Not Permitted on a Visitor Visa

• Employment or paid work in the United States
• Long-term study or degree programs
• Paid performances or professional events for a paying audience
• Permanent residence in the United States
• Travel primarily for birth tourism purposes

Who Is Eligible for a USA Tourist Visa from Pakistan

Officers focus on whether you are a genuine temporary visitor. You should show a clear trip purpose, enough funds, and strong reasons to return to Pakistan.

• You are a stronger candidate if: you have a realistic itinerary, stable income or business, and clear ties such as employment, family responsibilities, property, or ongoing studies.
• You should apply with extra care if: your finances are unstable, your travel story is vague, or your documents contain inconsistencies. These do not automatically mean refusal, but they require stronger preparation and clarity.

When to Apply

Apply early because interview appointment wait times change by city and season, and some cases require additional processing.

• Recommended timing: prepare documents early, submit DS-160, and schedule your interview as soon as you are ready.
• Avoid last-minute applications: because limited interview slots and additional checks can delay a decision beyond your travel dates.

How to Apply for USA Tourist Visa from Pakistan

Follow these steps in order. Keep your information consistent across DS-160, documents, and interview answers.

Step 1: Complete Form DS-160 online

• Complete the DS-160 on the official CEAC website. Use the same spelling and details as your passport. After submission, print the DS-160 confirmation page because you must bring it to your interview.

Step 2: Upload a Compliant Visa Photo

• You upload a photo during DS-160. If the upload fails, you must bring one printed photo that meets the official photo requirements.

Step 3: Pay the Non-Refundable Visa Application Fee

• Pay the visitor visa application fee before your interview if required by the embassy process in Pakistan. This fee is non-refundable, even if your visa is refused.

Step 4: Schedule Your Interview

• Interviews are generally required with limited exceptions. Schedule your appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. Applying outside your home country can make it harder to demonstrate your qualifications.

Step 5: Prepare for the Interview

• Organise your file around three questions: why you are going, how you will pay, and why you will return. Practice explaining your itinerary in simple sentences and keep your answers honest.

Step 6: Attend Interview and Biometrics

• A consular officer interviews you to decide if you qualify under U.S. law. Fingerprints are taken as part of the process, usually during the interview depending on location.

Step 7: After the Interview, Wait for Decision

• If approved, you may need to pay an issuance fee depending on nationality and follow instructions for passport return. Some applications require administrative processing, which can add time.

Step 8: Prepare for Travel and Entry

• A visa allows you to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission. It does not guarantee entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection make the final decision at arrival.

USA Tourist Visa Requirements from Pakistan

These are the core documents listed in official guidance, plus common evidence that supports a strong case. Each bullet explains why it matters.

Required Documents

• Passport: must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States unless an exemption applies.
• DS-160 confirmation page: proves you submitted the online application and includes the barcode used at the embassy.
• Fee payment receipt: shows you paid the application fee if the embassy requires payment before the interview.
• Photo: you upload it in DS-160. If upload fails, bring one printed photo in the correct format.

Additional Documents that may be Requested

Officers may request evidence to confirm your qualifications, especially for purpose, funds, and intent to return.

• Purpose of trip: a simple itinerary, hotel plan, and visit details show your travel is genuine and time bound.
• Ability to pay: bank statements, salary slips, and tax evidence help show you can pay for the trip without illegal work.
• Intent to depart: employment letters, business proof, family responsibilities, and property evidence support your plan to return to Pakistan.
• Sponsor evidence if someone is funding: if another person pays your costs, provide their financial evidence and a clear explanation of relationship and support.

Important Note about Invitation Letters

Official guidance states that applicants qualify based on ties abroad, not assurances from U.S. family or friends. An invitation letter is not required to apply and is not one of the main deciding factors.

USA Tourist Visa Fee for Pakistan 2026

The official visitor visa application fee shown on the U.S. Department of State visitor visa page is USD 185 for B category visitor visas. This fee is non-refundable. Depending on nationality, an additional visa issuance fee may apply after approval.

Processing Time and How Long You Can Stay

Processing time depends on interview appointment availability and whether your case requires administrative processing. For stay length, visa validity is different from the time you are allowed to stay on each entry. At the port of entry, CBP (Customs and Border Protection) decides your period of admission, usually shown on your I-94 record (document from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that proves a foreign national's legal entry).

Many admissions on a B-1/B-2 category can be granted for up to six months per entry, with possible extensions in qualifying cases, but your exact stay is decided case by case.

Disclaimer

Visa rules, fees, appointment availability, and processing times can change without notice. Malik Express provides guidance using the latest available official information at the time you apply. Final decisions rest with U.S. consular officers and U.S. border authorities.

If Your USA Tourist Visa Is Denied

Refusals often happen when the officer is not satisfied about purpose, funding, or intent to return. Improve the weak point before you reapply.

Common Reasons for Refusal

• Unclear travel purpose: your trip plan sounds vague or does not fit your profile.
• Weak ties to Pakistan: you do not show strong reasons to return, such as stable job, business commitments, or family responsibilities.
• Financial mismatch: funds do not match trip cost or deposits look unexplained.
• Inconsistencies: answers in DS-160 differ from interview answers or supporting documents.

What You Should Do Next

• Review the refusal basis: understand what was missing or unclear.
• Strengthen the file: improve financial proof, clarify itinerary, and add stronger ties evidence.
• Reapply with real improvements: submit a materially stronger application, not the same file again.

How Malik Express Travel & Tours Helps You

If you want professional support, Malik Express can help you apply with clarity and fewer avoidable mistakes.

• Eligibility assessment: we review your profile and travel purpose to highlight risks and the strongest approach.
• Document planning and review: we help you build a complete checklist and review documents for consistency across the file.
• DS-160 guidance: we guide accurate form completion and help you avoid common DS-160 errors.
• Interview readiness: we help you prepare a clear travel narrative and organise documents so you can answer confidently.
• Post-approval travel support: after approval, we can assist with flights, hotels, and travel insurance aligned with your plan.

Conclusion

A successful USA tourist visa application depends on clarity, consistency, and credible evidence. Keep your DS-160 accurate, your travel plan realistic, and your financial proof aligned with your itinerary. Apply early so you have time for appointments and any extra processing. If you want support, Malik Express Travel and Tours can help you prepare a stronger file and travel with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How to get USA tourist visa from Pakistan

Complete DS-160, pay the visa fee, schedule an interview, prepare supporting documents, and attend the interview with a clear tourism plan and strong ties to Pakistan.

• Is the USA tourist visa fee refundable

No. The visitor visa application fee is non-refundable once paid.

• Do I need confirmed tickets before applying

Official guidance recommends not making final travel plans or buying tickets until you have a visa. A clear itinerary is usually enough.

• Can I extend my stay in the USA on a visitor visa

It may be possible to request an extension in qualifying cases through USCIS, but approval is not guaranteed and you must apply before your authorised stay ends.

• Does a US visa guarantee entry

No. A visa allows travel to a U.S. port of entry to request admission. CBP decides whether you may enter and how long you can stay.