Pakistan at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Not eligible |
| Entry restrictions | No travel ban; affected by the 2026 immigrant visa pause (set aside by a court, under appeal) |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore process nonimmigrant visas, and immigrant visas are processed in Islamabad. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Pakistan right now
- Pakistani citizens qualify for both E-1 treaty trader and E-2 treaty investor visas, but were not eligible for the DV-2026 diversity lottery. It was on the State Department's 75-country immigrant-visa pause from January 21, 2026; a federal court set the pause aside on August 21, 2026, and the government's appeal was pending as of October 2026.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Pakistan
Marriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseFamily petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsParents green cardU.S. citizens 21 and older sponsoring their parentsF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolH-1B visaWork visa for specialty jobs, sponsored by a U.S. employerE-2 investor visaTreaty investor visa to run a business you invest inEB-2 NIWSelf-petition green card if your work benefits the U.S.
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Pakistan visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Pakistan is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Pakistan get an E-2 investor visa?
Yes. Pakistan has an E-2 treaty with the United States, so its nationals can qualify for the E-2 treaty investor visa by making a substantial investment in a U.S. business they will run.
Can people from Pakistan enter the green card lottery?
Pakistan was not eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, and someone born in Pakistan may still qualify through a spouse born in an eligible country.
Where do people from Pakistan have their visa interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore process nonimmigrant visas, and immigrant visas are processed in Islamabad.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Pakistan?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Asia
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.