US Visa Types Categories and Requirements
A clear guide to every US visa category for Pakistani applicants: tourist, student, work, family and immigrant routes with fees, validity and how to apply from Pakistan.
What Is a US Visa?
A US visa is an authorisation placed in your passport that lets you travel to a US port of entry and request admission. It does not guarantee entry: a Customs and Border Protection officer makes the final decision on arrival, and your I-94 record (not the visa) controls how long you may stay.
- No Visa Waiver for Pakistanis: Pakistan is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so there is no ESTA route. Every traveller needs an actual visa. See how that separate system works on our Electronic Travel Authorization page.
- Two Visa Families: Every category is either nonimmigrant (temporary) or immigrant (permanent residence / Green Card).
- Fees from USD 185: Most categories carry a non-refundable MRV application fee, paid in rupees at the rate set by the US Mission.
Immigrant vs Nonimmigrant Visa
Almost every US visa falls into one of two families. Choosing the wrong one is the most common reason a Pakistani applicant wastes a non-refundable fee.
Nonimmigrant (Temporary)
For a temporary stay with a specific end date: a holiday, a degree, a fixed work assignment, or an exchange programme. For most categories you must show strong ties to Pakistan proving you intend to leave the US when your purpose is complete.
Immigrant (Permanent)
For people who intend to live in the US permanently. It is the pathway to a Green Card (lawful permanent residence) and is usually sponsored by a close family member or an employer.
Dual intent: A few nonimmigrant categories, notably H-1B and L-1, let you hold a temporary visa while also pursuing permanent residence. Most categories, including B-1/B-2 and F-1, do not permit dual intent. Applying for a tourist visa when you really intend to settle is treated as misrepresentation and can carry long-term bans.
US Visa Types At a Glance
The categories below account for the overwhelming majority of applications from Pakistan. This is not the full legal list.
| Visa | Category | Main Purpose | Stay Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-1 | Nonimmigrant | Business meetings, conferences | Temporary |
| B-2 | Nonimmigrant | Tourism, family visits, medical treatment | Temporary |
| F-1 | Nonimmigrant | Academic study (university, school) | Temporary |
| M-1 | Nonimmigrant | Vocational or technical study | Temporary |
| J-1 | Nonimmigrant | Exchange visitor programmes | Temporary |
| H-1B | Nonimmigrant | Specialty occupation employment | Temporary, dual intent |
| H-2A / H-2B | Nonimmigrant | Seasonal agricultural / non-agricultural work | Temporary |
| L-1 | Nonimmigrant | Intra-company transfer | Temporary, dual intent |
| O-1 | Nonimmigrant | Individuals of extraordinary ability | Temporary |
| E-1 / E-2 | Nonimmigrant | Treaty trader / treaty investor | Temporary |
| C-1 / D | Nonimmigrant | Transit / ship and aircraft crew | Temporary |
| K-1 | Nonimmigrant | Fiancé(e) of a US citizen | Temporary, immigrant intent |
| R-1 | Nonimmigrant | Temporary religious worker | Temporary |
| IR / F preference | Immigrant | Family-sponsored residence | Permanent |
| EB-1 to EB-5 | Immigrant | Employment-based residence | Permanent |
| DV | Immigrant | Diversity Visa lottery | Permanent |
Nonimmigrant Visa Types
The categories Pakistani applicants apply for most often.
B-1 / B-2 Visitor
Short business trips (B-1) and tourism, family visits or medical treatment (B-2). The most widely held US visa among Pakistani travellers. No employment is permitted. Compare a tourist visa and a business visa.
F-1 Student
Full-time academic study at an SEVP-approved university, college or school. Requires an active SEVIS record before applying. Limited on-campus work and approved practical training allowed under strict conditions.
M-1 Vocational
Vocational and technical programmes such as flight or technical training. Requires SEVP acceptance. M-1 students generally cannot work during their studies.
J-1 Exchange Visitor
Approved exchange programmes: research scholars, professors, trainees, interns and au pairs. Some J-1 holders face a two-year home-residency requirement unless waived.
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Skilled roles requiring at least a bachelor's degree. Needs a US employer petition with USCIS first; many places are subject to an annual cap and lottery. Allows dual intent.
H-2A / H-2B Seasonal
Seasonal agricultural (H-2A) and non-agricultural (H-2B) work. The employer must show that qualified US workers are not available.
L-1 Intra-Company Transfer
Transfers managers/executives (L-1A) or specialised-knowledge staff (L-1B) from a Pakistani office to a related US office. Usually needs one continuous year abroad. Allows dual intent.
O-1 Extraordinary Ability
For individuals with national or international acclaim in the sciences, arts, business, education or athletics. Demands substantial evidence of sustained recognition.
K-1 Fiancé(e)
Lets the fiancé(e) of a US citizen travel to marry within 90 days of arrival, then adjust to permanent residence. Begins with a petition by the US-citizen partner.
Note on E-1 / E-2 (treaty trader/investor) and C-1 / D (transit/crew): treaty eligibility depends on your country of nationality, so Pakistani citizens should confirm current treaty status with the U.S. Department of State before pursuing this route. R-1 (temporary religious worker) also requires an employer petition.
Immigrant Visas & the Green Card
Three main routes lead to permanent residence from Pakistan.
Family-Based
Immediate relatives of US citizens (spouses, unmarried children under 21, parents of adult citizens) and family-preference categories. A US-based relative files the petition. Immediate-relative cases have no annual cap; preference categories often involve long waits. See our family visa page.
Employment-Based (EB-1 to EB-5)
From EB-1 priority workers, through EB-2/EB-3 for advanced-degree professionals and skilled workers, to EB-5 for qualifying investors who create US jobs. Most need an employer petition and several require labour certification. Backlogs can be significant by country of birth.
Diversity Visa (DV Lottery)
A limited number of immigrant visas awarded each year by random selection to nationals of eligible countries. Eligibility is reviewed annually and whether Pakistan is listed can change. There is no fee for the official lottery; beware agents charging to "guarantee" selection.
US Visa Fees (as of June 2026)
Set in US dollars by the Department of State and collected in rupees at the rate set by the US Mission.
Application (MRV) & Category Fees
- B-1/B-2, F-1, M-1, J-1 & most categoriesUSD 185
- H, L, O, P & Q work visasUSD 205
- K fiancé(e) visasUSD 265
Additional Fees
- SEVIS fee: F & M studentsUSD 350
- SEVIS fee: most J-1 participantsUSD 220
- Visa Integrity Fee (enacted, not yet collected)USD 250*
The MRV fee is non-refundable whether you are approved or refused, and the receipt is valid for one year. A USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee was signed into US law in July 2025; as of mid-2026 the Department of State is not yet collecting it, with implementation expected before the end of fiscal year 2026. When it begins, it is charged at issuance (so refused applicants do not pay it), and Visa Waiver, Canadian and diplomatic categories are exempt. Always confirm the live rupee amount on ustraveldocs.com/pk before paying. For a rough budget, try our visa cost calculator.
Validity, Duration of Stay & Multiple Entry
Two dates matter and they are not the same. Visa validity is the period during which you may travel to a US port of entry, printed on the visa. Duration of stay is how long you may remain once admitted, set by CBP on your I-94 record. A ten-year visitor visa does not mean a ten-year stay; it means you may travel to the US over ten years, with each admission limited to the period the officer grants.
Most US visas allow multiple entries, though some categories limit the number. Our multiple entry visa page explains how that works in general terms. Overstaying the date on your I-94, even briefly, can void your visa and trigger bars on returning, so always track the I-94 date, not the visa expiry.
Documents for Your Interview
Core Documents
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- DS-160 confirmation page (with barcode)
- MRV fee payment receipt
- Interview appointment confirmation
- Recent passport-size photograph
Supporting Documents
- Financial records / bank statements
- Employment or study confirmation (I-20 / DS-2019 where relevant)
- Evidence of strong ties to Pakistan
- Petition approval (for H, L, O, K, R categories)
See our documents required for visa checklist and Pakistan visa requirements overview to prepare.
How to Apply from Pakistan
Petition-based categories (H-1B, L-1, O-1, K-1, R-1) add a USCIS petition step before this consular process begins.
Step 1
Complete the online DS-160 and print the confirmation page.
Step 2
Pay the MRV fee and keep the receipt for booking.
Step 3
Book your interview via ustraveldocs.com/pk (Islamabad or Karachi).
Step 4
Prepare your documents and evidence of ties to Pakistan.
Step 5
Attend biometrics and the consular interview.
Step 6
Administrative processing (221g) if additional review is required.
Refusals, Section 214(b) & Reapplying
The most common refusal for visitor and student applicants is under Section 214(b). The law presumes every nonimmigrant intends to immigrate, and the burden is on you to overcome that by demonstrating strong ties to Pakistan: employment, family, property, studies. A 214(b) refusal is not a ban; you may reapply, but only when your circumstances or evidence have genuinely changed, since reapplying with the same profile usually produces the same result.
Other refusals arise from ineligibility findings or, more seriously, misrepresentation. The single best protection is a truthful application supported by genuine documents. If you are unsure how to present your ties convincingly, our visa services team can review your case before you apply.
Which US Visa Type Do You Need?
Weighing the US against another destination? Our Canada visa types guide shows how the same case plays out across countries, our visa services overview covers the support available at each stage, and you can see real outcomes on our approvals page.
Why Choose EasyVisa.pk
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US Visa Types FAQs
Not Sure Which US Visa You Need?
Understanding the right category before you apply is the best way to avoid a wasted fee or an avoidable refusal. EasyVisa.pk can guide you through every step from Pakistan.
Fees and rules, including the pending Visa Integrity Fee, are changing through 2026. Verify current details with the U.S. Department of State before you pay.