US announces new visa policy for Pakistanis
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ISLAMABAD: The United States issued a new visa policy for Pakistani citizens, reducing the duration of visa for them to just three months.
“An additional fee will be charged for H (Temporary Work Visa), I (Journalist and Media Visa), L (Intercompany Transfer Visa), and R (Religious Worker Visa) visas only if the visa application is approved and must be paid at the Embassy Islamabad or Consulate General Karachi prior to visa issuance,” a press release issued by the US Embassy here said.
The fees will be — I visas $32; H, L, R visas $38. The US will now give a three-month visa to Pakistani journalists.
The validity periods of the visas will decrease and the new periods will be: I visas (3 months) while H visas, L visas and R visas for 12 months.
During a recent worldwide review, the Department of State noted discrepancies between the US visa regime and the visa regimes of many countries, including Pakistan.
Because Pakistan was unable to liberalize its visa regime for certain visa categories, the United States was required by US law on January 21 to reduce the visa validity and increase the visa fees to match Pakistan’s practices for similar visa categories, the press release said.
APP
