In Lahore and Karachi, all visa services have been suspended in the US embassy in Pakistan after a violent security violation in the Karachi embassy. The appointments of immigrants and non-immigrants are called off until March 13, 2026, when the authorities announced the high-level investigation of the protests which resulted in the deaths of 11 people and dozens of injured.
The US Consulate Karachi and US Consulate Lahore have officially shut their doors for visa seekers. If you had an appointment scheduled between today and March 13, consider it void. The US Embassy confirms that applicants will receive re-scheduling instructions via email soon.
While routine and emergency help for American citizens stays active, the mood is heavy. This sudden suspension follows a dark Sunday in Karachi. Violent unrest outside the consulate resulted in 11 deaths and over 30 injuries.
Joint Investigation Team Begins Probe
A specialized investigation committee is now digging into what went wrong. Additional IG CTD Zulfiqar Lark leads the team. During their first session, SSP Amjad Sheikh handed over detailed briefings and raw video footage of the mob. The committee has a strict deadline: a full report must reach the Interior Minister within seven days.
The US Consulate Karachi has been a point of this tension. The level of security is high, and the role of the Marine Security Guards is also questioned. To people monitoring the US Consulate Karachi visa appointments, the backlog will keep on increasing. The US embassy will update you about new dates in the inbox.
Note: The US Consulate Lahore is also affected by these cancellations. Only emergency services for US passport holders remain operational at this time.
source https://enews.hamariweb.com/pakistan/us-visa-appointments-cancelled-in-karachi-and-lahore/
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