Applying for Pakistani visa

[Ultimecia 6]

Hi guys, hopefully someone can provide some insight into this. I'm in the process of applying for Pakistani visa to visa my close friend whom I've known for several years. I've been asking around but haven't gotten any real advice. My situation is that I applied for a visa to Pakistan and I provided all the information they asked for (his ID, Letter of Invitation, etc.) however I received a message from the consulate informing me that my friend (since I'll be staying with him for the duration of my trip) will need to provide an affidavit of support. In order for him to get this affidavit, he has to obtain it from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.

I do understand why they're asking for this affidavit. The consulate just wants to be sure that I'll be safe. But I spoke with him recently and he doesn't know how to go about getting this affidavit. I'm wondering, is there anyone specifically he has to contact, or does he have to appear in person? Any info would be helpful. Thanks a bunch.

[Jon York 156]

Hi, I'm a confused. You're applying for a Pakistani visa - so you can go to Pakistan? Or you're applying for a Pakistani citizen to come to the U.S.?

[sara..... 371]

In Pakistan if you want anything done in a timely manor they need to appear in person

Im not sure who he would talk to in department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs but im sure he can find out if he asks around.

when you applied did you give a letter from the company you work with showing your employed and answer the question of who is financial responsible as yourself showing your capable of it?

if you didnt do that those are the only reasons i know of for them to ask for a affidavit of support from the Pakistan side.

sara

[Ultimecia 6]

Hi, I'm a confused. You're applying for a Pakistani visa - so you can go to Pakistan? Or you're applying for a Pakistani citizen to come to the U.S.?

I'm applying for a visa to visit Pakistan.

[Ultimecia 6]

In Pakistan if you want anything done in a timely manor they need to appear in person

Im not sure who he would talk to in department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs but im sure he can find out if he asks around.

when you applied did you give a letter from the company you work with showing your employed and answer the question of who is financial responsible as yourself showing your capable of it?

if you didnt do that those are the only reasons i know of for them to ask for a affidavit of support from the Pakistan side.

sara

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the Pakistani Consulate did ask for an employment letter and I supplied that. I also supplied the Letter of Invitation from the individual whom I'll be staying with for the duration of my stay in Pakistan. The consulate is telling me he needs to provide an affidavit of support in order for them to process my visa application.

[Jon York 156]

Good luck! I tried to get a visa, but was denied - due to the fact that my fiance lives in a relatively dangerous area and they were apparently concerned about my safety (hard to believe), and also due to the fact they don't want single men coming over to visit single women! THEY'RE CRAZY!

We ended up having to meet in a country that we both could get into easily. There are so few countries in the world that an American and a Pakistani can get into easily. But some of the Persian Gulf countries like Oman, Qatar and the UAE are pretty decent. We ended up going to the UAE.

[jabeen100 1]

You should to complete Your document identity card, Nationality, citizen etc. And then apply for take the visa of Pakistan. Because these documents are neceesary for visa.

[Ultimecia 6]

Good luck! I tried to get a visa, but was denied - due to the fact that my fiance lives in a relatively dangerous area and they were apparently concerned about my safety (hard to believe), and also due to the fact they don't want single men coming over to visit single women! THEY'RE CRAZY!

We ended up having to meet in a country that we both could get into easily. There are so few countries in the world that an American and a Pakistani can get into easily. But some of the Persian Gulf countries like Oman, Qatar and the UAE are pretty decent. We ended up going to the UAE.

Gosh, that sucks. Though to be quite honest, I have thought about that option.

[Jon York 156]

No, it wasn't bad. To tell you the truth, I wasn't looking forward to being in Pakistan! It was much, much nicer being in Dubai. And it was very cool that she could be there too and see a modern western-style country for the first time in her life!

[Ultimecia 6]

No, it wasn't bad. To tell you the truth, I wasn't looking forward to being in Pakistan! It was much, much nicer being in Dubai. And it was very cool that she could be there too and see a modern western-style country for the first time in her life!

The original plan was to visit Pakistan and get married then start the process of filing the Visa I-30 form, but sense I can't even get my foot through door on getting a Tourist/Visitor visa for Pakistan.

I had a feeling that's one reason why the consulate wanted the affidavit, because of safety issues. The option of meeting in another country sounds more appealing. As far as places like Dubai, I have heard there are a lot of Pakistani nationals that live and work there, how hard was it for your wife to get a UAE visa?

[Jon York 156]

It's not hard for any Pakistani to get a tourist visa to the UAE. That's pretty much why we ended up there. The problem for my fiance was getting a thing they call a "right-to-board" - which means permission from the Pakistani government for her to get on the aircraft to fly to Dubai. Amazingly in this case it seems the government of Pakistan has tried to do something right - for once! They make it very difficult for single girls to go to Dubai - especially alone. Because a lot of Pakistani girls have been tricked and/or kidnapped into sex slavery after being promised jobs as maids and such in Dubai.

So the first thing they required was that she come with her father. That's something we were already planning to do - so that was no problem. The next thing they were going to require was that she leave a $4,000 deposit to guarantee that they would come back! However, my fiance is one of the few Christians in Pakistan and it just so happened (we believe God-led), that the girl at the travel agency she was working with was a Christian too. So when the girl at the travel agency found that out she said, "Don't worry about your right-to-board, I will get it for you and you will not have to leave any deposit. I will personally guarantee that you will return. Now go home and start packing!!" So, that's how she was able to come.

For men though, it's much, much easier. All he has to do is go to a travel agency and make the arrangements for a flight and a hotel - and they can take care of the UAE visa for him. Basically, the UAE requires that a Pakistani be invited by someone in the UAE. So the travel agencies work this out with the hotels. The hotel invites him. And if you're like us and end up using airbnb instead of an expensive hotel - a travel agency can still arrange for an official invite, although they will of course charge something for that service.

As far as Americans going to the UAE - it's no problem at all. You don't even have to get a visa. Just bring your passport and they'll stamp it with a 30-day visa as soon as you walk through immigration. The whole process takes about 30 seconds - literally!

And one other thing, my fiance and I had really wanted to just get married and then file as a married couple. But we knew it can take several months longer on a spouse visa than a fiance visa. So that's why we decided not to get married and go this route.

Also, I don't know if you or your fiance are Muslims. But if he is and you're not there might be some problem with you two being allowed to marry. I know Muslim women aren't allowed to marry non-Muslim men - especially if the man is a Christian or Jew. I think for men though it might not be a problem.

Edited December 21, 2013 by Jon York

[Ultimecia 6]

Also, I don't know if you or your fiance are Muslims. But if he is and you're not there might be some problem with you two being allowed to marry. I know Muslim women aren't allowed to marry non-Muslim men - especially if the man is a Christian or Jew. I think for men though it might not be a problem.

Thanks for your reply. Your responses have been very helpful. My fiance is a Muslim but we discussed the possible issues that will probably arise.

[sara..... 371]

The original plan was to visit Pakistan and get married then start the process of filing the Visa I-30 form, but sense I can't even get my foot through door on getting a Tourist/Visitor visa for Pakistan.

I had a feeling that's one reason why the consulate wanted the affidavit, because of safety issues. The option of meeting in another country sounds more appealing. As far as places like Dubai, I have heard there are a lot of Pakistani nationals that live and work there, how hard was it for your wife to get a UAE visa?

if your married the visa for pakistan is more easy........its the complete non relative staying with single man or female that is an issue to tell you the truth......

also men can marry non muslim but women can not marry a non muslim.......

sara

[Jon York 156]

if your married the visa for pakistan is more easy........its the complete non relative staying with single man or female that is an issue to tell you the truth......

also men can marry non muslim but women can not marry a non muslim.......

sara

Sara, all you said is absolutely right.

[Jon York 156]

Sara, OMG! I just read your timeline. What a NIGHTMARE!