Islamabad, March 13: The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad announced on Friday that the suspension of visa services has been extended until March 20. Additionally, all consular services at the U.S. consulates in Karachi and Lahore will also remain suspended during this period.
In a statement released on the social media platform ‘X’, the embassy confirmed that it will continue to provide routine and emergency services to American citizens. However, all immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments have been canceled until March 20. Affected applicants will receive instructions via email to reschedule their appointments.
The embassy also noted that applicants can check the status of their appointments on the relevant website. Furthermore, all consular services at the U.S. consulates in Karachi and Lahore are still suspended.
It is important to mention that on March 3, the U.S. instructed non-emergency government employees and their families stationed at the consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to security concerns.
The embassy stated that the U.S. Department of State ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and their families from the consulates in Lahore and Karachi on March 3, 2026, due to security risks. However, there has been no change in the status of the embassy in Islamabad.
Widespread protests erupted in Pakistan following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israel attack on February 28.
Media reports indicate that at least 23 protesters have died during clashes in Pakistan. This includes 10 deaths outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi, 11 in Skardu, located in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan, and two in Islamabad. In Skardu, a crowd also set fire to a United Nations office.
Protesters gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi, where eyewitnesses reported gunfire. In Lahore, hundreds of demonstrators assembled outside the consulate, prompting police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
In Islamabad, protesters attempted to march toward the U.S. embassy despite heavy security and roadblocks.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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