01
B-1 / B-2 from Pakistan
US Visitor Visa
A visitor visa is for a temporary trip such as tourism, limited business activity, visiting family or friends, medical treatment, or attending a conference. It does not authorize US employment or full-time academic study.
Visa validity is not permission to remain for the full validity period.The current reciprocity schedule lists Pakistani B-1, B-2, and B-1/B-2 visas as multiple-entry for 60 months. US Customs and Border Protection decides admission and the authorized stay for each trip, shown on the traveler's I-94 record.
Step by step
- 1
Clarify the tripDefine the purpose, timing, who will pay, and where you will stay.
- 2
Complete the applicationPrepare the DS-160 carefully and keep names, dates, travel, employment, and family details consistent.
- 3
Pay and schedulePay the non-refundable application fee and follow the current appointment instructions for Pakistan.
- 4
Organize the evidenceBuild a concise file showing the genuine trip and reasons to return to Pakistan.
- 5
Attend the interviewAnswer truthfully and directly. A complete file does not guarantee approval.
Document planning list
- Valid passport and old passports, if available
- DS-160 confirmation and appointment confirmation
- One recent photo meeting State Department specifications
- CNIC copy and Family Registration Certificate, when useful
- Recent bank statements, often covering about six months
- Employment letter or business registration
- Salary slips, tax documents, or business income evidence
- Property records, if relevant to the applicant's circumstances
- Evidence of ties through work, business, family, property, or education
- Trip-specific invitation, itinerary, medical, or conference records
No employment
A visitor visa does not authorize work in the United States.
Avoid overstay
Depart by the I-94 date unless a lawful extension or change is approved.
No direct residence path
A visitor visa is temporary and is not itself a direct route to a green card.
02
Study in the United States
F-1 Student Visa
The F-1 category is for full-time academic study at an eligible US school. Admission, Form I-20, financial planning, SEVIS payment, the visa application, and interview preparation are distinct parts of the process.
Application process
- 1
Prepare the academic fileCollect transcripts, degrees, test results, passport, financial evidence, and required school materials.
- 2
Secure admissionReceive an offer from a SEVP-certified US school in the intended field of study.
- 3
Receive Form I-20Check the program, funding, biographical data, and SEVIS information.
- 4
Pay required feesPay the I-901 SEVIS fee and the nonimmigrant visa application fee using official channels.
- 5
Apply and scheduleComplete the DS-160 and follow current appointment and interview instructions.
- 6
Prepare for the interviewBe ready to explain the school choice, program, funding, academic plan, and post-study intentions honestly.
F-1 planning costs
I-901 SEVIS fee$350US government
Visa application fee$185US government
Government-fee subtotal$535
NorthBridge consultancy fee$1,500Private service fee from the supplied materials
Combined planning total$2,035
This corrects the arithmetic in the supplied fee table. It excludes tuition, deposits, testing, travel, translations, courier costs, and other school or third-party charges. Confirm all fees before payment.
Financial evidence is not an application fee.The supplied material used $25,000 as an example of available funds. The actual evidence should match the amount on the Form I-20 and the student's real tuition, living-cost, scholarship, and sponsor plan.
During study
Maintain F-1 status by following the school's international-student guidance, academic requirements, and employment restrictions.
OPT
Eligible students may apply for Optional Practical Training related to their field. Authorization is not automatic and must be approved before work begins.
STEM extension
Some eligible STEM graduates may apply for a 24-month extension after standard post-completion OPT, allowing up to 36 months of total OPT authorization.
A visa stamp and immigration status are different.The visa is a travel document used to request entry. The student's authorized period in F-1 status depends on maintaining lawful status and the I-94 notation, not simply the expiration date printed on the visa.
03
Foreign-educated registered nurses
Pakistani Nurse US Pathway
US nursing employment is a multi-agency process. State licensure, credential review, English testing, health-care worker certification, immigration sponsorship, and the employer's requirements must be coordinated rather than treated as a single work-permit application.
01Credentials
02State board
03English test
04NCLEX-RN
05Certification
06Employer case
Core preparation
- A recognized nursing education and complete academic records
- Primary-source verification and credential evaluation where required
- Application to the Board of Nursing in the intended state
- English proficiency meeting the current approved test and score rules, unless exempt
- NCLEX-RN eligibility and a passing result for registered-nurse licensure
- Health-care worker certification from a USCIS-approved credentialing organization
- A US employer or recruitment partner able to pursue the appropriate immigration route
- Consistent identity, licensure, experience, and employment records
What varies by case
- Each state Board of Nursing sets its own education, evaluation, and licensure requirements.
- English-test exemptions, accepted exams, and minimum scores are rule-specific and can change.
- Employers may prefer two or more years of recent clinical experience, but this is not a universal federal licensure rule.
- NCLEX test-center availability and authorization-to-test steps should be confirmed directly.
- The correct employment-based immigration strategy depends on the employer, role, timing, and applicant's qualifications.
- Certification verifies threshold credentials; USCIS and other authorities still make their own decisions.
Use the current approved-certifier list.USCIS requires many foreign health-care workers to present certification from a USCIS-approved organization. VisaScreen is one well-known product, and USCIS announced an additional approved credentialing organization in March 2026. Confirm the authorized issuer and current English-test rules before starting.
First review questions
Bring these answers to your consultation.
- 1What is your highest nursing degree?
- 2How many years of recent clinical experience do you have?
- 3Have you taken an approved English proficiency test?
- 4Have you selected a US state or started a Board of Nursing application?
- 5Have you taken the NCLEX-RN or received authorization to test?
Start Your Assessment
04
At-a-glance planning
Fee Summary
| Visa route | US government fees | NorthBridge fee | Planning total |
|---|
| F-1 student | $350 SEVIS + $185 visa application | $1,500 | $2,035 |
|---|
| B-1/B-2 visitor | $185 visa application | $1,000 | $1,185 |
|---|
Other estimates supplied for planning
Passport photosPKR 1,000
Courier / passport deliveryPKR 5,000
Document translation, if neededUSD 300
IELTS / TOEFL / academic testingVaries
Government fees are non-refundable and may change. Third-party estimates are not government charges and may vary by provider, exchange rate, location, document volume, and case needs. Ask for a current written service quote before payment.
05
Verify before filing
Official Sources
Private consultancy noticeNorthBridge is not affiliated with any embassy, government agency, USCIS, the US Department of State, ICE, CBP, a state Board of Nursing, or a testing organization. This page is general information, not legal advice. Government authorities, schools, boards, testing bodies, and employers make their own decisions.