Can a Pakistani or Bangladeshi living in the UAE renew a US visa back home? Yes, you can apply in your country of nationality, but the two countries work very differently in 2026. Pakistan still publishes an interview waiver (dropbox) route for B1/B2 renewals, with document drop-off at AEG offices in Islamabad and Karachi. Bangladesh does not: the US Embassy in Dhaka says “Visa renewals without an interview at the U.S. Embassy are not currently available”, so every Bangladeshi applicant books an interview in Dhaka.
The short answers, all checked on 25 September 2026 against the official pages listed at the end:
- Do I qualify for the dropbox? In Pakistan, only if you are renewing a full validity B1/B2 that is still valid or expired within the past 12 months, you were at least 18 when it was issued, and you have never been refused (unless the refusal was overcome or waived). In Bangladesh, nobody qualifies at the moment.
- How long are the waits? The State Department table updated 17 September 2026 shows the next available B1/B2 interview at 12.5 months in Islamabad, 7.5 months in Karachi and under half a month in Dhaka.
- What do I bring? For the Pakistan dropbox: your waiver confirmation letter, passport, DS-160 confirmation page, previous passport with the US visa and one photo. For a Dhaka interview: your appointment letter, DS-160 confirmation, photo, current and old passports and supporting documents.
- How long should I plan to stay? Plan on being without your passport for at least two to three weeks. That is our planning suggestion, not an official figure; neither country publishes a fixed time for these cases.
- What if I was refused before? The Pakistan dropbox is closed to you unless the refusal was overcome or waived, so you need an interview.
- Is Pakistan or Bangladesh on the 2026 travel ban? No. Neither is listed in Presidential Proclamation 10998.
US Mission UAE status, checked 25 September 2026: “While the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate in Dubai are open, routine visa processing is not available in the United Arab Emirates at this time.” Nonimmigrant applicants “should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality” (US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE, Visas page). That is why going home is now the practical renewal route for many Pakistani and Bangladeshi residents of the UAE. For the wider picture, read our guide to US visa renewal in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 2026.
Pakistan vs Bangladesh at a glance
Everything in this table comes from the ustraveldocs pages for each country, the US Embassy websites and travel.state.gov, checked on 25 September 2026.
| Question | Pakistan | Bangladesh |
|---|---|---|
| Interview waiver (dropbox) for B1/B2 renewal | Available if you meet every criterion below | Not available. All applicants must book an interview |
| Where you submit | AEG Travel Services offices in Islamabad and Karachi; premium drop-off in Lahore, Sialkot and Multan | Interview at the US Embassy Dhaka; documents handled through VFS Global in Gulshan 2, Dhaka, with premium centres in Sylhet, Chittagong and two Aramex sites in Dhaka |
| Next available B1/B2 interview (table updated 17 September 2026) | Islamabad 12.5 months, Karachi 7.5 months | Dhaka under 0.5 month |
| Visa application fee | USD 185, paid in Pakistan (Bank Alfalah cash, bank transfer, card or online in USD) | USD 185, paid in Bangladesh (cash at bank, bank transfer, card or online in USD) |
| Usual B1/B2 validity for nationals (reciprocity schedule) | 60 months, multiple entries | 3 months, one entry |
| Visa bond | Not on the visa bond list | On the list since 21 January 2026: USD 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 if an officer directs it |
| Presidential Proclamation 10998 | Not listed | Not listed |
| Optional premium delivery charge | PKR 1,900 per passport or document | BDT 1,080 per passport or document |
| Booking | ustraveldocs.com/pk and usvisascheduling.com | ustraveldocs.com/bd and usvisascheduling.com |
Pakistan: renewing through the dropbox
The Pakistan “Waive my interview and renew my visa” page on ustraveldocs.com sets out the criteria below. They match the State Department’s Interview Waiver Update of 18 September 2025, in force since 1 October 2025. You must meet every line, and each family member must qualify separately.
| Condition | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Renewing a fully valid B-1, B-2 or B1/B2 | For Pakistani nationals, full validity is normally 60 months. A visa issued for a shorter period does not count. |
| Still current, or expired within the past 12 months | If your visa expired more than 12 months ago, you need an interview. |
| At least 18 when the old visa was issued | A visa issued to you as a child does not count. |
| All 10 fingerprints taken last time | Usually true if you attended a normal interview for the old visa. |
| Old visa not lost, stolen or revoked | A replacement case needs an interview. |
| Never refused, unless the refusal was overcome or waived | A past refusal normally rules the dropbox out. |
| Applying in the right place | The State Department rule lets you apply in your country of nationality. The Pakistan page refers to the consular district of residence, so use your home address in Pakistan and the post that covers it. |
Even when you meet every condition, the Pakistan page says: “Eligibility for interview waiver does not guarantee visa issuance” and “If the consular officer has questions for you, we will call you for an interview.” For a closer look at each rule, see who qualifies for the interview waiver.
Where to drop off in Pakistan
| City | Office | Published hours |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | AEG Travel Services, 3rd Floor, No. 312/313, Islamabad Stock Exchange 55-B (ISE Tower), Sector F-7/G-7, Jinnah Avenue (new address since 27 July 2026) | Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 13:00 |
| Karachi | AEG Travel Services, 2nd Floor, Emerald Tower, G-19, Block 5, Clifton | Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 13:00 |
| Lahore (premium) | G-5 and G-6, Al Hafeez Business Avenue, Plot 95, Block B3, Gulberg III | Monday to Saturday, hours vary by day |
| Sialkot (premium) | Sialkot Business and Commerce Center, 1st Floor, Paris Road | Monday to Saturday, hours vary by day |
| Multan (premium) | Business City Plaza, Shops 44 and 45, Upper Ground Floor, Bosan Road | Monday to Saturday, hours vary by day |
The premium sites charge PKR 1,900 per passport or document, paid in cash to AEG, on top of the visa fee. Follow the instructions printed on your interview waiver confirmation letter, which tell you where to hand in your package.
What to bring to a Pakistan drop-off
- Your printed Interview Waiver Confirmation letter
- Your current passport
- Your DS-160 confirmation page
- Your previous passport containing the US visa (the original, not photographed pages)
- One colour photo, 5 cm x 5 cm, white background, taken within the last six months, with no eyeglasses (see our US visa photo guide)
- A letter explaining your travel purpose and itinerary, which the Pakistan page lists in its step-by-step instructions
Bring nothing else. The Pakistan page warns that “other documents will not be returned and will be destroyed.”
Bangladesh: plan for an interview in Dhaka
Both the US Embassy Dhaka and ustraveldocs Bangladesh carry the same notice: “Visa renewals without an interview at the U.S. Embassy are not currently available. All applicants must schedule an appointment for a consular interview to apply for a U.S. visa.” So a Bangladeshi living in the UAE who wants a new B1/B2 in Bangladesh books an interview at the US Embassy Dhaka.
Three things are different for Bangladeshi applicants in 2026:
- The Dhaka queue is short right now. On the table updated 17 September 2026, the next available B1/B2 interview in Dhaka was under half a month. The same table listed an average wait of 8 months, so treat the short figure as a snapshot, not a promise.
- The visa is short. The State Department reciprocity schedule gives Bangladeshi nationals a B1/B2 valid for 3 months with one entry. In practice each new trip usually means a new application, so “renewal” is really a fresh visa for a specific trip.
- A visa bond may be required. Bangladesh has been on the State Department’s visa bond list since 21 January 2026. If an officer finds you otherwise eligible, you may be directed to post a bond of USD 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000. Only pay if an officer tells you to, and only through the official channel you are given. Our guide to the visa bond rule for Bangladeshi nationals explains how it works.
What to bring to a Dhaka interview
- Your printed appointment confirmation letter
- Your DS-160 confirmation page
- One photo taken within the last six months
- Your current passport and all old passports
- Supporting documents: proof of your UAE job and residence, salary certificate, bank statements and a clear travel plan
After the interview, passports and documents move through VFS Global in Dhaka (4th Floor, Delta Life Tower, Plot 37, Road 90, North Avenue, Gulshan 2, open Sunday to Thursday, 09:00 to 13:00). Premium centres in Sylhet, Chittagong, Tejgaon and Uttara charge BDT 1,080 per passport or document.
US visa wait times: Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UAE compared
| Post | B1/B2 next available interview | B1/B2 average wait |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | 12.5 months | 10.5 months |
| Karachi | 7.5 months | 7.5 months |
| Dhaka | Under 0.5 month | 8 months |
| Dubai | 11.5 months | Not published |
| Abu Dhabi | 12.5 months | Not published |
Source: State Department Global Visa Wait Times, table updated 17 September 2026 and still current when we checked on 25 September 2026. The table has no Lahore figures; visa interviews in Pakistan take place in Islamabad and Karachi. These waits matter for Pakistani applicants too, because an officer can call any dropbox applicant in for an interview.
Proclamation 10998 and the other 2026 rules
- Travel ban: Presidential Proclamation 10998, in effect since 1 January 2026, fully or partly suspends visas for nationals of 39 countries. Pakistan and Bangladesh are not on either list, as the State Department’s list last updated 2 February 2026 shows. Our Proclamation 10998 guide has the full list.
- Immigrant visa pause: since 21 January 2026 the State Department has paused immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh. It says: “this pause is specifically for immigrant visa applicants. Tourist visas are nonimmigrant visas and are not affected.”
- Fees do not travel: the US Mission UAE says “Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.” A fee paid in the UAE cannot be moved to Pakistan or Bangladesh. If you already hold a UAE booking, read what happens to your fee and DS-160 when an appointment is cancelled.
Step by step: renewing from the UAE
- Check your old visa. Note its type, issue date, expiry date and annotation, and whether you have ever been refused. This decides whether a Pakistani applicant can use the dropbox.
- Fill in a new DS-160 on ceac.state.gov, choosing Islamabad, Karachi or Dhaka as the location where you will apply. Our list of common DS-160 mistakes helps you avoid a correction later.
- Create your profile through ustraveldocs.com/pk or ustraveldocs.com/bd, which links to usvisascheduling.com. Enter your delivery address in the country where you will collect your passport.
- Pay the USD 185 fee using one of the local payment options for that country.
- Pakistan: answer the interview waiver questions. If you qualify, print the confirmation letter and book your drop-off. Bangladesh: book the earliest interview in Dhaka.
- Plan your leave around the drop-off or interview date, and check that your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID stay valid for your return.
- Submit or attend with the documents listed above, then track your passport online and collect it from the location you chose.
How long to plan to stay
Neither country publishes a fixed time for these cases. The Pakistan scheduling page says visa processing “is typically five working days” but “may vary due to individual circumstances”, and it tells dropbox applicants: “Only send in your passport once you have sufficient time to wait for processing.” The Bangladesh pages we checked give no current processing time.
Our planning suggestion is to allow at least two to three weeks without your passport, and to keep your return flight flexible. You cannot fly back to the UAE without it. If your case goes into administrative processing, it can take much longer; the Bangladesh page asks applicants to wait at least 180 days before asking about administrative processing, except in emergencies. The Pakistan page puts it plainly: “Do not buy a ticket or make firm travel plans until you have your renewed visa in hand.”
If you were refused a US visa before
A previous refusal takes the Pakistan dropbox off the table, unless the refusal was overcome or waived by a consular officer. You then need an interview, either in Pakistan (12.5 months in Islamabad, 7.5 months in Karachi on 17 September 2026) or by holding a place in the UAE queue.
Expedited appointments do not help here either. The Pakistan page says: “If you were already refused a visa for your stated travel purpose, you are not eligible for an expedited appointment.” In Bangladesh everyone interviews anyway, and the page adds that an applicant granted an expedited appointment and then refused “will not be granted another expedited appointment for the same purpose of travel.” A new application goes best when something real has changed since the refusal, such as your job, income or travel history.
Other routes if home does not work
You can keep a booking in the UAE queue, which showed 11.5 months in Dubai and 12.5 months in Abu Dhabi for B1/B2 on 17 September 2026, while routine processing stays suspended. Applying in a third country where you are neither a national nor a resident is a poor bet: the State Department warns such applicants “will find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa” and that “fees paid for such applications will not be refunded and cannot be transferred.” Our guide to applying for a US visa in your home country compares the options, and the India dropbox guide shows how a neighbouring route works for Indian residents of the UAE.
How FastUSTravel helps
FastUSTravel, by Visa Doctor, handles US visas only, for UAE residents. We check your old visa against every waiver condition, prepare your DS-160 and document file, set up your Pakistan or Bangladesh profile, and watch the official calendar to book the earliest drop-off or interview date the system offers around your leave. If you do not qualify for the dropbox, we tell you plainly. The consular officer decides every case, and we cannot promise a visa or a date. Our fees are on the packages page.
To check your case, start a free consultation or WhatsApp us on +971 58 509 5268.
Related guides
- US visa renewal in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: where things stand in 2026
- Applying for a US visa in your home country from the UAE
- Who qualifies for the US interview waiver
- US visa appointment cancelled in Dubai or Abu Dhabi: your fee and DS-160
- Indian nationals in the UAE: renewing through the dropbox in India
- US B1/B2 visa for Pakistani nationals in the UAE
Frequently asked questions
Can a Pakistani living in Dubai renew a US visa in Pakistan?
Yes. The State Department lets you apply in your country of nationality. If you are renewing a full validity B1/B2 that is still valid or expired within 12 months, were 18 or older when it was issued and have never been refused, you may qualify for the dropbox at AEG offices in Islamabad or Karachi.
Is the US visa dropbox available in Bangladesh in 2026?
No. As checked on 25 September 2026, the US Embassy Dhaka says visa renewals without an interview are not currently available and all applicants must book a consular interview.
Are Pakistan or Bangladesh on the US travel ban in 2026?
No. Neither country is listed in Presidential Proclamation 10998, in effect since 1 January 2026. Both are on the separate immigrant visa pause, which the State Department says does not affect tourist visas.
How long is the US visa wait in Islamabad, Karachi and Dhaka?
On the State Department table updated 17 September 2026, the next available B1/B2 interview was 12.5 months in Islamabad, 7.5 months in Karachi and under half a month in Dhaka. These figures change often.
Can I use the visa fee I paid in the UAE in Pakistan or Bangladesh?
No. Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, so you pay USD 185 again in the country where you apply.
I was refused a US visa before. Can I still use the dropbox in Pakistan?
Not unless the refusal was overcome or waived by a consular officer. Otherwise you need an interview, and the Pakistan page says a refused applicant cannot get an expedited appointment for the same travel purpose.
How long should I plan to stay in Pakistan or Bangladesh?
Neither country publishes a fixed time. We suggest allowing at least two to three weeks without your passport and keeping your return flight flexible, because an officer can ask for an interview or more documents.
Do Bangladeshi applicants have to pay a US visa bond?
Only if a consular officer directs it. Bangladesh has been on the visa bond list since 21 January 2026, with bonds of USD 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 set case by case after an applicant is found otherwise eligible.
Sources and official references
- ustraveldocs Pakistan: Waive my interview and renew my visa (no date shown, checked 25 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs Pakistan: Document drop-off locations (Islamabad move effective 27 July 2026, checked 25 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs Pakistan: Pay your visa fees (checked 25 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs Pakistan: Schedule your appointment (checked 25 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs Pakistan: Apply for an expedited appointment (checked 25 September 2026)
- US Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan: Visas (checked 25 September 2026)
- US Embassy in Bangladesh: Interview Waiver Program (Drop Box) (checked 25 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs Bangladesh: Renew my visa (checked 25 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs Bangladesh: Document drop-off locations (checked 25 September 2026)
- ustraveldocs Bangladesh: Apply for an expedited appointment (checked 25 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Global Visa Wait Times (table updated 17 September 2026, checked 25 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Interview Waiver Update, 18 September 2025 (checked 25 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Adjudicating nonimmigrant visa applicants in their country of residence (updated 15 July 2026, checked 25 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Suspension of visa issuance under Proclamation 10998 (updated 2 February 2026, checked 25 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Immigrant visa processing updates (checked 25 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Countries subject to visa bonds (updated 13 May 2026, checked 25 September 2026)
- US Department of State: Pakistan reciprocity schedule and Bangladesh reciprocity schedule (checked 25 September 2026)
- US Embassy and Consulate in the UAE: Visas (checked 25 September 2026)
