Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan
From: sburney@.oracle.com (Shehryar Burney)
Subject: H1B visas available in Pakistan
Organization: Oracle Corporation, New York, NY
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 21:20:09 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by an unauthenticated user
              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

Since I've seen a few articles posted about getting an
H-1B in Mexico, I thought I'd relate my own experience in 
getting my H1 in Karachi.  I decided to get my H1 in Karachi
because I only get a limited amount of vacation time every
year, which I didn't feel like wasting carousing around
Canada or Mexico, both of which are, of course, very attractive
and interesting countries.

I was a little nervous, since I could not find anyone who had
gone to Pakistan to get the visa.  However, my lawyer thought it should
be okay, although he felt that Mexico was safer.  Anyway, I decided to
go for it, so I collected all the necessary documentation and caught
the crying-baby special to Karachi.  I went to the Consulate 
at noon, picked up my visa application form, filled it out, and 
early next morning, I got in the line in front of the Consulate, 
joining the usual motley crowd of F-1 and tourist visa aspirants.  
Eventually, I went inside and was called to the window.  A Pakistani 
woman asked for my passport, application form, photos (2) and my H-1 
approval form (the famous blue form).  She also asked if I had 
additional documentation, such as letters from my employer.  I said I 
did, but she said that she did not want to see them.  An hour or so 
later, an American interviewed me.  The questions were very perfunctory, 
such as "What kind of work do you do ?" and "Have long have you 
lived in Arkansas ?"  This might have been some sort of test, since 
I've never even been to Arkansas.  Perhaps Arkansas residents should 
stick to Mexico.  

I don't think that they get very many H1 visa seekers there,  since the
guy didn't seem to be very familiar with the H1 approval notice, turning
it over as he read it several times.  Also,  he had to ask some other 
person whether I should get an H-1B or some other kind of H-1.  The guy 
was extremely friendly, however, and I really knew as soon as the 
interview started that I was not going to have any trouble.  He ended 
the interview by indicating that I should come back the next day 
to pick up my visa, and I walked out, running the gauntlet of 
cries of "Kya hoa?"  and "Dae diya?"

The whole process was quick and easy, and the only documents they 
wanted to see were my passport, visa application form and the blue form.  
Although they asked if I had a employer letter, they never asked to 
see it.  Also, the visa is free.  The visa itself is in a format
that I have never seen before, in which they Xerox your photograph
onto the actual visa sticker.  It is important that the photograph
be recent, and have a light background.  I saw several people being
turned away because their photos were too old (two years or so).

Important points for Visa seekers:

- Location: The Consulate is next to Frere Hall, near the Clifton Bridge.

- Lodging:  Staying with family is recommended, but one can stay
            in the Holiday Inn next door to the Consulate if one
            wishes to be first in line in the morning.

- Travel:   Several forms of comfortable and convenient public 
            transport are available, such as buses, mini-buses,
            rickshaws and two different kinds of taxis.  Many 
            people choose to use private cars, however.  It is 
            advisable not to use a very large, expensive looking
            private car, due to the risk of kidnapping.  Armed 
            security guards are available at reasonable rates.

- Food:     Bun Kebabs are available near the Consulate, as is the
            famous PIDC Pan Walla.  For more Americanized Pakistanis, 
            the Holiday Inn has a good buffet.

- Timings:  I arrived at 7:00 am.  However, there were not very many
            people on the day I went, and anyone arriving at 9:00
            would probably have got a visa about the same time I did.

- Summary:  Getting an H1 visa in Pakistan is simple, inexpensive
            and quick.  It really is far preferable to an expensive
            and time-consuming third-country trip.  The downside, of course, 
            is that is that the consequences of getting refused are 
            serious, and probably final.

Shehryar Burney                 Oracle Consulting - Manhattan
sburney@us.oracle.com           (212) 303-3938
  
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan