Pakistani from Karachi with US-facing remote work + Wyoming LLC — applying for B1/B2 for merchant account setup. Anyone in similar situation? What happened?
Assalamualaikum / Hi everyone,
I'm a 26-year-old married guy from Karachi, Pakistan applying for a B1/B2 visa. This is my first time applying for any US visa (only traveled to Saudi for Umrah before). I have no idea what to expect and I'm quite nervous about the interview, especially the 214(b) part. Would really appreciate advice from people who had a similar background.
My background & work history:
- Education: Only Matric (10th grade).
- From 2017 to around 2022: Worked in call centers / BPOs in Karachi doing sales and customer service for US telecom campaigns (Spectrum, AT&T, cable TV, internet, mobile services, etc.). All work was done from Pakistan.
- Last 3 years: Working in a software house / digital marketing company in Karachi. We build websites (especially for authors/publishers) and run PPC/Google ads targeting US customers for book writing, editing, publishing, and marketing services. Again, everything is operated from Pakistan.
- Recently registered a Wyoming Sole Member LLC through Bizee online. The plan is to use the LLC to accept payments more easily from US clients for the services we provide from Pakistan. I want to grow this properly.
Reason for US visit (what I wrote in DS-160):
Business purpose (B1) — to meet potential payment processors / merchant service providers in the US, negotiate contracts, and set up proper payment solutions for my LLC so I can run the business more efficiently from Pakistan.
I have not booked any flights or hotels yet (put generic info in DS-160). I plan a short trip (2-3 weeks max).
My concerns:
- I've been working with US clients and campaigns for almost 8-9 years now. Will the officer think that because I already deal with the US market so much, I might try to stay there?
- Having a Wyoming LLC — does this help or create suspicion that I want to move operations to the US?
- Low education level (only Matric) + young age + male applicant — I know these are common refusal factors in Pakistan.
- I am married, which is one strong tie, but I don't own property yet and my family is middle-class.
I want to be 100% honest in the interview but I'm worried how to frame my answers so it doesn't look like immigrant intent.
Questions for you:
- Has anyone with a similar profile (US-facing remote work / freelancing / BPO + own US LLC) successfully got a B1/B2 from Pakistan (Karachi or Islamabad)?
- What was the outcome in your interview? What questions did they ask about your work and the LLC?
- How did you explain your US client work and the LLC without raising red flags?
- What documents worked best for you (employment letter, bank statements, LLC papers, marriage certificate, etc.)?
- Any specific tips or phrasing that helped you prove strong ties to Pakistan?
- Should I mention the call center history or keep it short?
I know refusal rates are high, but I want to give it my best shot with proper preparation. Any real experiences, success stories, or refusal stories with similar cases would help a lot. Even advice from people who got refused first time and succeeded later would be great.
Thanks in advance! Really appreciate any help from this community.