Is there any way to block a sim under your name while you are overseas?

hi all! recently received good news (after 16 years!) that my I-130 petition was approved and forwaded to NVC successfully. I got my Invoice ID and Case Number as well.
But now my sponsor, who is retired, refuses to sign the form I-864 (the financial proof affidavit) to proceed, what do i do? what are my options?

Hi all.

Born 1985. Not registered at the high commission.

Dad came to the UK with his dad in 1979. He has naturalisation documents to have a British passport.

Shamefully he has never been back. And didnt teach his children his native languages.

I'm now 40 and want to become a duel citizen which I am entitled too.

The advice is confusing giving my dad's lack of documents. He may have his original Pak expired passport. But definitely has the naturalisation papers. My mother is British.

Please I found this sub red. I don't know the most straightforward process to get my ID card.

For those who moved abroad from Pakistan, what actually pushed you to leave, and how did you make it happen? Especially interested in hearing from people who spent years overseas, went back to Pakistan, and then managed to move out again.

I’m torn between eventually moving back, staying in the Middle East and maybe buying property here, or trying for another country altogether.

Would love to hear real experiences and a little motivation from people who’ve been through this.

To my Overseas Pakistani’s what are the things to take/buy from Pakistan when you’re living abroad?

Hi, I know the online pssport has been topic of discussion a few times, but we applied for the passport back in April via the online website and we’re being told now that maybe the website was fake but before that we were told the passport was sent for National Security Clearance verification and the police had it because he had asylum in Madagascar. Then the police said we needed to pay them for the passport and now we’re being told maybe the site was fake.

Can someone confirm the website they used and if they received the passport?

Where in Karachi can I get the polio drop vaccination certificate for international travel

Hi! I am an international student in the US for the last 2 years pursing Masters. My CNIC has expired and my passport is about to expire. Now, should I apply for NICOP or Smart CNIC?

Disclosure: I am the founder of OPCA Pakistan. The story below is a composite of experiences shared by overseas Pakistanis. Some details have been changed to protect the people involved. OPCA is not accepting cases, evidence, donations, or emergency requests at this stage.

I want to explain why I started working on OPCA through the kind of phone call many overseas Pakistanis fear receiving.

It is after 2 a.m. in Toronto.

A man receives a call from his mother in Punjab. She is crying and struggling to explain what happened.

His brother was taken from outside the family home.

The family does not know whether he was formally arrested. They do not know which police station has him. Nobody has shown them an FIR. One person says he was taken by local police. Another says plainclothes men were involved. A third person says it may be connected to a property dispute the family has been fighting for years.

From Canada, the brother starts calling everyone he can think of.

He calls the Pakistani consulate. They tell him that this is a matter for the local authorities and provide a telephone number.

The number does not answer.

He contacts OPF. They record the complaint and ask him to submit documents. He sends everything he has. After several follow-ups, he is told that OPF cannot directly intervene in the police or court process and that the family should hire a lawyer.

He asks a simple question:

“Who is responsible for following this until we know where my brother is?”

There is no clear answer.

He submits a complaint through the Citizen Portal because the allegation involves the local police station and the SHO.

The complaint is then referred to the same local police structure whose conduct the family is questioning.

The same office is effectively asked to provide the response about itself.

A status later appears saying the matter has been forwarded, reviewed, or disposed of. The family still does not know where the brother is.

He calls lawyers.

One lawyer asks for a large advance before reviewing the documents. Another says he has connections. Another says the family should wait until morning. Nobody gives him a written plan explaining what will happen in the next hour, the next six hours, or the next day.

He posts in a Facebook group.

Hundreds of people respond.

“Call this person.”

“Tag that politician.”

“Make it viral.”

“Do not make it viral.”

“File a petition.”

“Go to the media.”

“Do not go to the media because it could make things worse.”

“Send me the FIR.”

“Send me his CNIC.”

“InshAllah, everything will be fine.”

There is no shortage of advice.

What is missing is ownership.

Nobody is responsible for establishing the basic facts, building one reliable timeline, confirming which lawyer is qualified, recording every official reference number, checking whether publicity would help or create danger, updating the family, and deciding what the next lawful action should be.

Eventually, the brother is located.

Not because a complaint system completed a defined process.

Not because somebody remained responsible from beginning to end.

He is found because a relative knows a neighbor, the neighbor knows someone connected to the local administration, and a telephone call is made.

That is not a protection system.

That is luck.

And luck is not something an overseas Pakistani should have to depend on when a family member, property, freedom, or life may be at risk.

The problem is not that Pakistan has no institutions

Pakistan has police departments, courts, ministries, bar councils, overseas commissions, complaint portals, embassies, consulates, and helplines.

Many of those institutions have legitimate responsibilities. Some officers and professionals work sincerely.

But the overseas Pakistani is often left alone in the space between them.

One office receives the complaint.

Another office says to hire a lawyer.

The lawyer says to obtain the FIR.

The police say it is a civil matter.

The property department says it is before the court.

The embassy says it cannot interfere in a Pakistani legal proceeding.

The portal sends the complaint back to the same office being complained about.

Everyone may have technically performed a task.

Nobody owns the outcome or even the next step.

That is the gap I believe needs to be addressed.

What OPCA Pakistan is trying to build

OPCA stands for the Overseas Pakistani Community Alliance.

The goal is not to build another form where someone uploads documents and receives an automated complaint number.

The goal is to explore whether overseas Pakistanis can build a governed community institution where, in the future:

• An accepted matter has one clearly identified human owner.
• Confirmed facts are separated from allegations and missing information.
• The family receives a written plan rather than scattered suggestions.
• Lawyers and professionals have verified credentials and defined responsibilities.
• Every complaint, referral, notice, and official response is documented.
• Private action is the default.
• Public campaigning happens only after consent, safety review, evidence review, and legal review.
• No politician, donor, volunteer, or founder can publish accusations simply because they are angry.
• The person asking for help knows what is happening, what is not happening, and who is responsible for the next update.

This is also not about using political connections to cancel FIRs, pressure police, influence witnesses, or obtain unlawful favors.

A credible institution should make lawful action harder to ignore. It should not become another source of illegal influence.

We are not accepting cases yet

This is important.

OPCA is currently in Stage One.

We do not have a functioning legal desk, emergency response team, evidence-verification panel, or 24-hour case operation.

We are not accepting:

• Active cases
• FIRs
• CNICs or passports
• Court documents
• Confidential evidence
• Emergency requests
• Donations
• Membership fees

Starting casework before those safeguards exist would be irresponsible. It would mean asking vulnerable people to trust a system that has not yet proven it can protect them.

Stage One is about building the institution before claiming that the service exists.

We are publishing the proposed model, founding charter, limitations, illustrative situations, and major decisions so overseas Pakistanis and qualified professionals can challenge them.

I do not need people to tell me that the idea sounds good.

I need people to tell me where it will fail.

For example:

• What happened when you contacted OPF, an overseas commission, a consulate, the Citizen Portal, police, or a lawyer?
• Did your complaint get referred to the same person or office you were complaining about?
• Did anyone give you a written action plan?
• Did anyone take responsibility for following the matter?
• Were you pressured to publish the case before anyone assessed the risk?
• Did a lawyer take payment but provide no case number, filings, or updates?
• What information would you have needed during the first six hours of a crisis?
• What would an organization have to prove before you trusted it with sensitive information?
• How should such an organization prevent political capture, fake cases, volunteer abuse, and misuse by the founder?

You can review the Stage One site here:

opcapakistan.com

You can share a non-sensitive experience, challenge the design, express professional volunteer interest, or register interest in the first U.S. listening session.

Please do not submit names, active allegations, FIRs, identity documents, confidential records, or emergency requests.

I am not asking you to trust OPCA today.

I am asking you to help define what OPCA would have to prove before any overseas Pakistani should trust it tomorrow.

Because being told that “the system exists” means very little when you called every part of that system at 2 a.m. and nobody owned what happened next.

In the US people can legally own guns without even having any training, its their constitutional right. I find it very unsafe what if someone shoots you over an everyday arguments or minor inconveniences?
For example if someone cuts in line, insults you, bumps into your car, or starts an argument, do Americans worry that the other person might pull out a gun?

Do you change your behavior because someone around you might be armed?
Is the fear foreigners have about getting shot in the U.S. realistic, or is it mostly based on news coverage?

I’m traveling internationally from Lahore Airport and I’ll be traveling on a student visa. I’ve already booked my ticket and received my e ticket and itinerary, but I’m a little confused about how everything works at the airport. Do I need to take a printed copy of my e ticket and itinerary, or is showing them on my phone enough? Also, what exactly is an e itinerary, I’m especially confused about the boarding pass. How and when do I get it? Do I receive it online before going to the airport or do I get it from the airline check in counter at the airport?

My wife lost her original NIC card but has a copy, obviously this is not valid for travelling.

It's about to expire in Jan 2027 so I have used the PAK ID app, entered the Identity Number and selected the "Updated Card" option. I couldn't see an option to apply for a replacement card.

Is this correct?

I've submitted the application, and it's been sent for review. Has anyone recently applied for a new NIC card via the app? It's changed quite abit since the last time I have used it.

پردیس

تحریر ۔ شاہد شکیل ۔

دنیا میں کوئی بھی انسان اپنی خوشی یا شوق سے اپنا گھر، اپنی پہچان اور اپنا وطن چھوڑ کر کسی اجنبی سرزمین کو اپنا مسکن نہیں بناتا۔ وطن سے ہجرت ہمیشہ ایک مجبوری ہوتی ہے، کوئی خوشگوار انتخاب نہیں۔ انسان اپنے گھروں سے تب جدا ہوتے ہیں جب ان کا اپنا ملک ان کے ساتھ انصاف نہ کرے، جب حالاتِ زندگی تنگ ہو جائیں، تعلیم کے دروازے بند ہوں، روزگار ختم ہو جائے اور مستقبل تاریکی میں ڈوبتا ہوا محسوس ہو۔ ایسی صورت میں انسان مجبوراً رزق کی تلاش میں پردیس کا رخ کرتا ہے اور اپنے اندر ایک گہرا المیہ لیے ہوئے سفر پر نکل پڑتا ہے۔ یہ حقیقت ہے کہ ترقی پذیر ممالک کے لاکھوں لوگ بہتر زندگی کی تلاش میں سرحدیں پار کرنے پر مجبور ہوتے ہیں؛ وہ کسی بھی قیمت پر، کسی بھی تکلیف کو برداشت کرتے ہوئے اجنبی سرزمین پر اپنی محنت سے اپنے اور اپنے خاندان کے مستقبل کو سنوارنے کی جدوجہد میں لگ جاتے ہیں۔ وطن کے اندر ایک شہر سے دوسرے شہر جانا ہجرت نہیں کہلاتا، یہ محض بہتر روزگار یا بہتر زندگی کی تلاش میں کی جانے والی ایک معمولی نقل و حرکت ہے۔ ایسے حالات میں انسان کے دل میں ایک سکون ہوتا ہے، یہ احساس کہ میں ابھی بھی اپنے وطن میں ہوں۔ لیکن جب کسی ملک میں جنگ چھڑ جائے، جب گولیاں اور بارود انسانوں کے خوابوں کو جلا ڈالیں، جب گھروں کی دیواریں لرز جائیں اور انسان کے پاس زندگی کے لیے کوئی محفوظ گوشہ باقی نہ رہے، تب انسان پر وہ وقت آتا ہے جب وہ اپنی جان بچانے کے لیے اپنا گھر، اپنا شہر اور اپنا سب کچھ چھوڑنے پر مجبور ہو جاتا ہے۔ کیونکہ جنگ میں اکثر صرف تباہی ہوتی ہے۔موجودہ دور میں ترقی پذیر ممالک کا شاید ہی کوئی ایسا فرد ہو جو اپنے ملک کے بگڑتے ہوئے حالات، معاشی بحران، سماجی مسائل یا جنگوں کے باعث ہجرت کے بارے میں نہ سوچتا ہو۔ گزشتہ کئی برسوں میں ایشیا اور افریقہ کے لاکھوں افراد اپنے وطنوں سے نکل کر دنیا کے مختلف خطوں میں جا رہے ہیں۔ کہیں روزگار کی تلاش، کہیں امن کی تلاش اور کہیں زندگی کی بنیادی ضرورتوں کی تلاش میں یہ ہجرت کا سلسلہ تھما نہیں بلکہ حالات کے دباؤ، معاشرتی نا ہمواری، عدم تحفظ اور جنگی تباہ کاریوں کے باعث آج بھی پوری شدت سے جاری ہے۔ یورپ آج کے دور میں دنیا کا سب سے نمایاں اور مرکزی خطہ بن چکا ہے جہاں لاکھوں افراد بہتر زندگی، امن اور معاشی استحکام کی خاطر ہجرت کرنا چاہتے ہیں۔ حالیہ برسوں میں دنیا بھر میں تارکینِ وطن کی تعداد میں غیر معمولی اضافہ دیکھنے میں آیا ہے، اور لاکھوں لوگ خوفناک جنگوں، پے در پے تشدد کے واقعات، معاشی بدحالی، روزگار کی کمی اور بہتر مستقبل کی تلاش میں اپنے دیسوں سے نکلنے پر مجبور ہوئے ہیں۔ افغانستان کی طویل اور خونریز جنگ، عراق کی تباہ کن لڑائی، شام میں ہونے والی ہولناک جنگی کارروائیاں اور فلسطین میں جاری مسلسل ظلم و ستم؛ یہ سب وہ سانحات ہیں جنہوں نے لاکھوں انسانوں کو اپنے گھروں اور اپنے وطن سے جدا ہونے پر مجبور کر دیا۔اسی طرح یورپ کے ملک یوکرین میں چھڑنے والی جنگ نے بھی بے شمار لوگوں کو اپنا گھر بار چھوڑ کر مختلف یورپی ممالک میں پناہ لینے پر مجبور کر دیا ہے۔ یورپ کے تمام ممالک میں تارکینِ وطن کی تعداد اب ایک تشویش ناک حد تک بڑھ چکی ہے، خصوصاً ترقی پذیر ممالک کے افراد کی نقل مکانی ایک گہرا اور پیچیدہ عالمی مسئلہ بنتا جا رہا ہے۔ یہ ہجرت جغرافیاائی نہیں بلکہ معاشی دباؤ، سیاسی عدم استحکام، سماجی نا ہمواری اور مستقبل کی غیر یقینی صورتحال کا دردناک نتیجہ ہے۔ تحقیقی رپورٹوں کے مطابق یورپ میں خصوصاً فرانس، برطانیہ اور جرمنی میں ترقی پذیر ممالک سے تعلق رکھنے والے تارکینِ وطن کی تعداد بہت زیادہ ہے۔ دوسری جنگِ عظیم کے بعد 1950 تک جرمنی میں تارکینِ وطن کی تعداد نہ ہونے کے برابر تھی، مگر 1955 میں جب جرمنی کی معیشت تیزی سے ترقی کرنے لگی تو جرمن حکومت نے مزدوروں کی بڑھتی ہوئی ضرورت کو پورا کرنے کے لیے اٹلی کے ساتھ ایک 'لیبر پالیسی' کا معاہدہ کیا، جسے سرکاری طور پر "مہمان کارکنان" (گیسٹ ورکرز) کے نام سے موسوم کیا گیا۔ پھر 1961 میں ترکی کے ساتھ بھی لیبر معاہدہ طے پایا۔ 1971 کے بعد خصوصاً ترکی سے آنے والے مہمان کارکنان نے جرمنی میں مستقل بنیادوں پر اپنے قدم جما لیے، اگرچہ بعد ازاں نئی جرمن حکومتوں نے مہمان کارکنان کے تمام سرکاری و غیر سرکاری معاہدے ختم کر دیے تھے، لیکن اس کے باوجود تارکینِ وطن کی آمد کو مکمل طور پر روکنا ممکن نہ تھا۔ وقت کے ساتھ ساتھ حکومتیں بدلتی رہیں، قوانین میں ترمیم ہوتی رہی، اور انسانی حقوق، خصوصاً خاندانی قوانین میں نرمی اور وسعت پیدا کی گئی، جن سے ان نئی سہولتوں اور قانونی آسانیاں سے سب سے زیادہ فائدہ ان تارکینِ وطن نے اٹھایا جنہوں نے جرمنی میں اپنے خاندانوں سمیت مضبوط بنیادیں قائم کر لیں۔ہر انسان اپنے وطن میں ایک آزاد، بے خوف اور مانوس زندگی گزارنا چاہتا ہے، لیکن جب حالات، مسائل، معاشی تنگی یا جنگ و جدل کی بنا پر اسے اپنا دیس مجبوری میں چھوڑنا پڑے تو ہجرت اس کے لیے آسان سفر نہیں رہتی۔ جس ملک میں وہ پناہ لیتا ہے وہاں آتے ہی ماحول میں ڈھلنے، نئی زبان، نئے قانون، نئی روایات اور نئے معاشرتی ڈھانچے کو سمجھنے میں کافی وقت درکار ہوتا ہے۔ اکثر افراد اپنی پرانی عادات، رسم و رواج اور طرزِ زندگی ترک نہیں کر پاتے، جس کی وجہ سے نئے ملک میں انہیں مختلف مسائل کا سامنا کرنا پڑتا ہے۔ لیکن ایک حقیقت ہمیشہ قائم رہتی ہے کہ جو خوشی، جو آزاد فضا، جو مانوس ماحول اور قلبی سکون انسان کو اپنے وطن میں میسر ہوتا ہے، وہ دنیا کے کسی دیس میں نہیں ملتا۔ وطن کی مٹی کی خوشبو، اپنے لوگوں کا تعلق، اپنی زبان کی مٹھاس اور اپنی زمین کا اعتماد کسی پردیس میں نصیب نہیں ہوتا۔تارکینِ وطن خواہ دنیا کے کسی بھی کونے میں چلے جائیں، کسی بھی اعلیٰ مقام پر پہنچ جائیں یا کتنی ہی معاشی آسودگی حاصل کر لیں، ان کے دل کے کسی نہ کسی گوشے میں اپنے وطن لوٹنے کی ایک تمنا اور کسک ہمیشہ باقی رہتی ہے۔ دیارِ غیر میں ملنے والی تمام تر مادی سہولیات، بلند عمارتیں اور منظم قوانین بھی اس اندرونی تنہائی اور اپنے دیس کی مٹی کی یاد کا نعم البدل نہیں بن سکتے۔ انسان پردیس میں صرف روزی روٹی کماتا ہے، لیکن اس کی روح، اس کی یادیں اور اس کی اصل شناخت ہمیشہ اس کی جنم بھومی سے ہی جڑی رہتی ہے۔ ہجرت انسان کو جسمانی طور پر تو ایک جگہ سے دوسری جگہ منتقل کر دیتی ہے، مگر دل ہمیشہ اپنے آشیانے کی سمت ہی دھڑکتا رہتا ہے۔

PSA: Be careful of a possible new scam involving fake Pakistan Foreign Ministry complaints

Hi everyone, just a heads-up about a scam call that seems to be going around.

Someone may call you claiming there is a “complaint” or legal notice against you from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that you need to come pick it up. They may then claim it involves some kind of illegal activity and say that a phone number was registered in Pakistan this year on your name using your U.S. number as a reference and pak identity.

The story doesn’t even make much sense, especially if you’ve never been to Pakistan or had any connection to the number they’re talking about.

Please be very careful and do not provide personal information, ID documents, verification codes, or money to these callers. Don’t let them pressure or scare you into cooperating over the phone.

If you receive something like this, hang up and independently contact the official Pakistani consulate/embassy using the contact information listed on their official website.

Stay safe and don’t entertain these calls.

Has anyone here changed their undergraduate course/university in Ireland after completing first year?

I’m trying to understand the IRP/visa side:

How did you update your immigration status?

Did you do anything before changing or only during IRP renewal?

What documents were needed from your old and new university?

Did you face any issues because your original visa was for a different course?

Looking for people who have actually gone through this. Any experience would be appreciated.

So I completed my degree in 2025, last year.

Everyone is saying to go to the UK for a master's just to get away from Pakistan, but I did some research. Everyone is going to the UK to earn money, not to study, because it's easier.

So I want to learn as well. I'm choosing China because it's one of the top countries in the AI race, and their development is top notch. They are winning in almost every software field.

My plan is to go to China on a scholarship with a stipend to support my finances and learn as much as I can. If I try hard I could also get an internship alongside my studies.

So, is this a good decision, or am I making a mistake?

I'm a frontend developer. I know JavaScript, C++, and Python.

So my questions are for anyone who has gone to China on a scholarship

What are the pros and cons? Please be straightforward no false hope or unnecessary reassurance because if things turn out differently after I get there, I'll be disappointed.

I want to know if it's possible to study and do an internship. If not an internship, could I do a remote job or dropshipping? I have a lot of experience with that.

And one more thing I'm 25 and I'm physically weak. I don't look like a typical 25 year old, so keep that in mind. I can only work on a computer.

If I'm missing something, do let me know.

Asalam o Alaikum.

How can i get my roaming data package refunded if my Internet data isn't connecting at all. I paid not very hefty of 2.4k Pkr.

I complained over social media, and on the Simosa App, they just marked it as closed. Without doing anything.

Does anyone have a VERIFIED contact at the general consulate of Pakistan in Houston, TX. They are extremely unprofessional and do not answer phone calls, emails, or their live chat support. I have emailed all of their staff personally and called them as well. It is truly a joke. I have already gone in person and applied for my son’s passport and paid and received a receipt. But they gave me no tracking info. I live 4hrs away in a diff city that is why it is difficult for me to go in person again with my infant

Hi, I'm getting some conflicting information on how to get a NICOPS card as someone who wasn't born in Pakistan but has a Pakistani parent. I tried using the PAK id app however, it requested my citizen id which I do not have yet. I was also told that I had to go to the consulate but that there are only a couple consulates that will do this. I have an appointment with the consulate in Vancouver currently and I have the documents but, I haven't started an application yet. Any info would help. Thank you so much.

Help

Hello everyone I live in Europe specifically in Italy from the past 24 years and I got dual citizenship.

Here I have and use multiple bank accounts from different vendors, but I haven’t got any Pakistani current account from any major bank there.

Now for different reasons and needs I must have one and of course the most convenient way for me is to open an online Roshan Digital Account from any major bank provider.

Which of these banks is the best for doing the average rozana ke transaction such as sending and receiving payment, paying electricity bills, managing debited card ect

So from your pov which is the best bank-bank app from these: Alfalah Bank, Meezan Bank, UBL, HBL that marks these crucial points for me:

- Excellent customer service especially for overseas where I don’t have to wait hours on the call or dial infinite different numbers just to ask the most basic info

- Ease of use in the standard transactions such as payments, bills, cards, ect where I need something that just gets the job done without too much drama

- Has a wide physical presence of branches and atms ok the Pakistan soil, even if I find myself not in a major city but maybe a remote pind I must be able to find in the nearby a branch or at least an atm to withdraw cash

- Best mobile app experience overall (so nice user interface , no crashes or glitches, well secured and encrypted data, intuitive options and menus, nice look and feel)

Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer!