U.S. visa applications have increased steadily since global travel resumed, and the recovery has now shifted into expansion. The U.S. Department of State’s own workload tables show that in FY2024, consular sections handled 14.25 million non-immigrant visa applications worldwide and issued 10.97 million visas; both figures are higher than the pre-COVID benchmark of 11.73 million applications and 8.74 million issuances in FY2019. In other words, activity is +21% compared to non-immigrant visa applications and +25% on issuances, confirming that demand has not only returned but also exceeded pre-pandemic levels. 

Since FY2019, the Visa Office reports at the application level (not just workload actions), which more accurately captures final outcomes in a fiscal year. That methodology change and the State Department’s pandemic-era service suspension and phased restart explain the sharp 2020–2022 dip and underscore why the 2023–2024 performance represents a genuine, sustained recovery rather than a one-off spike.

US Visa Statistics During 2024-2023: Post-Pandemic Expansion

After the sharp rebound of 2022, U.S. non-immigrant visa issuances continued to expand through 2024. Volumes surpassed the 10-million mark in 2023 and accelerated further in 2024, reflecting restored consular capacity, pent-up demand from the pandemic years, and renewed global mobility for tourism, study, and work. The uptick suggests normalization toward (and in some markets, beyond) late-2010s levels.

U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa Issuances (2024–2023)

2024- 10,969,936 visas issued

Approvals climbed to nearly 11 million, marking another year of growth. Expanded appointment availability and operational efficiencies at high-volume posts helped push totals higher, signaling a mature recovery and sustained travel appetite.

2023- 10,438,327 visas issued

Rising above 10.4 million, issuances reflected stabilized interview pipelines, broader waivers where available, and strong demand across visitor and student categories as backlogs eased.

2024 data 

B-1 Visa (Business Visitor) 2024

In FY 2024, U.S. consulates processed a total of 40,031 B-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 31,544 visas were issued

• 8,487 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 78.8% and a refusal rate of 21.2%.

Business travel remained resilient in 2024, with routine interview capacity largely restored. Refusals continued to stem mainly from 214(b) ties/intent findings and documentation gaps, while approvals reflected steady demand for time-sensitive corporate travel.

Africa

• Kenya- 468

• South Africa- 304

• Sudan- 164

• Tanzania- 104

• Ethiopia- 90

B-1 traffic concentrates in East & Southern Africa, with Kenya and South Africa as regional business hubs; Sudan’s spike likely reflects project- or relocation-driven travel.

Asia

• Philippines- 4,991

• China (mainland)- 3,101

• Malaysia- 890

• Indonesia- 609

• India- 591

Southeast Asia leads 2024 B-1 volumes (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia), while China and India show strong corporate flows as interview capacity stayed high.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 1,552

• Romania- 481

• Netherlands- 434

• Ukraine- 300

• Bosnia and Herzegovina- 213

The UK dominates, with sizable activity from the Netherlands and Romania; Ukraine remains elevated amid displacement-related travel and business continuity moves.

North America

• Mexico- 4,846

• Cuba- 1,083

• Nicaragua- 608

• Dominican Republic- 438

• Jamaica- 279

Mexico towers over the region. Caribbean/Central American posts (Cuba, Nicaragua, DR, Jamaica) contribute robust volumes as routine business travel normalizes.

Oceania

• Nauru- 57

• Australia- 44

• Papua New Guinea- 40

• New Zealand- 17

• Fiji- 2

Small overall but project-driven; Nauru and PNG stand out relative to population size, likely tied to specific industry and government contracts.

South America

• Brazil- 3,078

• Peru- 611

• Ecuador- 319

• Colombia- 302

• Chile- 216

Brazil dominates B-1 flows, with Andean markets (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile) showing strong corporate and technical travel demand.

B-1/B-2 Visa (Combination Visitor) 2024

In FY 2024, U.S. consulates processed a total of 8,995,108 B1/B2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 6,498,006 visas were issued

• 2,497,104 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 72.2% and a refusal rate of 27.8%. With global travel firmly normalized, B1/B2 volumes remained very high. Approval rates dipped versus 2023 as demand outpaced interview slots in some posts and 214(b) ties/intent scrutiny stayed elevated, especially in high-growth markets.

Africa

• Nigeria- 72,463

• Egypt- 66,620

• South Africa- 45,638

• Morocco- 30,677

• Ghana- 21,937

Demand is led by Nigeria and Egypt, with South Africa a major hub. North/West Africa (Morocco, Ghana) rounds out a strong top tier as routine travel fully normalized.

Asia

• India- 898,754

• China (mainland)- 645,977

• Philippines- 152,133

• Vietnam- 118,263

• Pakistan- 107,316

Asia dominates globally, driven by India and China. Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam) and Pakistan contribute very large volumes as consular capacity stayed high.

Europe

• Turkey- 110,971

• Romania- 77,820

• Russia- 46,804

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 32,348

• Ukraine- 31,822

Volumes concentrate in Turkey and Eastern Europe (Romania, Russia, Ukraine), with the UK leading Western Europe.

North America

• Dominican Republic- 152,010

• Jamaica- 83,957

• Guatemala- 81,945

• Costa Rica- 78,579

• Honduras- 65,091

Region is powered by Central America and the Caribbean; DR tops the list, with several posts clearing large backlogs and sustaining tourism/business flows.

Oceania

• Australia- 9,802

• Fiji- 2,925

• New Zealand- 2,252

• Tonga- 874

• Samoa- 713
  

Overall volumes are small; Australia accounts for the majority, with steady flows from Fiji and New Zealand.

South America

• Brazil- 1,114,612

• Colombia- 437,463

• Argentina- 272,762

• Ecuador- 228,250

• Peru- 132,526
  

South America is dominated by Brazil, with Colombia and Argentina next; Andean posts (Ecuador, Peru) show sustained, high demand.

B-2 Visa (Tourist Visitor) 2024

In FY 2024, U.S. consulates processed a total of 21,577 B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 12,072 visas were issued

• 9,505 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 55.9% and a refusal rate of 44.1%.

Pure tourism cases faced tighter 214(b) scrutiny than combined B1/B2, with many posts prioritizing high-demand categories, keeping B-2 approval rates lower despite broadly normalized travel.

Africa

• Kenya- 326

• Sierra Leone- 183

• Cameroon- 44

• South Africa- 13

• Ghana- 8

Pure-tourism issuances are narrow and concentrated, led by Kenya and Sierra Leone. Most other posts show very small volumes as many leisure travelers shifted to B1/B2 or faced 214(b) scrutiny.

Asia

• Vietnam- 992

• Thailand- 340

• India- 261

• Israel- 193

• China (mainland)- 160
  

Vietnam and Thailand dominate Asia’s B-2 traffic, reflecting robust leisure pipelines. India and China see significant but lower B-2 relative to their much larger B1/B2 totals.

Europe

• Spain- 218

• Finland- 45

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 42

• Sweden- 26

• Turkey- 15

Europe’s B-2 volumes remain modest overall; Spain stands out, while Northern/Western Europe contributes small but steady tourist issuances.

North America

• Cuba- 7,668

• Jamaica- 125

• Honduras- 57

• Mexico- 42

• Bahamas- 36

Cuba heavily leads regional B-2 issuances, with Jamaica, Honduras, and Mexico far behind—suggesting country-specific travel patterns and consular prioritization.

Oceania

• Australia- 9

• Papua New Guinea- 8

• Nauru- 5

• New Zealand- 2

• Fiji- 0

Very small B-2 volumes across Oceania; most leisure travel is processed as B1/B2, leaving few pure-tourism cases.

South America

• Argentina- 484

• Venezuela- 152

• Brazil- 37

• Chile- 23

• Colombia- 19
  

Argentina leads by a wide margin, with Venezuela next. Elsewhere, B-2 remains comparatively limited as visitors are channeled to B1/B2 and posts manage demand via combined categories.

F-1 Visa (Student Visa) 2024

In FY 2024, U.S. consulates processed a total of 679,290 F-1 student visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 400,737 visas were issued

• 278,553 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 59.0% and a refusal rate of 41.0%. Student demand stayed strong but approval rates tightened versus 2023 as high-volume posts faced capacity constraints and closer 214(b) scrutiny on ties and finances, especially in rapidly growing markets.

Africa

• Nigeria- 6,175

• Ghana- 5,193

• Kenya- 1,902

• Ethiopia- 1,804

• Zimbabwe- 1,526

West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana) dominates student flows, with strong pipelines from East/Southern Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe) as counseling networks and U.S. graduate programs pull demand.

Asia

• India- 86,067

• China (mainland)- 82,654

• Vietnam- 18,454

• Korea, South- 14,786

• Nepal- 13,184

Asia leads globally. India and China account for the majority of issuances; Vietnam, South Korea, and Nepal form the next tier, reflecting large undergraduate and STEM graduate cohorts.

Europe

• France- 7,553

• Italy- 6,534

• Germany- 5,878

• Spain- 4,842

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 4,655

Western Europe supplies broad, steady demand centered on major economies with strong research links and exchange agreements.

North America

• Mexico- 6,422

• Dominican Republic- 1,255

• Jamaica- 1,131

• Guatemala- 941

• Honduras- 811

Mexico anchors the region’s student flows, while Caribbean and Central American posts contribute mid-sized cohorts as counseling capacity and scholarship programs expand.

Oceania

• Australia- 2,075

• New Zealand- 661

• Papua New Guinea- 151

• Fiji- 23

• Tonga- 10

Volumes are modest overall and concentrated in Australia and New Zealand; the Pacific Islands produce smaller, program-specific cohorts.

South America

• Brazil- 7,431

• Colombia- 3,956

• Peru- 2,516

• Ecuador- 2,011

• Argentina- 1,997

Brazil remains the clear leader, with strong growth across the Andean region (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador) and a solid pipeline from Argentina.

H-1B Visa (Speciality Occupations) 2024

In FY 2024, U.S. consulates processed a total of 225,957 H-1B visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 219,659 visas were issued

• 6,298 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 97.21% and a refusal rate of 2.79%.

H-1B outcomes remained exceptionally strong in 2024 as employer demand stayed high and posts operated at (or above) steady-state capacity; most refusals continued to be procedural (221(g) or documentation) rather than substantive denials.

Africa

• Nigeria- 880

• Ghana- 497

• Egypt- 363

• Kenya- 319

• South Africa- 208
  

Nigeria and Ghana anchor Africa’s skilled-worker pipeline; Egypt and Kenya follow with tech/engineering talent, while South Africa contributes a steady professional cohort.

Asia

• India- 150,647

• China (mainland)- 31,735

• Philippines- 3,562

• Korea, South- 2,289

• Taiwan- 1,830

Asia overwhelmingly dominates H-1B issuances—driven by India and China—with sizable STEM flows from the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 1,462

• France- 974

• Spain- 861

• Italy- 798

• Germany- 771

Western Europe supplies the largest European cohorts, complemented by strong employer ties and multinational transfers.

North America

• Mexico- 1,954

• Jamaica- 478

• Dominican Republic- 194

• Bahamas- 160

• Honduras- 145

Outside Mexico’s large volume, the region’s totals are modest, led by Caribbean markets with established U.S. employer links.

Oceania

• Australia- 509

• New Zealand- 166

• Fiji- 3

• Papua New Guinea- 1

• Solomon Islands- 1

H-1B activity is concentrated in Australia and New Zealand; the rest of Oceania records only isolated cases.

South America

• Brazil- 1,801

• Colombia- 959

• Chile- 488

• Peru- 335

• Argentina- 325

Brazil leads South America by a wide margin, with strong professional flows from Colombia and the Andean posts as hiring rebounded in 2024.

K-1 Visa (Fiancé(e) Visa) 2024

In FY 2024, U.S. consulates processed a total of 53,709 K-1 fiancé(e) visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 47,579 visas were issued

• 6,130 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 88.6% and a refusal rate of 11.4%.

With interview capacity stabilized across most posts, K-1 approvals remained high in 2024 as backlogs eased and case preparation improved; refusals were primarily due to documentary gaps or relationship/eligibility findings rather than systemic constraints.

Africa

• Nigeria- 984

• Ethiopia- 780

• Ghana- 505

• Kenya- 410

• Egypt- 333

West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana) and East/North Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt) drive the region, reflecting large U.S. diaspora links and resumed routine processing at major posts.

Asia

• Philippines- 10,228

• Vietnam- 2,208

• Thailand- 1,201

• India- 1,128

• China (mainland)- 602

Southeast Asia dominates K-1 flow, led by the Philippines; Vietnam and Thailand remain strong pipelines, with India and China forming a sizable second tier.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 1,172

• Russia- 479

• Turkey- 331

• Germany- 262

• France- 156

The UK leads Western Europe; Russia and Turkey reflect elevated Eastern flows, while Germany and France anchor steady Western demand.

North America

• Mexico- 4,180

• Dominican Republic- 1,969

• Canada- 711

• Jamaica- 615

• Honduras- 420

North America is centered on Mexico and the Caribbean; DR’s very high volume mirrors deep family ties and efficient scheduling.

Oceania

• Australia- 239

• New Zealand- 64

• Fiji- 18

• Tonga- 5

• Samoa- 2

Volumes are modest overall and concentrated in Australia/NZ; the rest of the Pacific contributes small, case-specific streams.

South America

• Colombia- 1,863

• Brazil- 1,193

• Peru- 550

• Ecuador- 435

• Venezuela- 367

Colombia leads the region, with Brazil close behind; the Andean corridor (Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela) supplies steady fiancé(e) flows tied to large diaspora communities.

B-1 Visa (Business Visitor) 2023

In FY 2023, U.S. consulates processed a total of 34,979 B-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 29,286 visas were issued

• 5,693 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 83.7% and a refusal rate of 16.3%.

Business travel continued to rebound, with most posts restoring routine interview capacity and prioritizing time-sensitive trips, leading to higher volumes and solid approval rates compared with earlier pandemic years.

Africa

• Kenya- 244

• Sudan- 188

• South Africa- 187

• Egypt- 114

• Tanzania- 110

Africa’s B-1 activity concentrates in East & Southern Africa, with Kenya out front and South Africa/Sudan close behind as regional business hubs reopened.

Asia

• Philippines- 5,251

• China (mainland)- 1,472

•  Malaysia- 786

• Indonesia- 719

• India- 579

 Asia’s B-1 volumes are led by Southeast Asia-especially the Philippines-followed by a strong recovery in China and steady corporate traffic in Malaysia, Indonesia, and India.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 1,674

• Netherlands- 769

• Romania- 623

• Croatia- 423

• Ukraine- 298

Europe’s leaders reflect major corporate links (UK, Netherlands) and robust flows from Eastern Europe (Romania, Croatia, Ukraine) as projects resumed.

North America

• Mexico- 3,846

• Cuba- 562

• Nicaragua- 380

• Dominican Republic- 310

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines- 302

North America is dominated by Mexico, with notable Caribbean/Central America peaks as posts ramped up routine business travel interviews.

Oceania

• Australia- 71

• New Zealand- 32

• Papua New Guinea- 20

• Fiji- 6

• Tonga- 2

Oceania remains modest overall, centered on Australia and New Zealand with small but steady flows elsewhere.

South America

• Brazil- 3,029

• Peru- 630

• Colombia- 235

• Ecuador- 230

• Paraguay- 106

South America is overwhelmingly driven by Brazil, with Peru a distant second and Andean markets (Colombia, Ecuador) contributing meaningful volumes.

B-1/B-2 Visa (Combination Visitor) 2023

In FY 2023, U.S. consulates processed a total of 7,745,109 B1/B2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 5,902,426 visas were issued

• 1,842,683 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 76.2% and a refusal rate of 23.8%.

With global travel fully rebounding and appointment capacity expanded, B1/B2 demand surged across major posts. Approval rates settled near long-run norms, while refusals largely reflected 214(b) ties/intent findings and documentation gaps in high-volume markets.

Africa

• Nigeria- 97,041

• Egypt- 92,998

• South Africa- 52,112

• Ghana- 24,791

• Morocco- 24,532

Africa’s B1/B2 demand is led by Nigeria and Egypt, with South Africa a distant third; West/North African posts (Ghana, Morocco) round out the top tier as routine travel fully resumed.

Asia

• India- 735,401

• China (mainland)- 267,027

• Israel- 174,427

• Philippines- 134,907

• Vietnam- 110,141

Asia overwhelmingly dominates, driven by India and China; strong flows from Israel and Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam) reflect restored tourism and business travel.

Europe

• Turkey- 103,225

• Russia- 54,114

• Romania- 46,733

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 32,832

• Ukraine- 26,009

Europe’s volumes are concentrated in Turkey and Eastern Europe (Russia, Romania, Ukraine), with the UK the largest Western European source.

North America

• Dominican Republic- 115,762

• Costa Rica- 76,003

• Honduras- 73,624

• Guatemala- 73,216

• Jamaica- 61,088

North America is driven by Central America and the Caribbean, where backlogs cleared and tourism/business trips rebounded sharply.

Oceania

• Australia- 10,247

• Fiji- 3,156

• New Zealand- 2,431

• Samoa- 1,098

• Tonga- 777

Oceania remains small overall; Australia accounts for the majority, with steady contributions from Fiji and New Zealand.

South America

• Brazil- 1,009,231

• Colombia- 441,223

• Argentina- 273,206

• Ecuador- 263,180

• Peru- 90,808

South America is dominated by Brazil’s outsized totals, followed by Colombia and Argentina; the Andean corridor (Ecuador, Peru) shows strong post-pandemic recovery.

B-2 Visa (Tourist Visitor) 2023 

In FY 2023, U.S. consulates processed a total of 12,442 B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 8,085 visas were issued

• 4,357 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 65.0% and a refusal rate of 35.0%.

Pure tourism cases remained comparatively scrutinized versus combined B1/B2, with many refusals tied to 214(b) (ties/intent) findings as posts prioritized high-demand categories and managed uneven reopening backlogs.

Africa

• Congo, Republic of the - 561

• Mozambique - 414

• Angola - 202

• Sierra Leone - 202

• Rwanda - 28

B-2 issuances in Africa are highly concentrated at a few posts-particularly Brazzaville and Maputo, while most countries saw very small volumes as tourism-only cases remained limited.

Asia

• Israel - 1,929

• Thailand - 167

• China (mainland) - 141

• Vietnam - 122

• India - 114

Asia’s B-2 traffic is led by Israel, with Thailand and parts of East/Southeast Asia showing moderate volumes as leisure travel cautiously resumed.

Europe

• Ukraine - 503

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland - 66

• Azerbaijan - 17

• Ireland - 17

• Belgium - 9

Europe’s totals are dominated by Ukraine (special circumstances), with otherwise low B-2 activity across the region during phased consular recovery.

North America

• Cuba - 311

• Mexico - 90

• Honduras - 60

• Jamaica - 59

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - 23

North America shows a Cuba-driven peak, followed by Mexico and Northern Caribbean posts as limited tourist processing returned.

Oceania

• New Zealand - 17

• Samoa - 16

• Australia - 10

• Tonga - 3

• Fiji - 0

Oceania remained small overall; only a handful of posts processed noticeable B-2 volumes.

South America

• Chile - 65

• Brazil - 32

• Argentina - 16

• Ecuador - 13

• Colombia - 12

South America’s B-2 flows were modest, with Chile leading and Brazil second, reflecting uneven reopening and prioritization away from pure tourism in 2022.

F-1 Visa (Student Visa) 2023

In FY 2022, U.S. consulates processed a total of 631,807 F-1 student visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 411,131 visas were issued

• 220,676 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 65.1% and a refusal rate of 34.9%. Student mobility rebounded sharply as posts reopened, but refusal rates remained elevated versus pre-pandemic norms due to intense demand, 214(b) ties/sufficiency review, and uneven consular capacity in high-volume markets.

Africa

• Nigeria- 7,466

• Ghana- 5,043

• Ethiopia- 1,816

• Kenya- 1,741

• Egypt- 1,275

Africa’s F-1 flow is led by Nigeria and Ghana, with East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya) and Egypt forming a strong second tier of outbound students.

Asia

• India- 130,730

• China (mainland)- 85,950

• Korea, South- 16,105

• Vietnam- 14,575

• Japan- 9,692

Asia dominates F-1 issuances, driven by India and China; East/Southeast Asia (Korea, Vietnam, Japan) adds deep, steady pipelines.

Europe

• France- 6,949

• Italy- 6,165

• Germany- 5,870

• Spain- 4,808

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 4,409

Western Europe accounts for the largest European cohorts, reflecting dense university partnerships and high graduate-study demand.

North America

• Mexico- 7,234

• Dominican Republic- 1,388

• Jamaica- 1,317

• Bahamas- 1,107

• Honduras- 844

North America is anchored by Mexico, with the Caribbean providing several mid-sized student sources.

Oceania

• Australia- 1,997

• New Zealand- 682

• Papua New Guinea- 91

• Fiji- 41

• Tonga- 11

Oceania remains small overall, concentrated in Australia and New Zealand.

South America

• Brazil- 8,310

• Colombia- 4,345

• Chile- 2,660

• Peru- 2,465

• Ecuador- 1,999

South America is led by Brazil and Colombia, with the Andean corridor (Chile, Peru, Ecuador) contributing strong, growing cohorts.

H-1B Visa (Speciality Occupations) 2023

In FY 2023, U.S. consulates processed a total of 271,532 H-1B visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 265,777 visas were issued

• 5,755 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 97.9% and a refusal rate of 2.1%.

Employer demand and restored consular capacity kept H-1B outcomes highly favorable; most refusals were procedural (e.g., 221(g) follow-ups or documentation gaps) rather than substantive denials.

Africa

• Nigeria - 738

• Ghana - 394

• Egypt - 322

• Kenya - 288

• South Africa - 236

Africa’s H-1B flow is led by Nigeria and Ghana, with Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa forming a strong second tier tied to tech, healthcare, and engineering roles.

Asia

• India - 206,591

• China (mainland) - 23,482

• Philippines - 3,070

• Korea, South - 2,243

• Taiwan - 2,136

Asia overwhelmingly dominates H-1B issuances, driven by India and China, with sizable STEM pipelines from the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland - 1,540

• France - 926

• Turkey - 870

• Spain - 839

• Italy - 808

Europe’s top sources are major Western economies plus Turkey, reflecting deep employer ties and high-skill mobility to U.S. firms.

North America

• Mexico - 1,934

• Jamaica - 487

• Costa Rica - 167

• Trinidad and Tobago - 145

• Honduras - 110

North America outside Mexico is comparatively small; Mexico dominates due to proximity and established corporate networks, with the Caribbean/Central America contributing moderate volumes.

Oceania

• Australia - 607

• New Zealand - 191

• Fiji - 4

• Papua New Guinea - 1

• Samoa - 0

Oceania’s H-1B activity is modest overall, concentrated in Australia and New Zealand with negligible volumes elsewhere.

South America

• Brazil - 1,430

• Colombia - 999

• Chile - 418

• Peru - 329

• Argentina - 328

South America is led by Brazil and Colombia, with Chile and the Andean posts adding steady professional flows as hiring rebounded in 2023.

K-1 Visa (Fiancé(e) Visa) 2023

In FY 2023, U.S. consulates processed a total of 23,101 K-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 19,825 visas were issued

• 3,276 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 85.8% and a refusal rate of 14.2%.

With interview capacity largely normalized, K-1 outcomes remained strong as backlogs eased; most refusals stemmed from documentary gaps or relationship/eligibility concerns rather than systemic constraints.

Africa

• Nigeria - 462

• Ethiopia - 337

• Ghana - 230

• Morocco - 206

• Egypt - 186

Demand is concentrated in West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana) and North/East Africa (Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia). Large U.S. diaspora communities and restored interview capacity at key posts drove volumes.

Asia

• Philippines - 2,747

• Vietnam - 610

• India - 497

• Thailand - 374

• China (mainland) - 341
  

Southeast Asia dominates. The Philippines’ long-standing K-1 pipeline rebounded fastest; Vietnam and Thailand remained strong. India and China contributed sizable but smaller fiancé(e) flows relative to their B1/B2/F-1 traffic.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland - 456

• Russia - 286

• Armenia - 187

• Germany - 141

• Ukraine - 131

UK leads Western Europe. Eastern Europe (Russia, Armenia, Ukraine) shows elevated activity-partly driven by relocations and cross-border partnerships-while major EU economies (Germany) provide steady but moderate totals.

North America

• Mexico - 1,696

• Dominican Republic - 749

• Cuba - 654

• Haiti - 474

• Canada - 304

 Region is powered by Mexico and Caribbean posts with large U.S. petitioner bases. Backlog clearing and consistent appointment supply boosted DR, Cuba, and Haiti.

Oceania

• Australia - 133

• New Zealand - 39

• Fiji - 13

• Tonga - 1

• Samoa - 0

Low overall volumes; English-speaking hubs (Australia, NZ) account for nearly all issuances, reflecting smaller population bases and alternative family-immigration pathways.

South America

• Colombia - 850

• Brazil - 657

• Peru - 287

• Venezuela - 247

• Ecuador - 210

Colombia leads, followed by Brazil. Andean countries (Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador) show solid demand tied to sizable U.S. communities and resumed routine processing in 2023.

US Visa Statistics During 2020-2022: A Pandemic Analysis

U.S. non-immigrant visa issuances between 2020 and 2022 reflect the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global mobility. The data shows a historic collapse in 2020 and 2021, followed by a sharp recovery in 2022 as borders reopened and consular operations resumed.

2022- 6,815,120 visas issued
Visa applications surged back as the world reopened. Issuances not only rebounded but surpassed pre-pandemic levels, reflecting pent-up demand for work, study, and travel in the U.S. The sharp recovery underscored the resilience of international mobility following the lifting of restrictions.

2021- 2,792,083 visas issued
Visa issuances fell even further, reaching their lowest level in modern history. Ongoing travel bans, pandemic-related uncertainty, and limited processing capacity resulted in demand and approvals remaining at historic lows.

2020- 4,013,210 visas issued
Visa numbers dropped by more than half compared to 2019, marking the steepest decline in decades. With international borders closed, U.S. embassies operating at limited capacity, and strict health protocols in place, global mobility was effectively frozen.

Nationalities with the Highest Number of US Visa Issuances (2022-2020)

2022 Data

B-1 Visa (Business Visitor) 2022

In FY 2021, U.S. consulates processed a total of 25,714 B-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 21,943 visas were issued

• 3,771 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 85.3% and a refusal rate of 14.7%. Despite ongoing pandemic-era travel frictions and capacity limits at posts, business travel rebounded significantly, with most applicants approved for mission-critical and time-sensitive trips resuming.

Africa

• South Africa- 296

• Mozambique- 209

• Sudan- 108

• Egypt- 94 

• Ethiopia- 82

B-1 issuances in Africa concentrate in Southern and Northeast Africa, with South Africa and Mozambique leading, reflecting regional business hubs and energy/mining ties.

Asia

• Philippines- 3,603

• China (mainland)- 1,218

•  India- 533

• Indonesia- 446

• Malaysia- 312

Asia is showing a strong rebound in business travel, led by Southeast Asia, with large volumes from the Philippines, China, and Indian indicating a resurgence in corporate and contractor movements.

Europe

• Italy- 1,447

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 1,043

• Romania- 422

• Ukraine- 276

• Croatia- 213

Europe’s B-1 traffic is anchored by Italy and the UK, with notable flows from Eastern Europe (Romania, Ukraine, Croatia) as firms restarted cross-border projects.

North America

• Mexico- 3,122

• Nicaragua- 249

• Jamaica- 229

• Cuba- 177

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines- 167

North America is overwhelmingly driven by Mexico; Central Caribbean posts (Nicaragua, Jamaica, Cuba, St. Vincent) also show significant resumed trip volumes.

Oceania

• Australia- 58

• New Zealand- 37

• Papua New Guinea- 15

• Samoa- 4

• Fiji- 2

Oceania remains modest overall, with traffic centred on Australia and New Zealand; smaller Pacific posts see limited but steady business-linked travel.

South America

• Brazil- 2,300

• Peru- 290

• Ecuador- 190

• Colombia- 175

• Paraguay- 90

South America is dominated by Brazil, reflecting manufacturing/energy links; Andean economies (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia) provide substantial additional business travel.

B-1/B-2 Visa (Combination Visitor) 2022

In FY 2022, U.S. consulates processed a total of 4,063,202 B1/B2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 3,228,199 visas were issued

• 835,003 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 79.4% and a refusal rate of 20.6%. As posts restored routine services and cleared backlogs, B1/B2 demand surged reflecting the global return of business travel and tourism with approval rates stabilizing near pre-pandemic norms.

Africa

• Nigeria- 68,975

• Egypt- 42,964

• South Africa- 25,475

• Morocco- 15,827

• Ghana- 13,141

Africa’s B1/B2 demand is led by Nigeria and Egypt, with South Africa, Morocco, and Ghana reflecting strong travel ties and high-capacity posts.

Asia

• India- 264,515

• Israel- 125,309

• Philippines- 86,496

• Vietnam- 77,659

• China (mainland)- 68,869

Asia’s volumes are dominated by India, with large flows from Israel and Southeast Asia (Philippines, Vietnam), and a strong rebound from China.

Europe

• Turkey- 49,389

• Russia- 29,822

• Romania- 22,964

• Ukraine- 18,763

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 16,962

Europe’s traffic centers on Turkey and Eastern Europe (Russia, Romania, Ukraine), with the UK rounding out top demand.

North America

• Dominican Republic- 64,516

• Guatemala- 50,452

• Costa Rica- 48,684

• Honduras- 36,831

• El Salvador- 33,110

North America is driven by Central America and the Caribbean, with especially high volumes from the Dominican Republic and Guatemala.

Oceania

• Australia- 4,697

• Fiji- 2,167

• New Zealand- 1,438

• Papua New Guinea- 338

• Samoa- 320

Oceania remains modest overall, concentrated in Australia and Fiji, with smaller island posts contributing steady flows.

South America

• Brazil- 633,019

• Argentina- 202,479

• Ecuador- 176,325

• Colombia- 126,332

• Peru- 57,246

South America is overwhelmingly led by Brazil, with Argentina and Ecuador also generating substantial visitor traffic.

B-2 Visa (Tourist Visitor) 2022 

In FY 2022, U.S. consulates processed a total of 8,575 B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 5,905 visas were issued

• 2,670 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 68.9% and a refusal rate of 31.1%.

Standalone B-2 (tourist) travel remained more constrained than combined B1/B2 during recovery, with posts prioritizing essential travel and applying tighter scrutiny to pure tourism cases amid uneven consular capacity.

Africa

• Congo, Republic of the - 561

• Mozambique - 414

• Angola - 202

• Sierra Leone - 202

• Rwanda - 28

B-2 issuances in Africa are highly concentrated at a few posts-particularly Brazzaville and Maputo, while most countries saw very small volumes as tourism-only cases remained limited.

Asia

• Israel - 1,929

• Thailand - 167

• China (mainland) - 141

• Vietnam - 122

• India - 114

Asia’s B-2 traffic is led by Israel, with Thailand and parts of East/Southeast Asia showing moderate volumes as leisure travel cautiously resumed.

Europe

• Ukraine - 503

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland - 66

• Azerbaijan - 17

• Ireland - 17

• Belgium - 9

Europe’s totals are dominated by Ukraine (special circumstances), with otherwise low B-2 activity across the region during phased consular recovery.

North America

• Cuba - 311

• Mexico - 90

• Honduras - 60

• Jamaica - 59

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - 23

North America shows a Cuba-driven peak, followed by Mexico and Northern Caribbean posts as limited tourist processing returned.

Oceania

• New Zealand - 17

• Samoa - 16

• Australia - 10

• Tonga - 3

• Fiji - 0

Oceania remained small overall; only a handful of posts processed noticeable B-2 volumes.

South America

• Chile - 65

• Brazil - 32

• Argentina - 16

• Ecuador - 13

• Colombia - 12

South America’s B-2 flows were modest, with Chile leading and Brazil second, reflecting uneven reopening and prioritization away from pure tourism in 2022.

F-1 Visa (Student Visa) 2022

In FY 2022, U.S. consulates processed a total of 631,807 F-1 student visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 411,131 visas were issued

• 220,676 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 65.1% and a refusal rate of 34.9%.

Student mobility rebounded sharply as posts reopened, but refusal rates remained elevated versus pre-pandemic norms due to intense demand, 214(b) ties/sufficiency review, and uneven consular capacity in high-volume markets.

Africa

• Nigeria- 7,547

• Ghana- 3,331

• Ethiopia- 1,951

• South Africa- 1,480

• Egypt- 1,338

Africa’s F-1 flow is led by Anglophone and STEM hubs, with Nigeria and Ghana far ahead and strong contributions from Ethiopia, South Africa, and Egypt.

Asia

• India- 115,115

• China (mainland)- 61,894

• Korea, South- 18,066

• Vietnam- 12,330

• Japan- 11,460

Asia dominates F-1 issuances, with India and China driving the bulk and East/Southeast Asian markets (Korea, Vietnam, Japan) providing deep, steady pipelines.

Europe

• Germany- 7,248

• France- 7,025

• Italy- 5,957

• Spain- 5,518

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 4,862

Europe shows broad-based demand centered in Western Europe’s large economies and research ties with U.S. universities.

North America

• Mexico- 7,766

• Dominican Republic- 1,510

• Jamaica- 1,296

• Bahamas- 1,181

• Panama- 954

North America’s F-1 totals are dominated by Mexico, with Caribbean and Central American posts contributing meaningful student flows.

Oceania

• Australia- 1,764

• New Zealand- 597

• Papua New Guinea- 58

• Fiji- 26

• Tonga- 17

Oceania remains small but steady, concentrated in Australia and New Zealand with limited volumes elsewhere.

South America

• Brazil- 9,806

• Colombia- 7,038

• Peru- 2,642

• Chile- 2,343

• Argentina- 1,947

South America is led by Brazil and Colombia, reflecting large student cohorts and strong institutional linkages with U.S. universities.

H-1B Visa (Speciality Occupations) 2022

In FY 2022, U.S. consulates processed a total of 211,022 H-1B visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 206,002 visas were issued

• 5,020 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 97.6% and a refusal rate of 2.4%.

With posts fully resuming operations and strong employer demand, H-1B pass-through remained exceptionally high; most refusals were administrative (e.g., 221(g)) or documentation-related rather than substantive denials. 

Africa

• Nigeria- 588

• Egypt- 362

• Kenya- 320

• Ghana- 231

• South Africa- 227

Africa’s H-1B issuances are led by Nigeria and Egypt, with Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa forming a strong second tier tied to tech, healthcare, and engineering roles.

Asia

• India- 166,271

• China (mainland)- 6,070

• Philippines- 2,151

• Korea, South- 2,140

• Taiwan- 1,228

Asia overwhelmingly dominates H-1B flows, with India accounting for the vast majority; China, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan add sizable STEM-heavy pipelines.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 1,706

• France- 1,342

• Italy- 1,090

• Germany- 985

• Spain- 936

Europe’s top contributors are major Western economies, reflecting deep employer links and established high-skill mobility.

North America

• Mexico- 2,069

• Jamaica- 380

• Costa Rica- 177

• Dominican Republic- 157

• Trinidad and Tobago- 113

North America outside Mexico is relatively small; Mexico dominates due to proximity and large employer networks.

Oceania

• Australia- 518

• New Zealand- 148

• Fiji- 3

• Solomon Islands- 1

• (Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, etc.- 0)

Oceania remains modest overall, centered on Australia and New Zealand with minimal volumes elsewhere.

South America

• Brazil- 1,999

• Colombia- 926

• Argentina- 401

• Peru- 284

• Chile- 280

South America is led by Brazil and Colombia, with Argentina, Peru, and Chile rounding out steady professional flows to U.S. employers.

K-1 Visa (Fiancé(e) Visa) 2022

In FY 2022, U.S. consulates processed a total of 24,543 K-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 21,351 visas were issued

• 3,192 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 87.0% and a refusal rate of 13.0%.

As consular operations stabilized and interview capacity expanded, the K-1 program continued to facilitate family reunification with higher approval rates versus FY 2021, reflecting cleared backlogs and more routine processing.

Africa

• Nigeria - 552

• Ghana - 284

• Egypt - 214

• Ethiopia - 175

• Sierra Leone - 128

Africa’s K-1 flow is led by Nigeria and Ghana, with Egypt and Ethiopia also strong-reflecting robust petitioner communities and high-capacity posts resuming routine processing.

Asia

• Philippines - 4,968

• Vietnam - 618

•  India - 414

• China (mainland) - 355

• Thailand - 349

Asia is dominated by Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, with Vietnam, India, China, and Thailand contributing sizable fiancé(e) pipelines.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland - 675

• Ukraine - 474

• Russia - 415

• Germany - 148

• Turkey - 109

Europe’s totals are driven by the UK and war-affected Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Russia), with Germany and Turkey rounding out high-volume posts.

North America

• Mexico - 1,216

• Dominican Republic - 710

• Haiti - 623

• Canada - 413

• Cuba - 362

North America centers on Mexico and the Caribbean, where large U.S.-based diaspora communities sustain strong K-1 demand.

Oceania

• Australia - 116

• New Zealand - 32

• Fiji - 5

• Tonga - 4

• Papua New Guinea - 1

Oceania remains small overall, concentrated in Australia and New Zealand with minimal volumes elsewhere.

South America

• Colombia - 1,006

• Brazil - 666

• Venezuela - 282

• Peru - 268

• Ecuador - 139

South America is led by Colombia and Brazil, with meaningful flows from Venezuela and the Andean region as backlogs eased in 2022.

2021 Data

B-1 Visa (Business Visitor) 2021

In 2021, U.S. consulates processed a total of 15,199 B-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 13,449 visas were issued

• 1,750 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 88.5% and a refusal rate of 11.5%. Despite lingering pandemic disruptions, the B-1 category rebounded as essential business travel resumed, covering meetings, negotiations, site visits, and short-term training that couldn’t be deferred or handled remotely.

Africa

• South Africa - 305

• Nigeria - 48

• Ethiopia - 38

• Egypt - 33

• Sudan - 33

Activity was highly concentrated in South Africa, with the rest of the region showing low, pandemic-suppressed volumes.

Asia

• Philippines - 2,658

• India - 272

• Japan - 190

• Indonesia - 156

• Thailand - 101

The Philippines dominated Asia’s B-1 issuances in 2021; other large markets recovered more slowly amid travel restrictions.

Europe

• Italy - 1,771

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland - 849

• Romania - 355

• Spain - 343

• Ukraine - 237

Southern and Western Europe (especially Italy and the UK) led business travel, with Eastern Europe showing moderate volumes.

North America

• Mexico - 1,953

• Saint Vincent & the Grenadines - 307

• Nicaragua - 150

• Honduras - 116

• Costa Rica - 96

Mexico drove most B-1 issuances, reflecting proximity and essential business travel; several Caribbean/Central American markets followed.

Oceania

• Australia - 65

• New Zealand - 33

• Papua New Guinea - 2

• Fiji - 0

• Samoa - 0

Volumes were very low across Oceania due to strict regional border policies; Australia and New Zealand accounted for nearly all issuances.

South America

• Chile - 243

• Brazil - 138

• Peru - 112

• Colombia - 92

• Paraguay - 37

Chile led regional business travel in 2021, with Brazil and Peru also showing notable, though still subdued, activity during the pandemic era.

B-1/B-2 Visa (Combination Visitor) 2021

In 2021, U.S. consulates processed a total of 979,573 B-1/B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 814,957 visas were issued

• 164,616 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 83.2% and a refusal rate of 16.8%.
Despite ongoing pandemic constraints, issuance volumes and approval rates rebounded compared with 2020, signalling the early recovery of both business and leisure travel to the United States.

Africa

• Ethiopia- 14,029

• Nigeria- 13,593

• Egypt- 6,532

• Morocco- 5,276

• Ghana- 3,482

Issuances were concentrated in a handful of hubs (Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt), with the rest of the region far lower amid pandemic-era constraints.

Asia

• India- 63,406

• Israel- 50,515

• Vietnam- 26,165

• Philippines- 22,762

• Indonesia- 21,505

India and Israel dominated the region, followed by strong leisure/family travel markets in Southeast Asia.

Europe

• Turkey- 9,980

• Kazakhstan- 5,254

• Romania- 4,927

• Albania- 4,532

• Russia- 3,737

Demand clustered in Turkey and Eastern Europe/Central Asia corridors (Kazakhstan, Romania, Albania).

North America 

• Dominican Republic- 64,513

• Costa Rica- 24,747

• Honduras- 22,577

• El Salvador- 16,891

• Jamaica- 15,225
  

The Caribbean and Central America led by a wide margin, with the Dominican Republic far out in front.

Oceania 

• Australia- 1,917

• New Zealand- 628

• Samoa- 60

• Fiji- 49

• Papua New Guinea- 25

Issuances were modest overall, dominated by Australia and New Zealand.

South America 

• Ecuador- 82,061

• Peru- 46,940

• Colombia- 33,145

• Argentina- 32,821

• Bolivia- 10,317

Andean countries (Ecuador, Peru, Colombia) accounted for the bulk of the region’s B-1/B-2 issuances in 2021.

B-2 Visa (Tourist Visitor) 2021 

In 2021, U.S. consulates processed a total of 4,278 B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 2,492 visas were issued

• 1,786 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 58.3% and a refusal rate of 41.7%.
B-2 issuances in 2021 were still heavily shaped by pandemic-era travel restrictions and uneven consular reopenings, so volumes and success rates varied widely by region compared with pre-2020 norms.

Africa

• Mozambique- 93 visas issued

• Congo, Rep. of the (Brazzaville)- 83

• Angola- 31

• Sierra Leone- 22

• Egypt- 21

B-2 issuance in Africa was very subdued in 2021, reflecting pandemic-era flight availability and consular capacity constraints. Activity clustered around countries with open air links and functioning posts, rather than traditional tourism heavyweights.

Asia

• Israel- 727 visas issued

• India- 114

• Oman- 51

• Pakistan- 49

• Philippines- 30

Asia’s totals were significantly lower than in pre-COVID years. Israel led as travel corridors reopened earlier and consular services stabilised; otherwise, demand and interview backlogs kept volumes low across South and Southeast Asia.

Europe

• Ukraine- 448 visas issued

• Great Britain and Northern Ireland- 27

• Latvia- 16

• Sweden- 13

• Russia- 8 

Europe experienced limited leisure travel to the U.S. in 2021, with activity picking up only late in the year. Ukraine’s higher figure reflects concentrated processing and specific travel needs, while most Schengen markets remained muted.

North America

• Cuba- 263 visas issued

• Honduras- 60

• Jamaica- 30

• Mexico- 21

• Belize- 10

Regional proximity didn’t translate to high tourist volumes because many posts prioritised immigrant and mission-critical cases. Cuba and Honduras stand out due to family-visit travel and episodic processing windows.

Oceania

• Australia- 17 visas issued

• New Zealand- 3

• Papua New Guinea- 1

• Tonga- 0

• Samoa- 0

With strict outbound/inbound rules in Australia and New Zealand and limited flights, Oceania’s tourist issuances were near a standstill.

South America

• Argentina- 17 visas issued

• Chile- 14

• Ecuador- 8

• Venezuela- 6

• Brazil- 5

Most South American posts operated under heavy restrictions in 2021. Issuances were driven by urgent leisure/family travel, and the few posts were able to schedule limited B-2 appointments.

F-1 Visa (Student Visa) 2021

In 2021, U.S. consulates processed a total of 446,422 F-1 student visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 357,839 visas were issued

• 88,583 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 80.2% and a refusal rate of 19.8%. The strong rebound in F-1 issuances in 2021 highlights renewed international demand for U.S. higher education as consulates reopened and travel restrictions eased-especially from major sending regions in Asia and Africa.

Africa

• Nigeria- 6,311 visas issued

• Ethiopia- 1,941

• Ghana- 1,720

• Kenya- 1,545

• South Africa- 1,326

African demand was led decisively by Nigeria, with East and West African hubs (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya) also sending large student cohorts across STEM, business, and health programs.

Asia

• China (Mainland)- 90,310 visas issued

• India- 80,451

• Korea, South- 15,890

• China (Taiwan)- 7,082

• Vietnam- 6,707

Asia overwhelmingly dominated F-1 issuances. China and India together accounted for the vast majority, with Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam rounding out strong pipelines into U.S. universities.

Europe

• France- 6,232 visas issued

• Germany- 5,789

• Spain- 5,087

• Italy- 4,749

• Great Britain and Northern Ireland- 4,526

Western Europe led the region’s student flows, reflecting deep, long-standing academic ties and robust exchange at the graduate and research levels.

North America

• Mexico- 7,496 visas issued

• Panama- 1,331

• Bahamas, The- 1,290

• Dominican Republic- 1,214

• Jamaica- 907

Regional proximity and established education pathways kept Mexico far ahead, with Panama, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica forming the next tier of senders.

Oceania

• Australia- 1,502 visas issued

• New Zealand- 534

• Papua New Guinea- 37

• Fiji- 18

• Samoa- 3

Oceania’s totals are modest overall, driven mainly by Australia and New Zealand; Pacific island nations contribute smaller, steady streams.

South America

• Brazil- 7,644 visas issued

• Colombia- 4,458

• Peru- 2,299

• Chile- 1,635

• Ecuador- 1,614

Brazil led the way, with strong participation from Colombia and Peru, and solid numbers from Chile and Ecuador, reflecting growing interest in U.S. undergraduate and graduate studies.

H-1B Visa (Speciality Occupations) 2021

In 2021, U.S. consulates processed a total of 66,307 H-1B visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 61,569 visas were issued

• 4,738 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 92.9% and a refusal rate of 7.1%. The H-1B visa has remained a vital channel for U.S. employers to hire highly skilled professionals, particularly in fields such as software development, engineering, and healthcare. Despite lingering pandemic constraints, approval levels stayed high as demand for STEM talent accelerated and consular operations gradually normalised.

Africa

• Nigeria- 197

• Egypt- 101

• Ghana- 83

• Kenya- 68

• South Africa- 47

Africa’s H-1B flow is concentrated in a handful of large talent markets, led by Nigeria and Egypt, which continue to feed U.S. tech, healthcare, and engineering roles even during travel disruptions.

Asia

• India- 46,006

• China- 2,357

• South Korea- 1,218

• Philippines- 808

• Taiwan- 561 

Asia overwhelmingly dominates the H-1B landscape, with India alone accounting for the vast majority of issuances. China, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan provide additional depth, reflecting Asia’s central role in supplying IT and STEM talent to the U.S.

Europe

• Spain- 411

• Turkey- 376

• Germany- 363

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 347

• Italy- 316

Europe’s contributions are broad-based, spanning Southern, Western, and Eastern Europe. Spain’s surprising lead, along with strong flows from Turkey, Germany, the UK, and Italy, points to diverse sources of specialised talent for U.S. employers.

North America

• Mexico- 1,828

• Jamaica- 112

• Dominican Republic- 89

• Honduras- 69

• Bahamas- 63

North America’s H-1B flow is overwhelmingly dominated by Mexico, which provides far more visas than the rest of the region combined. Caribbean and Central American nations like Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras also appear, though in far smaller numbers.

Oceania

• Australia- 80 

• New Zealand- 51

• Fiji- 1

• (Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, etc.- 0)

Oceania contributes relatively little to H-1B flows. Australia and New Zealand account for nearly all visas, while Pacific Island nations have negligible representation.

South America

• Colombia- 362

• Brazil- 293

• Argentina- 134

• Ecuador- 91

• Chile- 87

South America’s H-1B supply is led by Colombia and Brazil, with Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile also sending significant numbers of skilled professionals. Political and economic shifts in the region continue to shape these mobility trends.

K-1 Visa (Fiancé(e) Visa) 2021

In FY 2021, U.S. consulates processed a total of 23,373 K-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 19,218 visas were issued

• 4,155 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 82.2% and a refusal rate of 17.8%. Despite ongoing pandemic-related backlogs and phased consular operations, the K-1 program continued to function as a key family-reunification pathway, with most applicants approved as interviews resumed on a limited basis.

Africa

• Morocco - 303

• Nigeria - 252

• Ethiopia - 215

• Kenya - 180

• Cameroon - 148

Africa’s K-1 flow clusters around Morocco and Nigeria, with East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya) also prominent, reflecting strong U.S. family ties and consular throughput in key posts.

Asia

• Philippines - 1,227

• Thailand - 752

• Vietnam - 681

• China - mainland - 666

• India - 629

Asia leads globally, driven by Southeast and East Asia; large Filipino and Thai volumes reflect robust petition pipelines and active post-pandemic consular processing.

Europe

• Europe

• Ukraine - 617

• Great Britain and Northern Ireland - 542

• Russia - 246

• Germany - 216

• Albania - 159

Europe’s K-1 issuances are headlined by Ukraine and the UK, with notable flows from Russia and Western Europe-indicative of strong transatlantic family links and high-capacity posts.

North America

• Mexico - 1,357

• Dominican Republic - 873

• Haiti - 539

• Canada - 422

• Jamaica - 287

North America is dominated by Mexico, with the Dominican Republic and Haiti also major sources-reflecting proximity, sizable petitioner communities in the U.S., and busy consulates.

Oceania

• Australia - 218

• New Zealand - 45

• Fiji - 15

• Tonga - 5

• Papua New Guinea - 2

Oceania’s totals are modest overall, concentrated in Australia and New Zealand, where English-language processing and established U.S. ties facilitate K-1 throughput.

South America

• Colombia - 496

• Brazil - 367

• Venezuela - 212

• Peru - 165

• Ecuador - 153

South America is led by Colombia and Brazil, with Venezuela’s significant total reflecting diaspora-driven petitions; Peru and Ecuador round out steady regional demand.

B-1 Visa (Business Visitor) 2020

In 2020, U.S. consulates processed a total of 21,708 B-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 17,919 visas were issued

• 3,789 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 82.6% and a refusal rate of 17.4%.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted international business travel in 2020, resulting in drastically reduced application volumes compared to previous years. Despite this, approval rates remained relatively stable, underscoring the continued importance of the B-1 visa for essential business activities such as high-level meetings, negotiations, and specialised training, even during a period of unprecedented global restrictions.

Africa

• South Africa- 199 visas issued

• Mozambique- 100 visas issued

• Sudan- 93 visas issued

• Egypt- 64 visas issued

• Congo, Rep. of the (Brazzaville)- 57 visas issued
  

In 2020, South Africa led the African region for B-1 visa issuances, though the overall numbers were far lower than pre-pandemic years due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Mozambique and Sudan followed, highlighting continued business mobility despite global disruptions. Egypt and Congo (Brazzaville) rounded out the top five, reflecting smaller but steady flows of business-related travel to the U.S.

Asia 

• Philippines- 2,336 visas issued

• India- 479 visas issued

• Malaysia- 196 visas issued

• Japan- 171 visas issued

• Indonesia- 156 visas issued

The Philippines overwhelmingly led Asia’s B-1 visa issuances, accounting for more than half of the region’s total. India followed as a major hub of business travel despite pandemic disruptions. Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia rounded out the top five, reflecting continued demand for business mobility within the Asia-Pacific region.

Europe: 

• Great Britain and Northern Ireland- 1,230 visas issued

• Ukraine- 921 visas issued

• Romania- 861 visas issued

• Italy- 647 visas issued

• Poland- 337 visas issued
  

Europe’s B-1 visas were spread across both Western and Eastern nations. The UK led, but Romania and Ukraine were close behind, showing rising business and mobility ties with the U.S.

North America:

• Mexico- 2,008 visas issued

• Dominican Republic- 220 visas issued

• Nicaragua- 211 visas issued

• Cuba- 129 visas issued

• Honduras- 123 visas issued

Mexico dominated North America’s B-1 category with over 2,000 issuances, far outpacing the rest. Caribbean and Central American nations, such as the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Cuba, also showed significant demand for short-term business travel.

Oceania

• Australia- 133 visas issued

• New Zealand- 65 visas issued

• Papua New Guinea- 16 visas issued

• Samoa- 8 visas issued

• Fiji- 2 visas issued

Oceania was led by Australia and New Zealand, which together made up the majority of issuances in the region. The smaller Pacific nations had only minimal representation, reflecting their limited business mobility needs with the U.S.

South America

• Brazil- 1,444 visas issued

• Peru- 517 visas issued

• Colombia- 243 visas issued

• Chile- 233 visas issued

• Ecuador- 192 visas issued

Brazil accounted for nearly half of South America’s B-1 visas, highlighting its economic and commercial ties with the U.S. Peru, Colombia, and Chile followed as key contributors, while Ecuador rounded out the top five.

B-1/B-2 Visa (Combination Visitor) 2020

In 2020, U.S. consulates processed a total of 3,167,451 B-1/B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 2,164,021 visas were issued

• 1,003,430 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 68.3% and a refusal rate of 31.7%. Despite the sharp decline in global mobility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the B-1/B-2 visa remained the most widely used category, serving travellers combining business and tourism purposes. Issuances dropped drastically compared to pre-pandemic years, reflecting the worldwide lockdowns and restrictions on international travel.

Africa 

1. Nigeria- 28,752

2. Egypt- 27,132

3. South Africa- 22,616

4. Morocco- 8,913

5. Ethiopia- 7,697

Demand clustered in Africa’s biggest business and travel hubs. Nigeria and Egypt alone account for almost half of the continent’s issuances, with South Africa close behind; flows are a mix of family visits, business travel, and medical tourism.

Asia 

1. India- 277,630

2. China (Mainland)- 258,409

3. Israel- 75,632

4. Philippines- 57,903

5. Vietnam- 56,808

Asia dominates globally. India and China together make up the lion’s share, reflecting deep business, education, and family links with the U.S. Israel, the Philippines, and Vietnam round out strong outbound segments.

Europe 

1. Russia- 68,619

2. Turkey- 33,973

3. Romania- 20,051

4. Ukraine- 15,817

5. Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 12,270

Eastern Europe leads volumes (Russia, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine), while the UK remains the largest Western European source. Flows are driven by business, tourism, and diaspora travel.

North America 

1. Dominican Republic- 58,066

2. Costa Rica- 36,800

3. Guatemala- 22,113

4. Honduras- 17,266

5. Trinidad & Tobago- 17,103

Outside of Mexico’s lower 2020 total, the Caribbean and Central America anchor demand, especially the Dominican Republic, reflecting close geographic, family, and employment ties to the U.S.

Oceania 

1. Australia- 4,541

2. New Zealand- 1,637

3. Fiji- 1,028

4. Samoa- 418

5. Tonga- 385

Issuances are concentrated in Australia and New Zealand, with modest volumes from Pacific Island nations, consistent with their population sizes and travel frequencies.

South America

1. Brazil- 214,428

2. Colombia- 87,162

3. Ecuador- 83,977

4. Argentina- 82,146

5. Peru- 46,099

Brazil dominates by a wide margin, while Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina form a strong second tier-reflecting business links, tourism, and large diaspora networks.

B-2 Visa (Tourist Visitor) 2020 

In 2020, U.S. consulates processed a total of 7,500 B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 5,276 visas were issued

• 2,224 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 70.3% and a refusal rate of 29.7%.
Despite the pandemic’s travel restrictions and reduced consular operations, the B-2 visa continued to facilitate essential tourism and family visits where travel was still possible, highlighting resilient demand even in a highly constrained year.

Africa

1. Angola- 135

2. Congo (Brazzaville)- 122

3. Mozambique- 75

4. South Africa- 29

5. Togo- 25

 Aside from Angola and Congo (Braz.), volumes were very low across Africa in 2020, reflecting pandemic-era travel collapse.

Asia

1. China (Mainland)- 343

2. India- 336

3. Israel- 334

4. Thailand- 213

5. Vietnam- 103

Asia’s totals were concentrated in a handful of markets; most others were in the tens or low hundreds.

Europe

• Ukraine- 555

• Russia- 471

• Moldova- 324

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 276

• Romania- 37

Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Russia, Moldova) led the region even amid travel restrictions.

North America 

1. Cuba- 486

2. Panama- 238

3. Honduras- 112

4. Mexico- 83

5. Jamaica- 43

The Caribbean and Central America accounted for the majority of North American B-2 issuances in 2020.

Oceania

1. Australia- 13

2. Papua New Guinea- 7

3. New Zealand- 3

4. Nauru- 3

5. Samoa- 2

Extremely small counts across the Pacific islands due to border closures.

South America 

• Argentina- 36

• Peru- 32

• Colombia- 20

• Brazil- 19

• Venezuela- 17

South America’s volumes were modest, with Argentina and Peru at the top.

F-1 Visa (Student Visa) 2020

In 2020, U.S. consulates processed a total of 161,877 F-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 111,387 visas were issued

• 50,490 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 68.8% and a refusal rate of 31.2%.

Despite pandemic-era consular closures and travel restrictions, the F-1 category remained a key channel for international students, especially those with fall admissions who could travel under National Interest Exceptions or begin programs in hybrid formats.

Africa

• Nigeria- 1,233 visas issued

• Ethiopia- 551 visas issued

• South Africa- 531 visas issued

• Kenya- 511 visas issued

• Ghana- 370 visas issued

African nations, particularly Nigeria, continued to be key contributors to the U.S. student pipeline in 2020, with interest concentrated in STEM, business, and healthcare programs despite pandemic disruptions.

Asia

• India- 15,323 visas issued

• China (Mainland)- 14,436 visas issued

•  South Korea- 9,450 visas issued

• Vietnam- 5,716 visas issued

• Japan- 5,357 visas issued

Asia dominated F-1 issuances. India and China led graduate STEM enrollments, while Korea, Vietnam, and Japan sustained robust undergraduate and exchange flows.

Europe 

• Great Britain and Northern Ireland- 2,354 visas issued

• Germany- 2,331 visas issued 

• France- 2,222 visas issued

• Spain- 1,786 visas issued

• Italy- 1,650 visas issued

Western Europe showed resilient demand driven by strong English proficiency, exchange agreements, and research collaborations with U.S. universities.

North America

• Mexico- 3,093 visas issued

• Jamaica- 514 visas issued

• Bahamas, The- 446 visas issued

• Panama- 359 visas issued

• Honduras- 311 visas issued

Proximity and established community/college pathways supported steady student flows from Mexico and the Caribbean/Central America, even in a constrained travel year.

Oceania 

• Australia- 785 visas issued

• New Zealand- 345 visas issued

• Papua New Guinea- 28 visas issued

• Samoa- 5 visas issued

• Tonga- 2 visas issued

Oceania’s numbers are concentrated in Australia and New Zealand; smaller Pacific island states recorded limited but steady issuances.

South America

• Brazil- 3,618 visas issued

• Colombia- 1,912 visas issued

• Chile- 815 visas issued

• Argentina- 652 visas issued

• Peru- 596 visas issued

Brazil led regional student mobility, with Colombia and the Southern Cone contributing significant cohorts across engineering, business, and language programs.

H-1B Visa (Speciality Occupations) 2020

In 2020, U.S. consulates processed a total of 128,508 H-1B visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 124,983 visas were issued

• 3,525 applications were refused
  

This reflects an overall approval rate of 97.3% and a refusal rate of 2.7%. Despite pandemic-era disruptions, the H-1B visa remained a critical pathway for U.S. employers to hire highly skilled talent, especially in STEM, IT services, healthcare, and engineering, supporting essential projects and filling hard-to-staff roles nationwide.

Africa

• Nigeria - 231

• Egypt - 110

• South Africa - 89

• Ghana - 85

• Kenya - 83

Africa’s H-1B flow is concentrated in a handful of large talent markets, led by Nigeria and Egypt, which continue to feed U.S. tech, healthcare, and engineering roles even during travel disruptions.

Asia

• India - 94,558

• China (Mainland) - 14,600

• China (Taiwan) - 1,105

• Korea, South - 1,076

• Philippines - 649

Asia overwhelmingly dominates H-1B. India and China account for the vast majority of approvals, reflecting deep pipelines from IT services, software, semiconductors, and research.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland - 761

• France - 572

• Germany - 441

• Spain - 398

• Italy - 384

Europe’s numbers are diversified across major economies, with steady demand from engineering, finance, pharma, and research professionals.

North America

• Mexico - 1,552

• Jamaica - 89

• Canada - 55

• Dominican Republic - 53

• Bahamas - 53

Mexico dominates regional issuances; beyond that, flows are relatively small and spread across Caribbean countries.

Oceania

• Australia - 285

• New Zealand - 94

• Fiji - 2

• Solomon Islands - 1

• Papua New Guinea - 1

Oceania is led by Australia and New Zealand, which supply niche, high-skill talent; other Pacific islands experience minimal H-1B activity.

South America

• Brazil - 682

• Colombia - 313

• Venezuela - 146

• Argentina - 139

• Peru - 114

South America’s H-1B is centred on Brazil and Colombia, with consistent contributions from Venezuela, Argentina, and Peru in engineering and IT.

K-1 Visa (Fiancé(e) Visa) 2020

In 2020, U.S. consulates processed a total of 21,992 K-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 16,849 visas were issued

• 5,143 applications were refused

This reflects an approval rate of 76.7% and a refusal rate of 23.3%.
Despite severe pandemic disruptions (consular closures and travel restrictions), the K-1 program continued to function as a key family-reunification pathway, with most applicants approved once interviews resumed on a limited basis

Africa

• Nigeria- 278

• Morocco- 171

• Egypt- 146

• Ethiopia- 136

• Ghana- 117

Nigeria leads Africa by a wide margin, with sizeable flows also from North and East Africa, reflecting strong U.S. Africa family ties concentrated in a handful of consular posts.

Asia

• Philippines- 3,069

• Vietnam- 861

• India- 413

• Thailand- 343

• China (Mainland)- 284

Asia dominates worldwide K-1 volumes, led overwhelmingly by the Philippines, with significant demand from Vietnam and South/Southeast Asia despite pandemic-era disruptions.

Europe

• Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 488

• Ukraine- 357

• Russia- 277

• Germany- 154

• France- 148

Europe’s K-1 issuances cluster in a few large markets, with the UK out front and strong activity in Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Russia).

North America

• Mexico- 1,005

• Dominican Republic- 546

• Canada- 461

• Haiti- 374

• Cuba- 259

Proximity drives high volumes, Mexico is first while the Caribbean (DR, Haiti, Cuba) and Canada also contribute substantial fiancé(e) flows.

Oceania

• Australia- 171

• New Zealand- 68

• Fiji- 9

• Tonga- 2

• Samoa- 1

Oceania’s totals are modest overall, concentrated in Australia and New Zealand, with very small numbers from the Pacific Islands.

South America

• Colombia- 470

• Brazil- 431

• Peru- 166

• Venezuela- 135

• Ecuador- 101

Colombia and Brazil account for the bulk of South America’s K-1 issuances, with steady, though smaller, flows from the Andean region.

US Visa Statistics During 2018–2019: A Pre-Pandemic Analysis

Between 2015 and 2019, U.S. non-immigrant visa issuances followed a clear downward trajectory. After peaking at nearly 11 million approvals in 2015, the numbers declined year after year, falling to 8.74 million by 2019, a reduction of almost 20% over the five-year period. This steady contraction reflected shifting policies, stricter security screening, and changing global mobility patterns, all of which reshaped the pre-pandemic visa landscape.

U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa Issuances (2018–2019)

• 2019- 8,742,068 visas issued
  Issuances reached their lowest pre-pandemic level in five years, with 2.15 million fewer visas than in 2015. This marked a significant tightening phase just before the historic collapse in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic triggered global travel shutdowns.

• 2018- 9,028,026 visas issued
  Visa numbers slipped below the 9.1 million mark, continuing the downward trend. Policy adjustments, coupled with geopolitical uncertainties, began influencing demand and approval rates.

2018–2019 reflects a structural downshift (policy/vetting + macro headwinds) rather than a collapse. That set the stage for the pandemic shock and helps explain why the post-2022 recovery could surpass 2019 even without returning to mid-2010s visitor-visa highs.

Nationalities with the Highest Number of US Visa Issuances (2019- 2018)

2019 Data

B-1 Visa (Business Visitor) 2019 

In 2019, U.S. consulates processed a total of 46,921 B-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 37,418 visas were issued

• 9,080 applications were refused

• This reflects an overall approval rate of 79.7% and a refusal rate of 19.3%

The numbers underscore the significance of the B-1 visa as a gateway for short-term business travel, enabling foreign nationals to attend meetings, negotiate contracts, or participate in training programs in the United States.

Africa: 

1. South Africa- 423 visas issued 

2. Sudan- 235 visas issued 

3. Egypt- 193 visas issued 

4. Tanzania- 104 visas issued 

5. Nigeria- 79 visas issued 

Business travel from Africa was led by South Africa, followed by Sudan and Egypt. Nigeria also showed notable interest, reflecting strong commercial and diaspora links with the U.S.

Asia: 

1. Philippines- 4,911

2. Burma- 1,909

3. India- 1,042

4. Indonesia- 590

5. Malaysia- 553

Asia was the largest source of B-1 visas, with the Philippines taking the lead. India’s significant numbers reflect its growing business presence in the U.S., while Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma) also contributed strongly.

Europe: 

• Great Britain and Northern Ireland- 1,560

• Romania- 1,382

• Ukraine- 1,367

• Poland- 960

• Italy- 850
  

Europe’s B-1 visas were spread across both Western and Eastern nations. The UK led, but Romania and Ukraine were close behind, showing rising business and mobility ties with the U.S.

North America:

• Mexico- 3,740

• Cuba- 614

• El Salvador- 389

• Dominican Republic- 325

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines- 287

Mexico dominated B-1 issuances in North America, reflecting proximity and trade relations. Cuba and several Caribbean countries also had significant numbers of business travelers.

Oceania

• Australia- 201

• New Zealand- 64

• Samoa- 29

• Papua New Guinea- 17

• Fiji- 5

In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand led by a wide margin, consistent with their business ties to the U.S. Smaller Pacific nations contributed modestly.

South America

• Brazil- 3,107

• Peru- 1,389

• Colombia- 484

• Chile- 334

• Ecuador- 268

 South America was dominated by Brazil, which accounted for the majority of B-1 visas in the region. Peru also had strong demand, followed by Colombia, Chile, and Ecuador.

B-2 Visa (Tourist Visitor) 2019 

In 2019, U.S. consulates processed a total of 39,247 B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 28,829 visas were issued

• 10,418 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 73.4% and a refusal rate of 26.6%.

The B-2 visa serves as a key pathway for tourism, family visits, and medical travel to the United States. Its role highlights America’s enduring position as a major global destination for leisure and personal travel, attracting millions of visitors each year despite evolving travel policies and security measures.

Africa

1. Angola-  453

2. South Africa- 401

3. Egypt- 131

4. Togo- 92

5. Cote d'Ivoire- 65

Angola and South Africa stand out as the leading African sources of B-2 visas, followed by North and West African states.

Asia

1. Burma (Myanmar)- 5,391

2. India- 2,427

3. Vietnam- 1,591

4. China (Mainland)- 1,374

5. Israel- 1,034

Myanmar surprisingly tops Asia’s list, while India, Vietnam, and China show consistently high tourist flows.

Europe

1. Russia- 1,493

2. Ukraine- 1,484

3. Bulgaria- 572

4. Great Britain & Northern Ireland- 308

5. Romania- 283

Eastern Europe dominates B-2 issuances, with Russia and Ukraine almost equal at the top.

North America 

1. Cuba- 5,210

2. Panama- 911

3. Jamaica- 517

4. Trinidad & Tobago- 141

5. Mexico- 351

Cuba is by far the largest contributor in the Americas, followed by Panama and Jamaica.

Oceania

1. Australia- 55

2. Marshall Islands- 5

3. Papua New Guinea- 3

4. New Zealand- 2

5. Tonga- 1

Australia dominates Oceania, with only small numbers from other Pacific islands.

South America 

1. Argentina- 71

2. Peru- 66

3. Venezuela- 66

4. Brazil- 55

5. Colombia- 27

Argentina leads South America’s B-2 visas, followed closely by Peru and Venezuela.

B-1/B-2 Visa (Combination Visitor) 2019

In 2019, U.S. consulates processed a total of 7,585,472 B-1/B-2 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 5,297,439 visas were issued

• 2,288,033 applications were refused
  

This reflects an overall approval rate of 69.8% and a refusal rate of 30.2%.

The B-1/B-2 combined visa remains by far the most common visitor visa to the United States, serving as a dual-purpose document for both short-term business trips and tourism or family visits. Its dominance highlights the central role of the category in facilitating international travel to the U.S., bridging both professional and leisure purposes.

Africa 

1. Nigeria- 81,768

2. Ghana- 16,098

3. Ethiopia- 15,725

4. Kenya- 15,710

5. Morocco- 14,764

Nigeria dominated Africa’s issuances, accounting for nearly half of the region’s approvals, followed by Ghana, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

Asia 

1. China (Mainland)- 1,019,907

2. India- 595,262

3. Philippines- 134,258

4. Vietnam- 111,881

5. Israel- 164,468

China and India together represented the largest share of B-1/B-2 visas globally. Israel and the Philippines also showed strong outbound travel to the U.S.

Europe 

1. Russia- 139,480

2. Poland- 104,609

3. Turkey- 65,995

4. Romania- 43,188

5. Ukraine- 36,438

Eastern Europe was a major source of travellers, led by Russia and Poland, while Turkey and Romania also showed strong demand.

North America 

1. Dominican Republic- 87,327

2. El Salvador- 36,573

3. Guatemala- 42,179

4. Jamaica- 42,055

5. Trinidad and Tobago- 36,375

The Dominican Republic was by far the largest B-1/B-2 market in the Caribbean and Central America, with Guatemala and Jamaica not far behind.

Oceania 

1. Australia- 9,188

2. Fiji- 2,594

3. New Zealand- 3,144

4. Samoa- 1,028

5. Tonga- 983

Australia and New Zealand led Oceania, while Pacific islands like Fiji and Samoa also registered significant numbers relative to their populations.

South America

1. Brazil- 559,019

2. Argentina- 212,011

3. Colombia- 191,545

4. Ecuador- 171,952

5. Peru- 92,545

Brazil overwhelmingly led South America’s numbers, followed by Argentina and Colombia, highlighting the strong travel links between South America and the U.S.

H-1B Visa (Speciality Occupations) 2019

In 2019, U.S. consulates processed a total of 191,987 H-1B visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 188,123 visas were issued

• 3,864 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 97.9% and a refusal rate of 2.1%.
The H-1B visa plays a crucial role in enabling U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in speciality occupations, particularly in STEM fields, IT services, healthcare, and engineering.

Africa

• Nigeria- 386

• Egypt- 244

• South Africa- 163

• Ghana- 136

• Kenya- 98

Africa’s numbers are relatively modest compared to Asia, but Nigeria and Egypt lead, showing strong professional mobility into the U.S. tech and healthcare sectors.

Asia 

• India- 131,549

• China (Mainland)- 28,483

• South Korea- 2,041

• Philippines- 1,207

• China (Taiwan)- 1,366

 Asia completely dominates H-1B issuances, with India and China alone accounting for over 110,000 visas, reflecting their outsized role in STEM, IT, and engineering fields.

Europe 

• Great Britain and Northern Ireland- 1,368

• France- 1,103

• Italy- 868

• Germany- 844

• Spain- 802

 Europe shows a balanced spread across major economies, with the UK, France, and Italy leading the way in sending skilled professionals.

North America

• Mexico- 2,754

• Jamaica- 137

• Dominican Republic- 126

• Canada- 101

• Costa Rica- 99

Mexico dominates North America’s contribution, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the region’s total H-1B issuances.

Oceania 

• Australia- 483

• New Zealand- 147

• Fiji- 2

• Papua New Guinea- 1

• Tonga- 0 (only a handful issued across the Pacific islands)

Oceania’s presence is heavily led by Australia and New Zealand, while the Pacific island nations see little to no demand.

South America

• Brazil- 1,209

• Colombia- 608

• Venezuela- 288

• Argentina- 268

• Peru- 216

Brazil is by far the largest contributor in South America, followed by Colombia and Venezuela.

F-1 Visa (Student Visa) 2019

In 2019, U.S. consulates processed a total of 488,075 F-1 visa applications worldwide. Out of these:

• 364,204 visas were issued

• 123,871 applications were refused

This reflects an overall approval rate of 74.6% and a refusal rate of 25.4%.
The F-1 visa remains the most important pathway for international students to pursue higher education in the U.S., fueling American universities’ global leadership in education and research.

Africa

• Nigeria- 4,436 visas issued

• Ghana- 1,512 visas issued

• Ethiopia- 1,389 visas issued

• Kenya- 1,291 visas issued

• Egypt- 1,155 visas issued
  
  

African nations, especially Nigeria, are key contributors to the U.S. international student population. Many students pursue degrees in STEM fields, business, and healthcare, reflecting the continent’s strong demand for U.S. higher education opportunities.

Asia

• China (Mainland)- 105,775 visas issued

• India- 43,714 visas issued

• South Korea- 21,071 visas issued

• Vietnam- 16,586 visas issued

• Japan- 13,712 visas issued