Data Report · FY2025 · Full per-country data · US State Department
US visa refusal rates by country, 2025
The complete FY2025 US B1/B2 adjusted refusal rates from the State Department — 19 African nations refused over 60%. Somalia tops the list at 83.5%; Kenya 68.2%, Ghana 64.3%, Nigeria 57.0%, India 22.0%. Separately, US student (F-1) refusals hit a decade-high ~35%.
Somalia — highest B1/B2 refusal
African nations refused over 60%
US F-1 student refusal (decade high)
Ghana F-1 refusal (record)
Full FY2025 US B1/B2 refusal rates — all 40 countries
Adjusted refusal rates as published by the US Department of State for fiscal year 2025, ranked highest to lowest. Bar length is proportional to the refusal rate.
| # | Country | Region | FY2025 refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somalia | Africa | 83.52% |
| 2 | South Sudan | Africa | 76.09% |
| 3 | Gambia | Africa | 75.29% |
| 4 | Guinea-Bissau | Africa | 75.17% |
| 5 | Senegal | Africa | 73.96% |
| 6 | Liberia | Africa | 73.01% |
| 7 | Togo | Africa | 72.02% |
| 8 | Sierra Leone | Africa | 70.55% |
| 9 | Nepal | Asia | 69.47% |
| 10 | Equatorial Guinea | Africa | 68.63% |
| 11 | Kenya | Africa | 68.23% |
| 12 | Mauritania | Africa | 67.61% |
| 13 | Guinea | Africa | 66.90% |
| 14 | Congo (Rep.) | Africa | 64.75% |
| 15 | Rwanda | Africa | 64.71% |
| 16 | Benin | Africa | 64.58% |
| 17 | Ghana | Africa | 64.34% |
| 18 | Congo (DRC) | Africa | 63.37% |
| 19 | Sudan | Africa | 63.26% |
| 20 | Afghanistan | Asia | 63.25% |
| 21 | Iran | Asia | 62.44% |
| 22 | Bangladesh | Asia | 61.45% |
| 23 | Cameroon | Africa | 60.55% |
| 24 | Uganda | Africa | 57.58% |
| 25 | Nigeria | Africa | 57.00% |
| 26 | Mali | Africa | 55.57% |
| 27 | Angola | Africa | 54.33% |
| 28 | Ethiopia | Africa | 53.64% |
| 29 | Pakistan | Asia | 52.32% |
| 30 | Algeria | Africa | 51.23% |
| 31 | Egypt | Africa | 47.61% |
| 32 | Tanzania | Africa | 39.41% |
| 33 | Zimbabwe | Africa | 37.60% |
| 34 | Côte d'Ivoire | Africa | 36.79% |
| 35 | Sri Lanka | Asia | 33.35% |
| 36 | Philippines | Asia | 30.76% |
| 37 | Morocco | Africa | 26.91% |
| 38 | Tunisia | Africa | 25.89% |
| 39 | India | Asia | 22.04% |
| 40 | South Africa | Africa | 11.66% |
Source: US Department of State, Adjusted Visa Refusal Rates for B-visas, FY2025. Rates are the official adjusted refusal rates and cover B1/B2 visitor visas only.
What the data shows
The FY2025 table is dominated by Sub-Saharan Africa. Of the top 25 highest-refusal nations, the large majority are African — 19 African countries posted refusal rates above 60%, led by Somalia (83.5%), South Sudan (76.1%), Gambia (75.3%), and Senegal (74.0%).
The contrast within Africa is stark: while West and East African nations cluster at 60–84%, South Africa sits at just 11.7% and the North-African economies of Morocco (26.9%) and Tunisia (25.9%) fare far better — a gap that tracks income and passport strength more than any individual application.
Among the largest applicant populations, India (22.0%) is comparatively low for visitor visas, even as Indian studentrefusals run far higher. Nigeria (57.0%), Ghana (64.3%), and Kenya (68.2%) — three of SwiftPass's core corridors — all sit well above the global average.
Student (F-1) visas: a separate, steeper picture
The table above is for B1/B2 visitor visas. US student (F-1) refusals are reported separately — and in 2025 they hit a decade high.
Overall US F-1 refusal in 2025 (was 23% a decade ago)
African F-1 applicants refused — about 2 in 3
Ghana's F-1 refusal — a record, up from 72%
At least 80% of applicants from Sierra Leone, Somalia, Benin, and Burkina Faso were refused F-1 visas in 2025. Source: ICEF Monitor analysis of US visa data, 2025.
Year-over-year: the tightening is real
Where both fiscal years are published, the direction is unambiguous — refusal rates are climbing.
| Measure | FY2024 | FY2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 48.89% | 63.25% | +14.4 pts |
| Albania | 33.37% | 37.32% | +4.0 pts |
| Ghana (F-1 student) | 72% | 81% | +9 pts |
| US F-1 (overall) | 31% | ~35% | decade high |
Methodology
The figures above are the US State Department's official adjusted refusal rate for B-visas, defined as:
An overcomeis a refusal later resolved in the same fiscal year (the visa is ultimately issued). The adjustment counts each applicant once, by final status, so repeat applications don't distort the rate. Rates are published per nationality each fiscal year (October–September) and are the standardized basis the US uses for the Visa Waiver Program eligibility threshold. F-1 student refusal figures are reported separately by visa class and analysed by third parties such as ICEF Monitor.
The five refusal reasons — and how each is fixed
214(b): insufficient ties to home country
Document a stable job (employment letter + payslips), family, property, and financial roots that make your return obviously rational. This is the single most common — and most fixable — refusal.
Weak or unstable financial evidence
Provide 3–6 months of consistent bank statements (M-Pesa accepted when formatted correctly), with any large deposits explained. Sudden, unexplained funds read as borrowed.
Unclear or inconsistent travel purpose
A specific, credible itinerary and purpose — not a vague 'tourism.' Inconsistencies between the DS-160, interview answers, and documents are a leading silent killer.
Incomplete or contradictory DS-160
Every field accurate and internally consistent. Travel history, employment, and family details must match your supporting documents exactly.
Prior immigration / overstay history
Address it head-on with evidence of compliance and changed circumstances, rather than hoping it isn't noticed — it always is.
Reduce your rejection risk
The odds are against you. Your paperwork doesn't have to be.
When 6 in 10 applicants from your country are refused, the strength of your file is the one thing you control. SwiftPass prepares your full US application against consular criteria, documents your ties the way an officer evaluates them, and coaches you for the 214(b) interview.
Frequently asked questions
What is the US visa refusal rate by country in 2025?
For US B1/B2 visitor visas in fiscal year 2025, the US State Department's adjusted refusal rates were highest in Somalia (83.52%), South Sudan (76.09%), Gambia (75.29%), Guinea-Bissau (75.17%), and Senegal (73.96%). Among major applicant nations: Kenya 68.23%, Ghana 64.34%, Nigeria 57.00%, Bangladesh 61.45%, Pakistan 52.32%, India 22.04%, and South Africa 11.66%. More than 15 African nations recorded refusal rates above 60% in FY2025.
Which country has the highest US visa refusal rate?
In FY2025, Somalia had the highest US B1/B2 adjusted refusal rate at 83.52%, followed by South Sudan (76.09%), Gambia (75.29%), Guinea-Bissau (75.17%), Senegal (73.96%), Liberia (73.01%), and Togo (72.02%). African nations dominate the top of the list — a structural pattern tied to income and passport strength rather than individual application merit.
What is the US student (F-1) visa refusal rate in 2025?
US F-1 student-visa refusals hit a decade high of roughly 35% in 2025 — up from 31% in 2024 and 23% a decade ago. African applicants were hit hardest at about 64%, with Ghana recording a record 81% (up from 72% in 2024), and at least 80% of applicants from Sierra Leone, Somalia, Benin, and Burkina Faso refused. F-1 refusals are reported separately from the B1/B2 visitor rates above.
How is the US visa refusal rate calculated?
The State Department publishes an 'adjusted refusal rate' for B-visas, calculated as: (Refusals minus Overcomes) divided by (Issuances plus Refusals minus Overcomes). An 'overcome' is a case where an initial refusal was later resolved and the visa issued. The adjustment counts each applicant only once per fiscal year by final status, excluding duplicate applications — making it the official, standardized measure of how hard it is to get a US visa from a given country. The full per-country table is published annually at travel.state.gov.
Why did US visa refusal rates rise in 2025?
2025 saw the sharpest tightening in a decade across both visitor and student visas, driven by stricter consular scrutiny and broader US visa-policy changes. Applicants from lower-income countries with weaker passports face structurally higher refusal odds. The most common documented refusal under section 214(b) is failure to demonstrate sufficient ties to the home country — which remains the single most addressable factor in an application.
What is section 214(b) and why does it matter?
Section 214(b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act presumes every visitor-visa applicant intends to immigrate until they prove otherwise. The overwhelming majority of B1/B2 refusals are 214(b) denials — the officer was not convinced the applicant has strong enough ties (job, family, property, finances) to ensure their return. Because it is a presumption you must overcome with evidence, strong documentation and a credible, specific travel purpose are decisive.
What are the most common reasons for US visa refusal?
The leading reasons are: (1) insufficient proof of ties to your home country under 214(b), (2) weak or unstable financial evidence (3–6 months of statements expected), (3) an unclear or inconsistent purpose of travel, (4) incomplete or contradictory DS-160 information, and (5) prior immigration or overstay history. For students, additional factors include weak academic/funding documentation and an unconvincing study plan.
How can I reduce my US visa rejection risk in 2026?
With refusals at a decade high, preparation is decisive. Because most refusals are 214(b) documentation problems, the biggest lever is preparing your file the way a consular officer assesses it: clear evidence of employment, finances, family, and property; a specific, credible travel purpose; and a fully consistent DS-160. SwiftPass prepares your full file against US consular criteria and coaches you for the interview. Start a free 5-minute check at swiftpassimmigration.com/apply.
Sources
- US Department of State — Adjusted Visa Refusal Rates for B-visas, FY2025.
- ICEF Monitor — analysis of US student-visa refusals, 2025.
- The PIE News — "US visa refusals hit decade high," 2025.
Published by SwiftPass Immigration · 31 May 2026. Figures reflect the official FY2025 data and are subject to annual revision by the US Department of State.