Approval Rate for US Visitor Visas Among Nepali Applicants Reaches 69% in 2023

In the fiscal year 2023, a noteworthy 69% of Nepali applicants successfully secured US visitor visas (B), as revealed by data from the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. This information highlights a relatively high approval rate, although it signifies a slight decrease compared to the previous fiscal year. Out of the total pool of Nepali applicants in fiscal year 2023, 18,245 individuals were granted US visitor visas. However, the application landscape was competitive, with almost 8,300 visa requests facing refusal out of nearly 26,500 applications.

In the preceding fiscal year of 2022, the United States extended visitor visas to almost 80% of Nepali applicants, with 22,729 individuals applying and 18,214 successfully obtaining visas.

Delving further into the statistics, it is notable that around 4,515 Nepali applicants did not receive visas in the most recent fiscal year, constituting a rejection rate of 19.85%. This figure, while indicative of the competitive nature of the application process, reflects a significantly higher success rate for applicants.

Examining the historical trends, in fiscal year 2021, the United States granted US visitor visas to almost 81% of Nepali applicants, issuing 7,128 visas and rejecting only 18.72% of applications. Notably, out of a total of 8,773 Nepali applicants for visitor visas, only 1,645 individuals faced rejection. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 is evident, with a substantial number of applicants opting for visa renewal without undergoing the usual interview process. This unique circumstance contributed to a historically high rate of US visa grants to Nepalis.

In the preceding fiscal year of 2020, almost 51.9% of Nepali applicants were granted visitor visas by the United States. Remarkably, in 2020, the percentage of Nepalis approved for US visitor visas was the highest compared to the preceding three years. Despite an increase in the approval rate in 2021, the actual number of approvals decreased, with 7,751 Nepalis receiving US visitor visas.

During fiscal year 2020, nearly 15,000 Nepalis applied for US visitor visas, and 7,751 visas were approved, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the US Department of State.

Highlighting rejection rates from earlier years, in 2019 and 2018, the visitor visa rejection rates for Nepalis were 50.7% and 51.5%, respectively. In the fiscal year 2017, the rejection rate was comparatively lower at 46.4%.

Noteworthy spikes in rejection rates occurred in fiscal year 2018, reaching the highest point since 2012. In 2011, an alarming 59.9% of total applicants were denied visitor visas. From 2006 to 2011, the percentage of applicants not receiving visas exceeded those who were approved.

However, from 2012 to 2017, the tide turned, with a higher percentage of applicants receiving visas compared to those facing rejections. In 2014, a notable 61.8% of Nepali applicants for visitor visas were successfully granted visas, while only 38.2% faced rejection.