3,143 Nepalis Overstayed Visitor Visas in the U.S. During Biden Administration’s First Three Years

According to the Entry/Exit Overstay Report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a total of 3,143 Nepalis overstayed their visitor visas in the United States during the first three years of the Biden administration.

The data highlights trends in visa overstay rates among Nepali travelers, reflecting changes in compliance over time.

In fiscal year 2023, the total overstay rate was 4.19%, with a suspected in-country overstay rate of 3.60%, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Out of 24,723 expected departures in 2023, 1,036 overstayed, with 890 classified as suspected in-country overstays and 146 as out-of-country overstays.

In fiscal year 2022, the total overstay rate was 12.31%, with a suspected in-country overstay rate of 10.89%. Out of 14,699 expected departures, 1,809 overstayed, including 1,601 in-country overstays and 208 out-of-country overstays. In 2021, the total overstay rate was 8.5%, with 298 overstays out of 3,507 expected departures. Of these, 146 were in-country overstays, and 152 were out-of-country overstays.

Over the years, overstay rates for Nepalis have fluctuated but show a steady decline in recent years. Despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 1,261 Nepalis overstayed that year, with a total overstay rate of 4.55%. Of 27,712 expected departures, 717 were in-country overstays, and 544 were out-of-country overstays.

In 2019, the total overstay rate was 3.38%, with 916 overstays out of 27,096 expected departures. Similarly, the total overstay rate in 2018 was 4.36%, with 1,185 overstays, including 970 in-country and 215 out-of-country overstays.

Pre-Biden administration data highlights higher overstay rates in certain years, such as 2016, when the rate reached 5.4%, with 946 overstays out of 18,775 expected departures. By contrast, 2017 saw a relatively low overstay rate of 2.33%, with 564 overstays out of 24,240 expected departures.

CBP clarifies that it identifies two types of overstays: individuals for whom no departure was recorded (Suspected In-Country Overstays) and those whose departure was recorded after their authorized period of admission expired (Out-of-Country Overstays).