The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has released data showing that more non-immigrant visas were issued in the first four months of the Trump administration compared to the equivalent period under the Biden administration.
From February to May, a total of 3,812,403 non-immigrant visas, including visitor visas, were issued through U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. This figure surpasses the 3,628,137 non-immigrant visas issued during the last four months of the Biden administration, from October 2024 to January 2025, by nearly 200,000.
Despite the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies, the data indicates no decline in the global issuance of non-immigrant visas. Under the Biden administration, the monthly breakdown was as follows: 977,715 visas in October, 811,088 in November, 884,739 in December, and 954,595 in January.
In contrast, the Trump administration’s figures for the subsequent four months were: 914,989 in February, 1,006,227 in March, 993,250 in April, and 897,937 in May. Notably, March saw the highest number of non-immigrant visas issued in any single month of the current fiscal year.
In fiscal year 2024, a total of 10,969,936 non-immigrant visas were issued globally, surpassing the figures from previous fiscal years under the Biden administration: 10,438,327 in 2023, 6,815,120 in 2022, and 2,792,083 in 2021, with the latter significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the previous Trump administration, non-immigrant visa issuances were 4,013,210 in 2020, 8,742,068 in 2019, 9,028,026 in 2018, and 9,681,913 in 2017.
Despite the global rise in non-immigrant visa issuances, the number of Nepalis receiving U.S. visitor visas has seen a dramatic decline under the current Trump administration. Data for May 2025 shows only 908 Nepalis were granted visitor visas, marking a 60% drop compared to some earlier months in the current fiscal year and the lowest monthly figure to date.
For comparison, earlier months in the fiscal year saw higher numbers: 1,307 visas in April, 1,550 in March, 1,838 in February, 2,150 in January, 1,190 in December, 1,632 in November, and 1,669 in October.
The rejection rate for Nepali visitor visa applicants has also risen significantly. In fiscal year 2024, only 50.5% of Nepali applicants (24,309 out of 48,100) secured U.S. visitor visas, meaning nearly half were denied. This contrasts sharply with fiscal year 2023, when 69% of applicants (29,722) were approved, with a rejection rate of 31.3%.Historically, approval rates for Nepali visitor visas have fluctuated.
Fiscal year 2022 saw an approval rate of nearly 80% (18,245 out of 22,729 applicants), while fiscal year 2021 had an even higher rate of 81% (7,128 out of 8,773), boosted by interview waivers for visa renewals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the previous Trump administration, rejection rates were consistently high: 48.1% in 2020 (7,751 visas issued), 50.7% in 2019, 51.5% in 2018, and 46.4% in 2017. Despite the higher approval rate in 2020 compared to prior years, the total number of visas issued remained lower than in earlier years of the first Trump administration.
These trends in visa approvals and rejections provide critical context for understanding the compliance behavior of Nepali travelers. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Entry/Exit Overstay Report sheds light on visa overstay trends among Nepali travelers.
During the first three years of the Biden administration, 3,143 Nepalis overstayed their visitor visas. Overstay rates have fluctuated but show a declining trend in recent years.
In fiscal year 2023, the total overstay rate was 4.19%, with 1,036 overstays out of 24,723 expected departures (890 in-country, 146 out-of-country). In fiscal year 2022, the rate was significantly higher at 12.31%, with 1,809 overstays out of 14,699 expected departures (1,601 in-country, 208 out-of-country).
In 2021, the total overstay rate was 8.5%, with 298 overstays out of 3,507 expected departures (146 in-country, 152 out-of-country). In 2020, amidst pandemic disruptions, the overstay rate was 4.55%, with 1,261 overstays out of 27,712 expected departures (717 in-country, 544 out-of-country).
Earlier years showed varied rates: 3.38% in 2019 (916 overstays out of 27,096), 4.36% in 2018 (1,185 overstays, 970 in-country, 215 out-of-country), 2.33% in 2017 (564 overstays out of 24,240), and 5.4% in 2016 (946 overstays out of 18,775). CBP distinguishes between Suspected In-Country Overstays (no departure recorded) and Out-of-Country Overstays (departure after the authorized period).
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
