The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Entry/Exit Overstay Report discloses that the U.S. total nonimmigrant overstay population was around half a million in FY2024. The report, which tracks foreign travelers admitted at air or seaport ports of entry whose authorized stay was set to expire between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, recorded 46,657,108 expected departures—a nearly 20 percent increase from the prior fiscal year.
Despite the higher number of travelers, the overall nonimmigrant total overstay rate was calculated at a low 1.15 percent, or 538,548 overstay events, confirming that 98.85 percent of nonimmigrant visitors complied with the terms of their admission by departing on time or adjusting their status.
DHS data distinguishes between two types of overstays: those for whom no departure was recorded (Suspected In-Country Overstays) and those whose departure was recorded after their authorized period expired (Out-of-Country Overstays). At the end of FY 2024, there were 482,954 Suspected In-Country Overstays (1.04 percent of expected departures).
However, DHS’s data analysis, which accounts for subsequent departures and status adjustments, refined this figure to 427,204 by February 6, 2025, resulting in a corrected Suspected In-Country Overstay rate of 0.92 percent. This final compliance rate means that DHS was able to confirm the lawful departure or status adjustment of more than 99.08 percent of all nonimmigrants scheduled to depart in FY 2024.
“This report presents the overstay rates of those who remained in the United States beyond their authorized period of admission with no evidence of an extension to their period of admission or adjustment to another immigration status,” DHS stated.
Nonimmigrants from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries demonstrated the highest compliance, with a Suspected In-Country Overstay rate of just 0.43 percent across 18.8 million expected departures. Travelers from Non-Visa Waiver Program countries (excluding Canada and Mexico) had a significantly higher overstay rate of 2.22 percent.
The highest Suspected In-Country Overstay rate was recorded among Student and Exchange Visitors (F, M, or J visa holders), who had a rate of 2.45 percent of their expected departures or status changes. Separately, air and seaport travelers from Canada and Mexico registered Suspected In-Country Overstay rates of 0.19 percent of 9,429,208 expected departures and 1.54 percent of 3,688,966 expected departures, respectively.
For visitor (B) visas, a total of 1,064 Nepali nationals overstayed out of 34,070 expected departures. This resulted in a total overstay rate of 3.12 percent. The majority were Suspected In-Country Overstays, with 892 individuals remaining in the U.S. after their authorized stay expired (a 2.62 percent rate), while 172 departed late. This rate marks a decrease from FY 2023’s total overstay rate of 4.19 percent, continuing a general decline from a high of 12.31 percent in FY 2022, a year heavily impacted by pandemic-era travel changes.
However, the trend for Nepali students (F, M, J visa holders) showed an increase in overstays. In FY 2024, 506 Nepali students overstayed out of 4,937 expected departures or status changes, resulting in a total student overstay rate of 10.25 percent.
This figure is higher than the 10.20 percent rate recorded in FY 2023 and slightly less than the high of 16.65 percent in FY 2022. The vast majority of the FY 2024 student overstays were Suspected In-Country Overstays, with 462 students remaining in the U.S.
The number of active Nepali students in the U.S. continues to grow, with the latest SEVIS data showing 34,807 students enrolled as of September, the majority studying at the Bachelor’s (12,682) and Master’s (10,331) levels. DHS emphasizes that an overstay occurs when a foreign national remains beyond their approved period of stay, which for students means they must leave, change status, or advance to another program after their course of study concludes.
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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.
