US visa rejection rates by country

F1 Student Visa Refusal Rates The F1 student visa experienced its highest refusal rate in a decade during FY2024. Out of approximately 679,000 applications, around 279,000 were rejected—a 41% refusal rate compared to 36% in FY2023. This represents a significant increase from the pre-pandemic norm of around 25-30%. Factors contributing to this increase include heightened Section 214(b) scrutiny, concerns about "intent to immigrate," and inconsistent adjudication standards across different US embassies. F1 Visa: Why Refusal Rates Are Rising F1 student visa applicants must overcome the presumption of immigrant intent under Section 214(b). Consular officers increasingly focus on post-graduation plans, ties to home country, and whether the chosen programme genuinely requires study in the US. Students from countries with high overall refusal rates face additional scrutiny. See our guide on US visa refusal reasons for detailed advice. What Are the Refusal Rates for Major Applicant Countries? Quick Answer Among high-volume applicant countries in FY2024: India (16.32%), China (25.37%), Mexico (13.87%), Brazil (15.48%), and Nigeria (46.51%). The UK has an 18.03% refusal rate. China's rate has improved significantly from 79% in 2021 (pandemic period) to 25% in FY2024 as consular operations normalised and economic ties strengthened. FY2024 Refusal Rates: Major Applicant Countries