Visa Status · unofficial · data from the U.S. Department of State
· printed

Country

South Africa

Name: U.S. visas issued to nationals of South Africa
Creator: Visa Status

3,850 green cards issued in 2024 →

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How many U.S. visas were issued to people from South Africa, and how that changed.

Visas issued to people from South Africa · February 2026

6,023

That is 732 more than in January 2026 (5,291) — +13.8%.

Quick view · February 2026

+13.8% vs January 2026 (5,291)-28.5% vs February 2025 (8,428)

All published months together: 516,036

Which visa groups changed? February 2026 compared with January 2026

Visa types gathered by purpose: students, workers, visitors and more.

Most visas Biggest change

Visa group	February 2026	January 2026	Change
Temporary workers	3,397	1,994	+70.4%+1,403
Visitors	1,946	2,621	-25.8%−675
Transit and crew	393	354	+11.0%+39
Exchange visitors	188	213	-11.7%−25
Diplomats and international organizations	71	30	+136.7%+41
Students	21	76	-72.4%−55
Fiancé(e)s and their children	4	1	+300.0%+3
Other	3	2	+50.0%+1

Which visa types changed? February 2026 compared with January 2026

Tap a visa type to see only that one.

Most visas Biggest change

Visa type	February 2026	January 2026	Change
H2A	3,026	1,685	+79.6%+1,341
B1/B2	1,896	2,542	-25.4%−646
C1/D	392	348	+12.6%+44
J1	188	207	-9.2%−19
H4	123	72	+70.8%+51
H2B	80	57	+40.4%+23
L1	56	59	-5.1%−3
B1

South Africa: month by month, 2026 compared with 2025

Year compared with

202562,647
202611,314

Download CSV

Month by month

Month	2025	2026	Change
January	6,376	5,291	-17.0%
February	8,428	6,023	-28.5%
March	9,911	–	–
April	6,395	–	–
May	4,788	–	–
June	3,277	–	–
July	4,005	–	–
August	3,970	–	–
September	4,308	–	–
October	4,800	–	–
November	3,157	–	–
December	3,232	–	–

When is it busy? South Africa

Busiest month: March (13.5% of a typical year). Quietest: December (4.4%). An even year would be 8.3% a month.

9.4%

12.7%

13.5%

8.7%

7.4%

6.9%

7.2%

7.4%

7.0%

7.5%

7.9%

4.4%

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average of 8 full years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025). Each bar is that month's share of the year's total. Years with missing months are left out. It shows when visas are issued, not when people apply.

South Africa: all published months

By month By year By fiscal year

“partial” means fewer than 12 months have been published for that period.

Download CSV

View as table

Fiscal year	Issuances
FY2017 partial	39,208
FY2018	68,946
FY2019	65,606
FY2020	35,595
FY2021	13,275
FY2022	49,823
FY2023	81,058
FY2024	76,393
FY2025	63,629
FY2026 partial	22,503

	Dec 2025	Jan 2026	Feb 2026
Total issued	3,232	5,291	6,023
Total	3,232	5,291	6,023

South Africa

Which visa groups changed? February 2026 compared with January 2026

Which visa types changed? February 2026 compared with January 2026

South Africa: month by month, 2026 compared with 2025

When is it busy? South Africa

South Africa: all published months

Top 5 visa types

Explore South Africa by period

By month · latest 12 months

Compare months or years