The State Department's adjusted refusal rate. Approved is what is left after the refusals.
Fiscal year
Refused
Approved
FY2025
63.3%
about 37%
FY2024
48.9%
about 51%
FY2023
48.7%
about 51%
FY2022
52.6%
about 47%
FY2021
72.1%
about 28%
FY2020
56%
about 44%
FY2019
68.4%
about 32%
FY2018
71.4%
about 29%
FY2017
72.1%
about 28%
FY2016
73.8%
about 26%
FY2015
61%
about 39%
FY2014
46.7%
about 53%
FY2013
62.7%
about 37%
FY2012
59.3%
about 41%
FY2011
45.7%
about 54%
FY2010
56%
about 44%
FY2009
59.6%
about 40%
FY2008
51%
about 49%
FY2007
38.4%
about 62%
FY2006
39.8%
about 60%
A fiscal year runs from October to September (FY2025 is October 2024 to September 2025). This is for visitor (B) visas only.
In plain words
Refusal rate
Out of 100 people who applied, how many were told no. A 20% refusal rate means about 20 in 100 were refused.
Adjusted
The State Department leaves out people who were refused for paperwork reasons and later got the visa, so the number is fairer.
Approved
The visa was issued. We show it as what is left after the refusals.
Applications (workload)
Everyone the embassies decided on in the year: visas issued plus visas refused.
Fiscal year (FY)
The U.S. government year, October to September. FY2025 is October 2024 to September 2025.
Afghanistan in short
What is the U.S. visa refusal rate for Afghanistan?
For b visas (visitors), the adjusted refusal rate for people from Afghanistan was 72.1% in FY2021, which means about 28% of applications were approved. It is a group figure for one fiscal year, not a prediction for any one person.
Visa Status is an unofficial site and does not give immigration advice. A refusal rate describes all applications from a country in one year. It does not predict what will happen to any one applicant.