The State Department's adjusted refusal rate. Approved is what is left after the refusals.
Fiscal year
Refused
Approved
FY2025
8.2%
about 92%
FY2024
7.9%
about 92%
FY2023
10.5%
about 89%
FY2022
9.4%
about 91%
FY2021
17.9%
about 82%
FY2020
9.8%
about 90%
FY2019
6.5%
about 93%
FY2018
7.3%
about 93%
FY2017
11.1%
about 89%
FY2016
9%
about 91%
FY2015
8.4%
about 92%
FY2014
4.7%
about 95%
FY2013
9.9%
about 90%
FY2012
10.3%
about 90%
FY2011
16.2%
about 84%
FY2010
17.7%
about 82%
FY2009
17.4%
about 83%
FY2008
10.7%
about 89%
FY2007
8.3%
about 92%
FY2006
10%
about 90%
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.
Portugal in short
What is the U.S. visa refusal rate for Portugal?
For b visas (visitors), the adjusted refusal rate for people from Portugal was 9.8% in FY2020, which means about 90% 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.