According to data published by the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs website, Jamaica ranks high on the list of countries with visa refusal rates for 2022, particularly in the Caribbean and Central America regions.
Among the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean, Jamaica holds the No.1 position with a visa rejection rate of 30.04%. In the overall Caribbean ranking, Jamaica placed third, behind Cuba with 56.51% and Haiti with 47.12%. Compared with its Central American neighbours, Jamaica ranks 6th, with Nicaragua (50.81%), El Salvador (45.46%), and Honduras (30.47%) ahead of it.
The data focuses explicitly on Non-Immigrant B-Visas, which include B1 visas for business purposes and B2 visas for tourism and other non-paid activities. Common reasons for visa refusals include incomplete or inaccurate forms, insufficient financial proof, false information or misrepresentation, and a lack of ties to the home country.
Globally, non-immigrant visa approvals have significantly increased from 2.7 million in 2021 to over 6.8 million in 2022. The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, reported that in 2017, over 9.5 million non-immigrant visas and more than 550,000 immigrant visas were issued. In 2018, approximately 530,000 non-immigrant visas were granted, with around one million immigrants receiving U.S. green cards each year.
These statistics highlight the visa rejection rates Jamaicans and other Caribbean and Central American nations face when applying for non-immigrant visas to the United States.
