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🇺🇸 USA · Tourist / Visitor visa

USA Tourist / Visitor visa approval odds

US visitor (B1/B2) visas are decided under Section 214(b): every applicant is presumed to intend to immigrate until they prove strong ties to home. There is no fixed income threshold — approval hinges on credible ties, funds that clearly cover the trip, and a specific, temporary purpose. The application (MRV) fee is US$185 in 2026.

Last reviewed July 2026 per our editorial standards. Source: U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs .

USA assesses a tourist visa on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. As an approximate starting point, this route runs near a 80% base approval — your finances, ties and history then push your personal odds up or down.

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Your trip

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Key requirements

  • Passport valid at least 6 months beyond your stay
  • Completed DS-160 online application + confirmation page
  • US$185 MRV application fee (2026)
  • In-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate
  • Evidence of strong ties to home, funds covering the trip, and intent to return

Visa fee (cost)

US$185 MRV application fee per applicant (non-refundable, paid before the interview).

Money & funds

No official minimum. Show funds that comfortably cover the whole trip plus evidence of ongoing income and ties — officers weigh your entire profile, not a single number.

Typical timeline

Complete the DS-160, pay the fee and book an interview; appointment wait times vary widely by consulate (days to many months). The visa is usually issued a few business days after approval.

Common refusal reasons

  • Section 214(b) — weak home ties or perceived immigrant intent (the most common reason)
  • Insufficient or unexplained funds for the trip
  • Vague or undocumented trip purpose
  • Inconsistent answers at interview
  • Prior U.S. overstay or immigration violation

USA tourist visa refusal rates by nationality (FY2025)

The State Department's adjusted refusal rate for B1/B2 visitor visas, by nationality, for the fiscal year ending 30 September 2025. It excludes refusals later overcome. None of these predicts an individual decision — they show how strictly the bar has been applied.

USA tourist visa outcomes in FY2025, best to worst, for the nationalities we publish pages for.
NationalityRefusedIssuedPrior year
Oman3.1%96.9%4.5%
Saudi Arabia6%94%7.9%
Kuwait6.1%93.9%5.5%
Qatar9.7%90.3%4.7%
South Africa11.7%88.3%10.7%
Suriname14.3%85.7%13.6%
Namibia16.5%83.5%22%
Madagascar17.2%82.8%13.1%
China20.2%79.8%25.4%
Azerbaijan20.9%79.1%21.5%
India22%78%16.3%
Vietnam22.1%77.9%22.1%
Turkey22.3%77.7%19.8%
Bahrain24%76%17.8%
Mozambique24.8%75.2%34.8%
Thailand25.7%74.3%22.5%
Tunisia25.9%74.1%23.2%
Belarus26.6%73.4%28.8%
Indonesia26.7%73.3%20.1%
Morocco26.9%73.1%14.5%
Bolivia29.8%70.2%28.9%
Comoros30.2%69.8%25.4%
Cambodia30.7%69.3%28.3%
the Philippines30.8%69.2%28.3%
Mongolia31.3%68.7%39.4%
Libya31.8%68.2%24.6%
Fiji32.8%67.2%35.3%
Sri Lanka33.4%66.6%29.8%
Dominican Republic36.4%63.6%43.4%
Zimbabwe37.6%62.4%39.5%
Niger38.2%61.8%38.2%
Botswana38.4%61.6%32.4%
Tanzania39.4%60.6%36.7%
Lebanon39.4%60.6%35%
Iraq39.9%60.1%33.4%
Russia40.4%59.6%38.6%
Ecuador42.2%57.8%37%
Central African Republic42.6%57.4%48.5%
Jamaica44.3%55.7%43.7%
Gabon44.6%55.4%27.8%
Egypt47.6%52.4%39.8%
Tajikistan47.8%52.2%45.2%
Haiti50.3%49.7%47.4%
Syria50.7%49.3%45.8%
Algeria51.2%48.8%50.7%
Kazakhstan51.8%48.2%46.3%
Pakistan52.3%47.7%45.7%
Uzbekistan52.5%47.5%64.4%
Zambia52.5%47.5%45%
Malawi53.4%46.6%47.8%
Ethiopia53.6%46.4%51.2%
Angola54.3%45.7%49.4%
Mali55.6%44.4%60.9%
Armenia56.4%43.6%59.5%
Jordan56.6%43.4%45.9%
Nigeria57%43%46.5%
Uganda57.6%42.4%47.3%
Kyrgyzstan59%41%39.1%
Eritrea60%40%49.9%
Cameroon60.6%39.4%55.6%
Bangladesh61.5%38.5%46.1%
Djibouti61.5%38.5%64.7%
Chad61.6%38.4%58.6%
Iran62.4%37.6%55.5%
Afghanistan63.3%36.7%48.9%
Sudan63.3%36.7%54.6%
Ghana64.3%35.7%55.6%
Benin64.6%35.4%61.5%
Rwanda64.7%35.3%55.8%
Turkmenistan64.7%35.3%58.8%
Guinea66.9%33.1%70.3%
Mauritania67.6%32.4%70.1%
Yemen68%32%58.1%
Kenya68.2%31.8%63.3%
Equatorial Guinea68.6%31.4%55.1%
Burundi69.2%30.8%65.5%
Nepal69.5%30.5%49.5%
Sierra Leone70.6%29.4%69.4%
Cuba70.9%29.1%53.4%
Burkina Faso71.3%28.7%58%
Togo72%28%66.6%
Senegal74%26%74.7%
Guinea-Bissau75.2%24.8%76.6%
Somalia83.5%16.5%77%
Laos84.4%15.6%82.8%

Source: U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality . Every nationality above links to its own page with the year-on-year movement and a comparison across destinations.

What actually moves the needle

Strong ties to home — a stable job, family, or property

This is the heart of tourist decisions for USA. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.

Funds that clearly cover the whole trip

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

A specific, time-limited plan with bookings

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

Avoid the common pitfall

The most frequent reason this route fails is a vague itinerary or thin finances that make your return look uncertain. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need for a US tourist visa?

There is no official minimum. You must credibly show you can pay for the whole trip and that you have income and ties pulling you home. Officers assess your overall financial picture, not a set balance.

What is 214(b) and why does it matter?

Section 214(b) of U.S. law presumes every B1/B2 applicant intends to immigrate. You overcome it by proving strong ties — a stable job, family, property, or studies — that show you will return.

Does a previous refusal hurt a new US visa application?

Yes. A prior 214(b) refusal weighs on new applications until the underlying weakness — usually ties or funds — is genuinely strengthened and clearly evidenced.

How long does a US tourist visa take?

Interview wait times vary enormously by consulate, from days to several months. After approval the passport is usually returned within a few business days.

Explore related visa odds

USA tourist visa odds by nationality

Helpful guides

Refused under Section 214(b)? What it means and how to reapply → Common DS-160 mistakes and how to avoid them (2026) → How to get an earlier US visa appointment (2026) → How to prepare for a tourist visa interview → How to build a travel history that strengthens your visa applications → Invitation and sponsorship letters that actually help →