Official US State Department data
How many J-1 visas are issued at Seoul, and its share of everything issued in South Korea.
Visas issued at Seoul, last 12 months
Mar 2025 – Feb 2026
7,1977,197
Down 19% on the previous 12 months. The last 3 months ran 30% below the same months a year earlier.
Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 8.8k
Last 12 moLast 12 months · 7.2k
Visas issued at Seoul each month. Darker means more.
Typical: each month's share of a year's visas, averaged over 2023–2025.
Busiest: December 2022: 1,802 visas
In 2023–2025, July was typically the busiest month and September the quietest.
Calendar years, January to December.
10k
Jan – Dec 2023
9k
Jan – Dec 2024
7.5k
Jan – Dec 2025
750
Jan–Feb · 2 of 12 months
2025 had 7,470 visas (−17% on 2024). 2026 so far (Jan–Feb) is running 27% behind the same months of 2025.
| Month | Visas issued | A year earlier | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | 336 | 508 | Down 34% |
| January 2026 | 414 | 515 | Down 20% |
| December 2025 | 868 | 1,305 | Down 33% |
| November 2025 | 863 | 718 | Up 20% |
| October 2025 | 336 | 461 | Down 27% |
| September 2025 | 340 | 335 | About flat, 1.5% |
| August 2025 | 754 | 528 | Up 43% |
| July 2025 | 1,056 | 1,416 | Down 25% |
| June 2025 | 664 | 1,028 | Down 35% |
| May 2025 | 755 | 1,021 | Down 26% |
| April 2025 | 404 | 629 | Down 36% |
| March 2025 | 407 | 367 | Up 11% |
| February 2025 | 508 | 557 | Down 8.8% |
| January 2025 | 515 | 627 | Down 18% |
| December 2024 | 1,305 | 1,641 | Down 20% |
| November 2024 | 718 | 725 | About flat, 1% |
| October 2024 | 461 | 431 | Up 7% |
| September 2024 | 335 | 320 | Up 4.7% |
| August 2024 | 528 | 581 | Down 9.1% |
| July 2024 | 1,416 | 1,321 | Up 7.2% |
| June 2024 | 1,028 | 1,555 | Down 34% |
| May 2024 | 1,021 | 840 | Up 22% |
| April 2024 | 629 | 490 | Up 28% |
| March 2024 | 367 | 538 | Down 32% |
Source: US Department of State monthly reports of nonimmigrant visas issued at each US consulate. These count visas issued, not interview appointments available. All consulates in South Korea
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