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  1. US Visa Statistics
  2. South Africa
  3. H-4

Official US State Department data

H-4 visa statistics for South Africa

How many H-4 visas nationals of South Africa are issued, and what each US consulate in South Africa issues, month by month.

Data through February 2026

H-4 visas issued to nationals of South Africa

Every H-4 visa issued to a national of South Africa, at any US consulate in the world.

Visas issued to nationals of South Africa, last 12 months

Mar 2025 – Feb 2026

1,0171,017

Up 28%vs 794 in the 12 months before

Up 28% on the previous 12 months.

Monthly average
85
Busiest month
207
Mar 2025
Latest month
123
Feb 2026Up 19%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 794

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 1k

050100150200250
Mar '24Apr '24May '24Jun '24Jul '24Aug '24Sep '24Oct '24Nov '24Dec '24Jan '25Feb '25Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26

The long view

State Dept publishes its annual totals by US government fiscal year, which runs October to September.

Point at a year for its exact count.

02505007501k1.3k
251
238
177
157
188
170
164
184
Pre-COVID peak267
141
55
384
642
757
Highest943
302
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Striped: the current year so far.

FY2011: 251 visas; FY2012: 238 visas; FY2013: 177 visas; FY2014: 157 visas; FY2015: 188 visas; FY2016: 170 visas; FY2017: 164 visas; FY2018: 184 visas; FY2019: 267 visas; FY2020: 141 visas; FY2021: 55 visas; FY2022: 384 visas; FY2023: 642 visas; FY2024: 757 visas; FY2025: 943 visas; FY2026: 302 visas so far.

FY2025 was the highest year shown, with 943 visas (+25% on FY2024). That's 253% above the pre-pandemic peak (FY2019). FY2026 so far (Oct–Feb) is running 32% ahead of the same months of FY2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, to nationals of South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 2026123103Up 19%
January 20267253Up 36%
December 20254622Up 109%
November 20252915Up 93%
October 20253235Down 8.6%
September 20253242Down 24%
August 20255246Up 13%
July 20256869About flat, 1.4%
June 20257893Down 16%
May 20259059Up 53%
April 2025188124Up 52%
March 2025207133Up 56%
February 2025103–
January 202553–
December 202422–
November 202415–
October 202435–
September 202442–
August 202446–
July 202469–
June 202493–
May 202459–
April 2024124–
March 2024133–

Source: US Department of State monthly reports of nonimmigrant visas issued by nationality, and its annual Report of the Visa Office for earlier years. Nationals of South Africa who interview at a US consulate in another country are counted here, so these totals run higher than the consulate figures for South Africa.

H-4 visas issued in South Africa

How many H-4 visas the US consulates in South Africa issue each month, whether that's rising or falling, and where it's moving.

Visas issued in South Africa, last 12 months

Mar 2025 – Feb 2026

938938

Up 34%vs 700 in the 12 months before

Up 34% on the previous 12 months.

Monthly average
78
Busiest month
175
Mar 2025
Latest month
129
Feb 2026Up 21%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 700

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 938

050100150200
Mar '24Apr '24May '24Jun '24Jul '24Aug '24Sep '24Oct '24Nov '24Dec '24Jan '25Feb '25Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26

Where visas are issued

Each consulate's last 12 months, against the 12 months before.

Last 12 monthsThe 12 months before
  • Cape Town45% of total
    423Up 14%
    423 visas in the last 12 months, 370 in the 12 months before
  • Johannesburg30% of total
    277Up 25%
    277 visas in the last 12 months, 221 in the 12 months before
  • Durban25% of total
    238Up 118%
    238 visas in the last 12 months, 109 in the 12 months before

Cape Town issues the most: 45% of the total. Durban grew the most (+118%).

When visas are issued

Visas issued in South Africa each month. Darker means more.

JJanFFebMMarAAprMMayJJunJJulAAugSSepOOctNNovDDec
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Typical
16%
3.1%

Typical: each month's share of a year's visas, averaged over 2023–2025.

Busiest: March 2025: 175 visas

FewerMoreNo data

In 2023–2025, March was typically the busiest month and November the quietest.

Year by year

Calendar years, January to December.

  1. 2023

    517

    Jan – Dec 2023

    First full year in this data
  2. 2024

    637

    Jan – Dec 2024

    Up 23%vs 2023
  3. 2025

    905

    Jan – Dec 2025

    Up 42%vs 2024
  4. 2026So far

    203

    Jan–Feb · 2 of 12 months

    Up 19%vs same months a year earlier

2025 was the highest year shown, with 905 visas (+42% on 2024). 2026 so far (Jan–Feb) is running 19% ahead of the same months of 2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, in South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
February 2026129107Up 21%
January 20267463Up 17%
December 20255222Up 136%
November 20252720Up 35%
October 20253948Down 19%
September 20253946Down 15%
August 20254244Down 4.5%
July 20256959Up 17%
June 20256670Down 5.7%
May 20257138Up 87%
April 202515580Up 94%
March 2025175103Up 70%
February 202510770Up 53%
January 20256337Up 70%
December 20242232Down 31%
November 20242017Up 18%
October 20244846Up 4.3%
September 20244632Up 44%
August 20244454Down 19%
July 20245946Up 28%
June 20247046Up 52%
May 20243857Down 33%
April 20248039Up 105%
March 202410360Up 72%

Source: US Department of State monthly reports of nonimmigrant visas issued at each US consulate. These count visas issued, not interview appointments available.

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