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  1. US Visa Statistics
  2. South Africa
  3. J-2

Official US State Department data

J-2 visa statistics for South Africa

How many J-2 visas nationals of South Africa are issued, and what each US consulate in South Africa issues, month by month.

Data through January 2026

J-2 visas issued to nationals of South Africa

Every J-2 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

Feb 2025 – Jan 2026

3838

Down 32%vs 56 in the 12 months before

Down 32% on the previous 12 months.

Monthly average
3
Busiest month
6
Jun 2025
Latest month
6
Jan 2026Down 14%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 56

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 38

05101520
Feb '24Mar '24Apr '24May '24Jun '24Jul '24Aug '24Sep '24Oct '24Nov '24Dec '24Jan '25Feb '25Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '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.

050100150200
75
73
57
56
68
77
75
81
Pre-COVID peak83
32
38
Highest116
90
49
43
15
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Striped: the current year so far.

FY2011: 75 visas; FY2012: 73 visas; FY2013: 57 visas; FY2014: 56 visas; FY2015: 68 visas; FY2016: 77 visas; FY2017: 75 visas; FY2018: 81 visas; FY2019: 83 visas; FY2020: 32 visas; FY2021: 38 visas; FY2022: 116 visas; FY2023: 90 visas; FY2024: 49 visas; FY2025: 43 visas; FY2026: 15 visas so far.

FY2025 had 43 visas (−12% on FY2024). That's 48% below the pre-pandemic peak (FY2019). FY2026 so far (Oct–Jan) is running 25% behind the same months of FY2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, to nationals of South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
January 202667Down 14%
December 202523Down 33%
November 202563Up 100%
October 202517Down 86%
September 202510
August 202538Down 63%
July 202553Up 67%
June 2025613Down 54%
May 202515Down 80%
April 202552Up 150%
March 202512Down 50%
February 202513Down 67%
January 202576Up 17%
December 20243–
November 20243–
October 20247–
September 20240–
August 20248–
July 20243–
June 202413–
May 20245–
April 20242–
March 20242–
February 20243–

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.

J-2 visas issued in South Africa

How many J-2 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

Feb 2025 – Jan 2026

7575

Down 6.3%vs 80 in the 12 months before

Down 6.3% on the previous 12 months.

Monthly average
6
Busiest month
14
Jun 2025
Latest month
6
Jan 2026Down 14%

Prev 12 moPrevious 12 months · 80

Last 12 moLast 12 months · 75

05101520
Feb '24Mar '24Apr '24May '24Jun '24Jul '24Aug '24Sep '24Oct '24Nov '24Dec '24Jan '25Feb '25Mar '25Apr '25May '25Jun '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26

Where visas are issued

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

Last 12 monthsThe 12 months before
  • Johannesburg65% of total
    49Up 69%
    49 visas in the last 12 months, 29 in the 12 months before
  • Durban19% of total
    14Up 40%
    14 visas in the last 12 months, 10 in the 12 months before
  • Cape Town16% of total
    12Down 71%
    12 visas in the last 12 months, 41 in the 12 months before

Johannesburg issues the most: 65% of the total. Johannesburg grew the most (+69%); Cape Town issued 71% fewer.

When visas are issued

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

JJanFFebMMarAAprMMayJJunJJulAAugSSepOOctNNovDDec
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Typical
3.7%
17%

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

Busiest: July 2022: 33 visas

FewerMoreNo data

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

Year by year

Calendar years, January to December.

  1. 2023

    144

    Jan – Dec 2023

    First full year in this data
  2. 2024

    85

    Jan – Dec 2024

    Down 41%vs 2023
  3. 2025

    76

    Jan – Dec 2025

    Down 11%vs 2024
  4. 2026So far

    6

    Jan–Jan · 1 of 12 months

    Down 14%vs same months a year earlier

2025 had 76 visas (−11% on 2024). 2026 so far (Jan–Jan) is running 14% behind the same months of 2025.

Show the monthly numbers
Visas issued per month, in South Africa
MonthVisas issuedA year earlierChange
January 202667Down 14%
December 202543Up 33%
November 20251111About flat, 0%
October 202539Down 67%
September 202532Up 50%
August 2025310Down 70%
July 202554Up 25%
June 20251417Down 18%
May 202556Down 17%
April 202584Up 100%
March 202532Up 50%
February 2025105Up 100%
January 2025712Down 42%
December 202434Down 25%
November 2024112Up 450%
October 202498Up 13%
September 2024214Down 86%
August 20241023Down 57%
July 2024419Down 79%
June 20241716Up 6.3%
May 2024623Down 74%
April 2024414Down 71%
March 202427Down 71%
February 202453Up 67%

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

J-2 approval rate: 91.4%Worldwide, FY2024. How it has moved since FY2019.All visa types for South AfricaEvery US visa issued to nationals of South Africa, by visa type, and each consulate's total.Worldwide statisticsWhich countries and visa types get the most US visas.