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Iran · Asia
U.S. visas issued to nationals of Iran
The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics.
In September 2025, 95 nonimmigrant visas were issued to nationals of Iran, the 144th largest count among 203 nationalities that month; that is down 94% on September 2024 (1,664).
For the full fiscal year the Department's Report of the Visa Office lists 17,305 nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of Iran in FY2024, 0.2% of the 10,969,936 issued worldwide and the 65th largest nationality of 197. The previous year's figure was 17,634 (FY2023).
The largest classes in September 2025 were G2 (other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family) with 86, G4 (international organization officer or employee, and immediate family) with 5 and B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 2. 943 immigrant visas were issued to applicants chargeable to Iran in the same month, led by IR5 (498) and DV (325).
The Department's adjusted refusal rate for B (visitor) visa applicants who are nationals of Iran was 62.44% in FY2025, above the Asia median of 25.20%; it was 55.54% in FY2024. The rate covers B visas only and is the Department's own calculation, counting each applicant once by their final status in the year.
In the Diversity Visa program, 4,137 entrants chargeable to Iran were selected for DV-2026, 3.2% of all selectees that year; the count was 5,267 for DV-2025. Selection is not a visa; the Department's pages explain that selectees must still qualify and that more are selected than there are visas.
Nonimmigrant issuances by month
Compared with the Asia region and the world
| Measure | Iran | Asia (40 nationalities) | All nationalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office | 17,305 | 3,601,133 | 10,969,936 |
| Median nationality, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office | — | 17,838 | 7,901 |
| Nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025 | 95 | 271,934 | 823,557 |
| Change on Sep 2024 | -94% | — | -11% |
| Immigrant visas, Sep 2025 | 943 | — | 45,966 |
| B-visa adjusted refusal rate, FY2025 | 62.44% | 25.20% | 31.28% |
| DV-2026 selectees | 4,137 | — | 129,516 |
Fiscal-year rows are the Department's Report of the Visa Office tables; monthly rows are the September 2025 report alone. Region and world refusal figures are medians across the nationalities listed in the Department's table for that year; regions follow the Report of the Visa Office grouping.
Visa classes, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued, FY2024 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 12,473 | 72.1% |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 2,144 | 12.4% |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 654 | 3.8% |
| K1 | Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen | 489 | 2.8% |
| F2 | Spouse or child of F1 | 482 | 2.8% |
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 304 | 1.8% |
| J2 | Spouse or child of exchange visitor | 273 | 1.6% |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 140 | 0.8% |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 65 | 0.4% |
| G1 | Principal resident representative of recognized foreign government to international organization, staff, or immediate family | 57 | 0.3% |
| H4 | Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3 | 54 | 0.3% |
| O1 | Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics | 24 | 0.1% |
| K2 | Child of K-1 | 21 | 0.1% |
| O2 | Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-1 | 17 | 0.1% |
| TD | Spouse or child of TN | 16 | 0.1% |
| B1 | Temporary visitor for business | 13 | 0.1% |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 9 | 0.1% |
| L1 | Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation) | 9 | 0.1% |
| O3 | Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 | 9 | 0.1% |
| P1 | Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group | 9 | 0.1% |
| L2 | Spouse or child of intracompany transferee | 8 | 0% |
| I | Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children | 6 | 0% |
| A3 | Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A1 or A2, or immediate family | 5 | 0% |
| B2 | Temporary visitor for pleasure | 4 | 0% |
| E2 | Treaty investor, spouse or child | 4 | 0% |
| P3 | Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program | 4 | 0% |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 3 | 0% |
| E3D | Spouse or child of Australian specialty occupation professional | 3 | 0% |
| C1 | Alien in transit | 2 | 0% |
| C2 | Alien in transit to United Nations Headquarters district | 1 | 0% |
From the Department's annual NIV detail table (nationality by class). Older symbol spellings in the table (B-1,2; H-1B) are shown in the current form.
Visa classes, September 2025
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 86 | 90.5% |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 5 | 5.3% |
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 2 | 2.1% |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 1 | 1.1% |
| P1 | Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group | 1 | 1.1% |
Immigrant visa classes, September 2025 (foreign state of chargeability)
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR5 | Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age | 498 | 52.8% |
| DV | Diversity immigrant (DV1, DV2, DV3) | 325 | 34.5% |
| IR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | 66 | 7% |
| IR2 | Child of U.S. citizen | 15 | 1.6% |
| F4 | Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age, spouse and child (F41, F42, F43) | 9 | 1% |
| F3 | Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33) | 8 | 0.8% |
| CR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status) | 4 | 0.4% |
| E1 | Employment first preference (priority workers): person with extraordinary ability, outstanding professor or researcher, multinational executive or manager, spouse and child (E11-E15) | 4 | 0.4% |
| E3 | Employment third preference: skilled worker or professional holding baccalaureate degree, spouse and child (E31, E32, E34, E35) | 4 | 0.4% |
| EW | Employment third preference, other worker (subgroup numerical limit), spouse and child (EW3, EW4, EW5) | 4 | 0.4% |
| F1 | Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12) | 2 | 0.2% |
| FX | Family second preference, exempt from country limitations: spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (FX1, FX2, FX3, CX1-CX3, BX1-BX3) | 2 | 0.2% |
| E2 | Employment second preference: professional holding advanced degree or alien of exceptional ability, spouse and child (E21-E23) | 1 | 0.1% |
| F2B | Family second preference (2B): unmarried son or daughter of lawful permanent resident, and child (F24, F25, C24, C25, B24, B25) | 1 | 0.1% |
Nonimmigrant issuances by fiscal year, Report of the Visa Office
| Fiscal year | All classes | Visitors (B) | Students, exchange (F, M, J) | Temporary workers | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2015 | 35,363 | 28,967 | 4,944 | 501 | — |
| FY2016 | 29,404 | 23,678 | 4,368 | 448 | -17% |
| FY2017 | 19,801 | 15,065 | 3,568 | 310 | -33% |
| FY2018 | 6,014 | 3,095 | 2,306 | 76 | -70% |
| FY2019 | 4,244 | 1,027 | 2,641 | 77 | -29% |
| FY2020 | 2,182 | 718 | 1,023 | 45 | -49% |
| FY2021 | 3,331 | 340 | 2,650 | 48 | +53% |
| FY2022 | 10,422 | 4,281 | 5,314 | 246 | +213% |
| FY2023 | 17,634 | 10,977 | 5,676 | 294 | +69% |
| FY2024 | 17,305 | 12,490 | 3,554 | 229 | -2% |
Fiscal years run October to September. Every row is the Department's final annual detail table for that year; the visitor, student and worker columns add the table's class columns within one year. No monthly reports are summed.
Adjusted B-visa refusal rate by fiscal year
Dark bar: Iran. Grey bar: Asia median for the same year. The Department's rate covers B visas only; it counts each applicant once, in the status in which the fiscal year ended, so an applicant refused and later issued in the same year counts as an issuance. Source tables: FY2023, FY2024, FY2025.
Diversity Visa selectees by program year
| Program year | Selectees chargeable to Iran | Share of all selectees | All selectees |
|---|---|---|---|
| DV-2016 | 4,501 | 4.9% | 91,563 |
| DV-2017 | 4,500 | 5.4% | 83,910 |
| DV-2018 | 4,500 | 3.9% | 115,968 |
| DV-2019 | 4,199 | 4.8% | 87,610 |
| DV-2020 | 4,101 | 4.9% | 83,884 |
| DV-2021 | 6,001 | 4.5% | 132,404 |
| DV-2022 | 5,739 | 4.8% | 119,021 |
| DV-2023 | 5,506 | 4.6% | 119,262 |
| DV-2024 | 5,077 | 3.6% | 142,947 |
| DV-2025 | 5,267 | 4% | 131,060 |
| DV-2026 | 4,137 | 3.2% | 129,516 |
Counts of selected entrants as published on the Department's "selected entrants" pages; no names are published or held. Selection is not a visa: the Department selects more entrants than visas available, and DV visas are issued only to selectees who qualify before the program year ends.
Questions and answers
What is the U.S. visa refusal rate for nationals of Iran?
The State Department's adjusted refusal rate for B (business and tourist) visas was 62.44% in FY2025 against a Asia median of 25.20%. The Department publishes this rate only for B visas and only by nationality; it counts each applicant once, by the status in which the year ended.
How many U.S. visas were issued to nationals of Iran last year?
17,305 nonimmigrant visas in FY2024, Report of the Visa Office, the Department's final annual figure. In September 2025, the latest monthly report, 95 were issued.
How does September 2025 compare with a year earlier for Iran?
95 nonimmigrant visas, down 94% on September 2024 (1,664). Months are compared one to one; the Department says its monthly reports should not be added together.
Which visa classes do nationals of Iran receive most?
B1/B2 (12,473), F1 (2,144), J1 (654), K1 (489) and F2 (482) in FY2024, Report of the Visa Office.
How many DV lottery selectees did Iran have?
4,137 for DV-2026, 3.2% of all selectees. Earlier years: DV-2022 5,739, DV-2023 5,506, DV-2024 5,077, DV-2025 5,267. Being selected is not a visa; the Department selects more entrants than there are visas available.
Where do nationals of Iran apply?
This site's post table lists no U.S. post in Iran; nationals apply at posts in other countries.
Where does this data come from?
The State Department's monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by nationality, the annual Report of the Visa Office detail tables, the annual adjusted B-visa refusal rate tables and the Diversity Visa selectee pages. Data through 30 Sep 2025.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Nationality and Visa Class; Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Foreign State of Chargeability or Place of Birth and Visa Class; Report of the Visa Office NIV detail tables (workbook); Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality; Diversity Visa selected entrants pages. All public domain. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.