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Cotonou · Benin

Visa issuances and wait times at the U.S. post in Cotonou

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 180th of 217 posts by nonimmigrant issuances in Sep 2025 · wait times read 1 Jul 2026

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. On wait times the Department says: "New appointments are added regularly, so you may get an appointment sooner" and "The average wait times we report do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time."

In September 2025, the latest month published, the post in Cotonou (Benin) issued 146 nonimmigrant visas, down 26% on September 2024 (198).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 116, 79.5% of the post's issuances, A2 (other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family) with 10, 6.8% of the post's issuances and K1 (fiance(e) of U.S. citizen) with 6, 4.1% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Cotonou ranks 159th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 177th of 184.

On the immigrant side the post issued 114 immigrant visas in September 2025, led by IR1 (34) and FX (25); 143 in September 2024.

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; this site does not add monthly reports together, so the month-by-month table below is read one month at a time.

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table read on 1 Jul 2026 listed the next available appointment as 1 month for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, 1 month for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and 1 month for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is longer than the under ½ month listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025).

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B21 monthnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, J1 monthnext available appointment; median post under ½ month
Worker H, L, O, P, Q1 monthnext available appointment; median post under ½ month

under 2 months2 to 6 monthsover 6 monthsnot listedRead from the Department's table 1 Jul 2026.

146nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025-26% vs Sep 2024 (198)
123nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025+19% month on month
114immigrant visas, Sep 2025143 in Sep 2024
0.02%share of worldwide nonimmigrant issuances, Sep 2025median post: 909 that month

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.

Monthly issuances by broad class, last 36 months

0176351VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 199 (Visitors 167, Students and exchange visitors 15, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2022: 177 (Visitors 140, Students and exchange visitors 8, Temporary workers 2, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 27, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2022: 142 (Visitors 102, Students and exchange visitors 31, Temporary workers 2, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Jan 2023: 142 (Visitors 99, Students and exchange visitors 15, Temporary workers 3, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 25, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2023: 161 (Visitors 131, Students and exchange visitors 15, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2023: 183 (Visitors 149, Students and exchange visitors 11, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 1, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Apr 2023: 101 (Visitors 82, Students and exchange visitors 3, Temporary workers 1, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)May 2023: 149 (Visitors 114, Students and exchange visitors 27, Temporary workers 3, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2023: 92 (Visitors 60, Students and exchange visitors 21, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 9, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jul 2023: 174 (Visitors 133, Students and exchange visitors 22, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 19, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2023: 177 (Visitors 114, Students and exchange visitors 42, Temporary workers 4, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2023: 193 (Visitors 151, Students and exchange visitors 24, Temporary workers 1, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 15, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Oct 2023: 158 (Visitors 115, Students and exchange visitors 23, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 18, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Nov 2023: 166 (Visitors 132, Students and exchange visitors 20, Temporary workers 4, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Dec 2023: 118 (Visitors 74, Students and exchange visitors 33, Temporary workers 2, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 3, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jan 2024: 151 (Visitors 124, Students and exchange visitors 16, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 10, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Feb 2024: 207 (Visitors 175, Students and exchange visitors 14, Temporary workers 3, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Mar 2024: 240 (Visitors 195, Students and exchange visitors 18, Temporary workers 1, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 12)Apr 2024: 242 (Visitors 182, Students and exchange visitors 26, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 29, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)May 2024: 206 (Visitors 151, Students and exchange visitors 41, Temporary workers 2, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 12, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2024: 200 (Visitors 151, Students and exchange visitors 37, Temporary workers 2, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 10, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2024: 351 (Visitors 288, Students and exchange visitors 54, Temporary workers 1, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 1, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Aug 2024: 316 (Visitors 275, Students and exchange visitors 21, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 18, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Sep 2024: 198 (Visitors 138, Students and exchange visitors 18, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 38, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Oct 2024: 190 (Visitors 167, Students and exchange visitors 6, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2024: 130 (Visitors 92, Students and exchange visitors 20, Temporary workers 2, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 8, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 8)Dec 2024: 126 (Visitors 90, Students and exchange visitors 28, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 7, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Jan 2025: 186 (Visitors 144, Students and exchange visitors 12, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 29, Transit and crew 1, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2025: 181 (Visitors 139, Students and exchange visitors 6, Temporary workers 8, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 25, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Mar 2025: 163 (Visitors 136, Students and exchange visitors 13, Temporary workers 1, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2025: 189 (Visitors 158, Students and exchange visitors 12, Temporary workers 1, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 7)May 2025: 138 (Visitors 92, Students and exchange visitors 18, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 20, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 8)Jun 2025: 144 (Visitors 120, Students and exchange visitors 13, Temporary workers 4, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 4, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Jul 2025: 76 (Visitors 51, Students and exchange visitors 12, Temporary workers 6, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 5, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Aug 2025: 123 (Visitors 94, Students and exchange visitors 7, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)Sep 2025: 146 (Visitors 116, Students and exchange visitors 9, Temporary workers 0, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 7)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Cotonou by month, stacked by broad class group.

VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classes

Groups follow the Department's visa symbols: visitors (B), students and exchange visitors (F, M, J), temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, E, R, TN, I), diplomatic and official (A, G, NATO), transit and crew (C, D), other. Hover a month for its counts. Each bar is one monthly report.

Compared with Benin and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025CotonouBeninAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued146146823,557
Change on Sep 2024-26%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued11411445,966
Visitors share79.5%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share6.2%—2.9%
Temporary workers share0%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share9.6%—2.1%
Transit and crew share0%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share4.8%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment1 month—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointment1 month—median under ½ month

All figures are from the September 2025 tables. The country column adds the posts located in Benin within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of Benin, which is on the Benin nationality page.

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure11679.5%159 of 211
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family106.8%97 of 169
K1Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen64.1%39 of 96
J1Exchange visitor53.4%147 of 194
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family42.7%61 of 137
J2Spouse or child of exchange visitor21.4%93 of 124
F1Student in an academic or language training program10.7%177 of 184
F2Spouse or child of F110.7%85 of 104
K2Child of K-110.7%26 of 35

Immigrant visa classes

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
IR1Spouse of U.S. citizen3429.8%41 of 115
FXFamily second preference, exempt from country limitations: spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (FX1, FX2, FX3, CX1-CX3, BX1-BX3)2521.9%18 of 84
DVDiversity immigrant (DV1, DV2, DV3)2118.4%47 of 96
F1Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12)119.6%22 of 82
IR2Child of U.S. citizen76.1%59 of 103
F2AFamily second preference (2A): spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (F21, F22, F23, C21-C23, B21-B23)43.5%41 of 73
F3Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33)43.5%46 of 65
E1Employment first preference (priority workers): person with extraordinary ability, outstanding professor or researcher, multinational executive or manager, spouse and child (E11-E15)32.6%13 of 25
E3Employment third preference: skilled worker or professional holding baccalaureate degree, spouse and child (E31, E32, E34, E35)32.6%22 of 35
IR5Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age21.8%102 of 109

Ranks are among posts in the same month's table. Earlier months are linked from the month-by-month table below.

Seasonality

Jan58
Feb64
Mar100
Apr117
May103
Jun110
Jul126
Aug120
Sep114
Oct96
Nov79
Dec81
Which months are busiest at Cotonou. Index over 6 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

0196391202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 175 days; F/M/J 175; H/L/O/P/Q 1751 Dec 2022: B1/B2 168 days; F/M/J 168; H/L/O/P/Q 16817 Jan 2023: B1/B2 232 days; F/M/J 232; H/L/O/P/Q 2321 Feb 2023: B1/B2 245 days; F/M/J 245; H/L/O/P/Q 2456 Mar 2023: B1/B2 252 days; F/M/J 252; H/L/O/P/Q 25217 Apr 2023: B1/B2 294 days; F/M/J 294; H/L/O/P/Q 2949 Jun 2023: B1/B2 370 days; F/M/J 370; H/L/O/P/Q 37031 Jul 2023: B1/B2 391 days; F/M/J 391; H/L/O/P/Q 3911 Aug 2023: B1/B2 391 days; F/M/J 391; H/L/O/P/Q 39120 Sep 2023: B1/B2 391 days; F/M/J 391; H/L/O/P/Q 39112 Oct 2023: B1/B2 182 days; F/M/J 182; H/L/O/P/Q 1825 Nov 2023: B1/B2 234 days; F/M/J 234; H/L/O/P/Q 23417 Dec 2023: B1/B2 269 days; F/M/J 269; H/L/O/P/Q 2696 Jan 2024: B1/B2 282 days; F/M/J 282; H/L/O/P/Q 2821 Feb 2024: B1/B2 296 days; F/M/J 296; H/L/O/P/Q 2966 Mar 2024: B1/B2 314 days; F/M/J 314; H/L/O/P/Q 3149 Apr 2024: B1/B2 303 days; F/M/J 303; H/L/O/P/Q 3038 May 2024: B1/B2 162 days; F/M/J 162; H/L/O/P/Q 16217 Jun 2024: B1/B2 246 days; F/M/J 246; H/L/O/P/Q 2466 Jul 2024: B1/B2 15 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 157 Aug 2024: B1/B2 210 days; F/M/J 210; H/L/O/P/Q 21014 Sep 2024: B1/B2 212 days; F/M/J 212; H/L/O/P/Q 2122 Oct 2024: B1/B2 208 days; F/M/J 208; H/L/O/P/Q 20812 Nov 2024: B1/B2 211 days; F/M/J 211; H/L/O/P/Q 2111 Dec 2024: B1/B2 211 days; F/M/J 211; H/L/O/P/Q 2116 Jan 2025: B1/B2 202 days; F/M/J 202; H/L/O/P/Q 2027 Feb 2025: B1/B2 197 days; F/M/J 197; H/L/O/P/Q 1975 Mar 2025: B1/B2 197 days; F/M/J 197; H/L/O/P/Q 19716 Apr 2025: B1/B2 168 days; F/M/J 168; H/L/O/P/Q 1681 May 2025: B1/B2 150 days; F/M/J 150; H/L/O/P/Q 1504 Jun 2025: B1/B2 120 days; F/M/J 120; H/L/O/P/Q 1202 Jul 2025: B1/B2 120 days; F/M/J 120; H/L/O/P/Q 1203 Aug 2025: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 907 Sep 2025: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 603 Oct 2025: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 601 Nov 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 602 Dec 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Jan 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 78 Feb 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Mar 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 74 Apr 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 3014 May 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Jun 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 301 Jul 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 30

Visitor B1/B2Student F, M, JWorker H, L, O, P, Q

Next available appointment at Cotonou over time. Days to the next available appointment as listed on each reading date (44 readings, 4 Nov 2022 to 1 Jul 2026). From 1 May 2025 the Department publishes the estimate in half-month steps; those are shown as 30 days per month.

Month by month

MonthNonimmigrantImmigrantvs same month prior year
Sep 2025146114-26%
Aug 2025123145-61%
Jul 202576106-78%
Jun 202514486-28%
May 202513884-33%
Apr 2025189145-22%
Mar 202516345-32%
Feb 202518189-13%
Jan 202518673+23%
Dec 202412677+7%
Nov 202413043-22%
Oct 202419092+20%
Sep 2024198143+3%
Aug 2024316166+79%
Jul 2024351111+102%
Jun 2024200104+117%
May 2024206115+38%
Apr 202424275+140%
Mar 202424079+31%
Feb 202420750+29%
Jan 202415145+6%
Dec 202311847-17%
Nov 202316657-6%
Oct 202315872-21%

One row per monthly report; the rows are not added together. Each month links to the post's class breakdown for that month. Global totals for any month: September 2025.

Cotonou
Location of the U.S. post in Cotonou.This post Other posts in the country Outlines: Natural Earth.

Questions and answers

How many visas did the U.S. post in Cotonou issue last month?

146 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables, and 114 immigrant visas. In September 2024 the post issued 198 nonimmigrant visas.

What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in Cotonou?

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 1 month away (under 2 months). The Department updates the table monthly and says new appointments are added regularly, so an applicant may get an appointment sooner.

What is the wait for a student visa interview in Cotonou?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as 1 month away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does Cotonou issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (116, 79.5%), A2 (10, 6.8%), K1 (6, 4.1%), J1 (5, 3.4%) and G4 (4, 2.7%). 9 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Cotonou rising or falling?

September 2025: 146 nonimmigrant visas, down 26% on September 2024 (198). The month-by-month series on this page shows the path one month at a time; the Department notes that monthly reports are preliminary and subject to change and should not be added together.

How many visas does Cotonou issue in a year?

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office, and says its monthly reports should not be aggregated, so this site shows no yearly figure for a post. The annual tables by nationality are on the nationality pages.

What does the issuance count for Cotonou not tell you?

It is the number of visas issued, not the number of applications received or interviews held, and it says nothing about the outcome of any individual application. The Department publishes refusal rates only for B visas by nationality, not by post.

Where does this data come from?

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by post and visa class, and a Global Visa Wait Times table. Issuances on this page run March 2017 to September 2025; wait times are read from the Department's table and kept as dated snapshots (44 readings for this post).

Provenance

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class and Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class (latest NIV table, latest IV table), public domain; Global Visa Wait Times table, read on the dates shown. Issuance data through 30 Sep 2025; site generated 1 Oct 2026. Errors in processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections.