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San Jose · Costa Rica

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

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 20th 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."

San Jose, Costa Rica: 11,952 nonimmigrant visas issued in September 2025, up 77% on September 2024 (6,758).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 11,677, 97.7% of the post's issuances, H2A (temporary worker performing agricultural services) with 61, 0.5% of the post's issuances and H2B (temporary worker performing other services) with 54, 0.5% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, San Jose ranks 13th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 106th of 184.

On the immigrant side the post issued 48 immigrant visas in September 2025, led by IR1 (16) and IR5 (11); 111 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 10 months for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, under ½ month for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and under ½ month for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is shorter than the 14 months listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025). The average wait actually experienced by B1/B2 applicants interviewed in the previous month was 7 months.

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B210 monthsnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, Junder ½ monthnext available appointment; median post under ½ month
Worker H, L, O, P, Qunder ½ 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.

B1/B2 applicants interviewed in the previous month had waited an average of 7 months from fee payment to interview, per the Department's table; it publishes this average only where the next appointment is more than three months away. Crew and transit (C, D, C1/D): under ½ month.

11,952nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025+77% vs Sep 2024 (6,758)
10,895nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025+10% month on month
48immigrant visas, Sep 2025111 in Sep 2024
1.45%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

05,97611,952VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 8,577 (Visitors 7,946, Students and exchange visitors 326, Temporary workers 230, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 38, Transit and crew 34, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Nov 2022: 8,948 (Visitors 8,301, Students and exchange visitors 441, Temporary workers 157, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 18, Transit and crew 22, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)Dec 2022: 7,629 (Visitors 7,310, Students and exchange visitors 128, Temporary workers 142, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 30, Transit and crew 18, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Jan 2023: 6,693 (Visitors 6,416, Students and exchange visitors 73, Temporary workers 152, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 30, Transit and crew 18, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Feb 2023: 6,099 (Visitors 5,882, Students and exchange visitors 40, Temporary workers 127, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 23, Transit and crew 23, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Mar 2023: 4,784 (Visitors 4,491, Students and exchange visitors 65, Temporary workers 180, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 28, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)Apr 2023: 4,688 (Visitors 4,416, Students and exchange visitors 50, Temporary workers 181, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 6, Transit and crew 29, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)May 2023: 7,125 (Visitors 6,648, Students and exchange visitors 179, Temporary workers 216, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 29, Transit and crew 31, Other nonimmigrant classes 22)Jun 2023: 8,788 (Visitors 8,364, Students and exchange visitors 229, Temporary workers 117, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 32, Transit and crew 39, Other nonimmigrant classes 7)Jul 2023: 6,275 (Visitors 5,935, Students and exchange visitors 178, Temporary workers 107, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 34, Transit and crew 12, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)Aug 2023: 6,710 (Visitors 6,260, Students and exchange visitors 147, Temporary workers 224, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 48, Transit and crew 21, Other nonimmigrant classes 10)Sep 2023: 5,874 (Visitors 5,498, Students and exchange visitors 77, Temporary workers 232, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 28, Transit and crew 27, Other nonimmigrant classes 12)Oct 2023: 6,723 (Visitors 6,092, Students and exchange visitors 355, Temporary workers 203, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 27, Transit and crew 33, Other nonimmigrant classes 13)Nov 2023: 4,764 (Visitors 4,175, Students and exchange visitors 461, Temporary workers 97, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 9, Other nonimmigrant classes 11)Dec 2023: 7,089 (Visitors 6,820, Students and exchange visitors 104, Temporary workers 105, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 14, Transit and crew 23, Other nonimmigrant classes 23)Jan 2024: 8,377 (Visitors 8,109, Students and exchange visitors 40, Temporary workers 151, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 25, Transit and crew 36, Other nonimmigrant classes 16)Feb 2024: 7,692 (Visitors 7,465, Students and exchange visitors 32, Temporary workers 143, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 16, Transit and crew 21, Other nonimmigrant classes 15)Mar 2024: 7,426 (Visitors 7,149, Students and exchange visitors 58, Temporary workers 172, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 13, Other nonimmigrant classes 21)Apr 2024: 7,471 (Visitors 7,137, Students and exchange visitors 89, Temporary workers 197, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 22, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)May 2024: 7,300 (Visitors 6,846, Students and exchange visitors 142, Temporary workers 268, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 31, Transit and crew 5, Other nonimmigrant classes 8)Jun 2024: 5,477 (Visitors 4,959, Students and exchange visitors 222, Temporary workers 251, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 22, Transit and crew 10, Other nonimmigrant classes 13)Jul 2024: 8,601 (Visitors 8,065, Students and exchange visitors 257, Temporary workers 199, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 47, Transit and crew 21, Other nonimmigrant classes 12)Aug 2024: 7,003 (Visitors 6,642, Students and exchange visitors 108, Temporary workers 152, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 42, Transit and crew 33, Other nonimmigrant classes 26)Sep 2024: 6,758 (Visitors 6,475, Students and exchange visitors 42, Temporary workers 181, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 22, Transit and crew 18, Other nonimmigrant classes 20)Oct 2024: 5,880 (Visitors 5,274, Students and exchange visitors 311, Temporary workers 247, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 17, Other nonimmigrant classes 14)Nov 2024: 5,986 (Visitors 5,188, Students and exchange visitors 591, Temporary workers 171, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 20, Transit and crew 9, Other nonimmigrant classes 7)Dec 2024: 7,853 (Visitors 7,537, Students and exchange visitors 118, Temporary workers 154, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 19, Transit and crew 15, Other nonimmigrant classes 10)Jan 2025: 8,385 (Visitors 8,164, Students and exchange visitors 51, Temporary workers 135, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 16, Transit and crew 16, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Feb 2025: 8,932 (Visitors 8,756, Students and exchange visitors 20, Temporary workers 137, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 10, Transit and crew 8, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Mar 2025: 10,004 (Visitors 9,604, Students and exchange visitors 57, Temporary workers 299, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 10, Other nonimmigrant classes 13)Apr 2025: 9,243 (Visitors 8,938, Students and exchange visitors 60, Temporary workers 207, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 10, Other nonimmigrant classes 7)May 2025: 10,035 (Visitors 9,536, Students and exchange visitors 143, Temporary workers 314, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 23, Transit and crew 17, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jun 2025: 8,862 (Visitors 8,518, Students and exchange visitors 77, Temporary workers 230, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 17, Transit and crew 16, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Jul 2025: 9,772 (Visitors 9,329, Students and exchange visitors 140, Temporary workers 277, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 11, Transit and crew 11, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Aug 2025: 10,895 (Visitors 10,619, Students and exchange visitors 103, Temporary workers 150, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 13, Transit and crew 7, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Sep 2025: 11,952 (Visitors 11,678, Students and exchange visitors 51, Temporary workers 199, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 10, Transit and crew 10, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at San Jose 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 Costa Rica and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025San JoseCosta RicaAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued11,95211,952823,557
Change on Sep 2024+77%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued484845,966
Visitors share97.7%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share0.4%—2.9%
Temporary workers share1.7%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share0.1%—2.1%
Transit and crew share0.1%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment10 months—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointmentunder ½ month—median under ½ month

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

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure11,67797.7%13 of 211
H2ATemporary worker performing agricultural services610.5%10 of 43
H2BTemporary worker performing other services540.5%18 of 88
J1Exchange visitor340.3%70 of 194
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)320.3%44 of 144
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee190.2%44 of 133
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse140.1%68 of 163
F1Student in an academic or language training program120.1%106 of 184
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3100.1%60 of 137
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa80.1%132 of 171
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family60.1%122 of 169
J2Spouse or child of exchange visitor40%78 of 124
K1Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen40%55 of 96
A1Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family30%77 of 128
IRepresentative of foreign information media, spouse and children30%73 of 119
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics30%84 of 132
C1Alien in transit20%49 of 87
B1Temporary visitor for business10%124 of 128
E3Australian specialty occupation professional10%25 of 28
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family10%133 of 137
H3Trainee10%16 of 17
M1Vocational student and other nonacademic student10%88 of 91
R1Alien in a religious occupation10%92 of 96

Immigrant visa classes

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
IR1Spouse of U.S. citizen1633.3%56 of 115
IR5Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age1122.9%71 of 109
IR2Child of U.S. citizen612.5%65 of 103
CR1Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status)48.3%57 of 99
FXFamily second preference, exempt from country limitations: spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (FX1, FX2, FX3, CX1-CX3, BX1-BX3)48.3%47 of 84
CR2Child of U.S. citizen (conditional status)36.3%12 of 39
F1Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12)36.3%53 of 82
DVDiversity immigrant (DV1, DV2, DV3)12.1%95 of 96

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

Seasonality

Jan98
Feb102
Mar101
Apr95
May99
Jun93
Jul96
Aug103
Sep92
Oct121
Nov109
Dec109
Which months are busiest at San Jose. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

0285570202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 394 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 31 Dec 2022: B1/B2 371 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 917 Jan 2023: B1/B2 448 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 291 Feb 2023: B1/B2 259 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Mar 2023: B1/B2 359 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 217 Apr 2023: B1/B2 378 days; F/M/J 6; H/L/O/P/Q 69 Jun 2023: B1/B2 483 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 231 Jul 2023: B1/B2 385 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 31 Aug 2023: B1/B2 385 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 320 Sep 2023: B1/B2 445 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 312 Oct 2023: B1/B2 428 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 35 Nov 2023: B1/B2 428 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 317 Dec 2023: B1/B2 451 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 36 Jan 2024: B1/B2 435 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Feb 2024: B1/B2 462 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Mar 2024: B1/B2 484 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 79 Apr 2024: B1/B2 484 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 78 May 2024: B1/B2 504 days; F/M/J 4; H/L/O/P/Q 417 Jun 2024: B1/B2 521 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Jul 2024: B1/B2 528 days; F/M/J 11; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Aug 2024: B1/B2 494 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 714 Sep 2024: B1/B2 533 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 12 Oct 2024: B1/B2 210 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 212 Nov 2024: B1/B2 152 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 51 Dec 2024: B1/B2 222 days; F/M/J 4; H/L/O/P/Q 46 Jan 2025: B1/B2 262 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 17 Feb 2025: B1/B2 269 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 15 Mar 2025: B1/B2 269 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 116 Apr 2025: B1/B2 279 days; F/M/J 20; H/L/O/P/Q 231 May 2025: B1/B2 300 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 154 Jun 2025: B1/B2 390 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 02 Jul 2025: B1/B2 390 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Aug 2025: B1/B2 420 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 07 Sep 2025: B1/B2 465 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 303 Oct 2025: B1/B2 510 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Nov 2025: B1/B2 570 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 72 Dec 2025: B1/B2 420 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Jan 2026: B1/B2 315 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 78 Feb 2026: B1/B2 270 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Mar 2026: B1/B2 390 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 74 Apr 2026: B1/B2 390 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 714 May 2026: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Jun 2026: B1/B2 390 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Jul 2026: B1/B2 300 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 7

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

Next available appointment at San Jose 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 202511,95248+77%
Aug 202510,89579+56%
Jul 20259,77299+14%
Jun 20258,86253+62%
May 202510,03563+37%
Apr 20259,24355+24%
Mar 202510,00460+35%
Feb 20258,93247+16%
Jan 20258,385690%
Dec 20247,853144+11%
Nov 20245,986163+26%
Oct 20245,880219-13%
Sep 20246,758111+15%
Aug 20247,00379+4%
Jul 20248,60165+37%
Jun 20245,47749-38%
May 20247,30053+2%
Apr 20247,47194+59%
Mar 20247,42684+55%
Feb 20247,69271+26%
Jan 20248,37774+25%
Dec 20237,08942-7%
Nov 20234,76453-47%
Oct 20236,72349-22%

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.

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

Questions and answers

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

11,952 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables, and 48 immigrant visas. In September 2024 the post issued 6,758 nonimmigrant visas.

What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in San Jose?

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 10 months away (over 6 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 San Jose?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as under ½ month away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does San Jose issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (11,677, 97.7%), H2A (61, 0.5%), H2B (54, 0.5%), J1 (34, 0.3%) and L1 (32, 0.3%). 23 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at San Jose rising or falling?

September 2025: 11,952 nonimmigrant visas, up 77% on September 2024 (6,758). 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 San Jose 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 San Jose 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.