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Kingston · Jamaica

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

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 32nd 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 Kingston (Jamaica) issued 7,190 nonimmigrant visas, close to September 2024 (6,818, +5%).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 5,661, 78.7% of the post's issuances, H2B (temporary worker performing other services) with 840, 11.7% of the post's issuances and H2A (temporary worker performing agricultural services) with 113, 1.6% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Kingston ranks 27th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 93rd of 184.

On the immigrant side the post issued 1,207 immigrant visas in September 2025, led by IR5 (252) and IR2 (243); 1,586 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 3 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 longer than the under ½ month listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025).

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B23 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.

7,190nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025+5% vs Sep 2024 (6,818)
6,409nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025+12% month on month
1,207immigrant visas, Sep 20251,586 in Sep 2024
0.87%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

06,91713,833VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 6,535 (Visitors 4,707, Students and exchange visitors 169, Temporary workers 1,187, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 78, Transit and crew 379, Other nonimmigrant classes 15)Nov 2022: 5,862 (Visitors 4,905, Students and exchange visitors 210, Temporary workers 332, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 50, Transit and crew 354, Other nonimmigrant classes 11)Dec 2022: 5,931 (Visitors 4,926, Students and exchange visitors 314, Temporary workers 243, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 30, Transit and crew 384, Other nonimmigrant classes 34)Jan 2023: 5,772 (Visitors 4,344, Students and exchange visitors 196, Temporary workers 915, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 26, Transit and crew 278, Other nonimmigrant classes 13)Feb 2023: 7,071 (Visitors 4,712, Students and exchange visitors 775, Temporary workers 1,371, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 36, Transit and crew 165, Other nonimmigrant classes 12)Mar 2023: 12,584 (Visitors 5,942, Students and exchange visitors 2,850, Temporary workers 3,511, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 51, Transit and crew 195, Other nonimmigrant classes 35)Apr 2023: 9,257 (Visitors 2,637, Students and exchange visitors 2,662, Temporary workers 3,768, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 46, Transit and crew 119, Other nonimmigrant classes 25)May 2023: 10,621 (Visitors 5,744, Students and exchange visitors 2,594, Temporary workers 1,980, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 54, Transit and crew 218, Other nonimmigrant classes 31)Jun 2023: 9,671 (Visitors 7,196, Students and exchange visitors 1,102, Temporary workers 987, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 68, Transit and crew 280, Other nonimmigrant classes 38)Jul 2023: 9,027 (Visitors 6,586, Students and exchange visitors 950, Temporary workers 1,177, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 66, Transit and crew 219, Other nonimmigrant classes 29)Aug 2023: 7,735 (Visitors 5,103, Students and exchange visitors 447, Temporary workers 1,735, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 77, Transit and crew 344, Other nonimmigrant classes 29)Sep 2023: 6,520 (Visitors 5,122, Students and exchange visitors 119, Temporary workers 1,025, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 66, Transit and crew 156, Other nonimmigrant classes 32)Oct 2023: 8,405 (Visitors 7,101, Students and exchange visitors 177, Temporary workers 836, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 42, Transit and crew 226, Other nonimmigrant classes 23)Nov 2023: 8,982 (Visitors 7,842, Students and exchange visitors 301, Temporary workers 508, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 34, Transit and crew 236, Other nonimmigrant classes 61)Dec 2023: 8,157 (Visitors 7,120, Students and exchange visitors 242, Temporary workers 552, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 31, Transit and crew 172, Other nonimmigrant classes 40)Jan 2024: 10,078 (Visitors 8,559, Students and exchange visitors 187, Temporary workers 1,019, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 47, Transit and crew 204, Other nonimmigrant classes 62)Feb 2024: 9,351 (Visitors 6,996, Students and exchange visitors 1,060, Temporary workers 1,006, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 47, Transit and crew 208, Other nonimmigrant classes 34)Mar 2024: 13,833 (Visitors 7,788, Students and exchange visitors 2,540, Temporary workers 3,195, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 47, Transit and crew 165, Other nonimmigrant classes 98)Apr 2024: 13,689 (Visitors 6,014, Students and exchange visitors 3,507, Temporary workers 3,888, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 70, Transit and crew 144, Other nonimmigrant classes 66)May 2024: 12,940 (Visitors 7,211, Students and exchange visitors 2,817, Temporary workers 2,624, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 89, Transit and crew 141, Other nonimmigrant classes 58)Jun 2024: 9,687 (Visitors 7,573, Students and exchange visitors 825, Temporary workers 992, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 55, Transit and crew 179, Other nonimmigrant classes 63)Jul 2024: 11,057 (Visitors 8,872, Students and exchange visitors 856, Temporary workers 1,061, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 44, Transit and crew 154, Other nonimmigrant classes 70)Aug 2024: 8,053 (Visitors 5,746, Students and exchange visitors 373, Temporary workers 1,629, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 66, Transit and crew 144, Other nonimmigrant classes 95)Sep 2024: 6,818 (Visitors 5,098, Students and exchange visitors 131, Temporary workers 1,304, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 41, Transit and crew 133, Other nonimmigrant classes 111)Oct 2024: 9,460 (Visitors 8,128, Students and exchange visitors 209, Temporary workers 849, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 67, Transit and crew 134, Other nonimmigrant classes 73)Nov 2024: 8,661 (Visitors 7,809, Students and exchange visitors 229, Temporary workers 436, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 24, Transit and crew 120, Other nonimmigrant classes 43)Dec 2024: 6,556 (Visitors 5,624, Students and exchange visitors 250, Temporary workers 534, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 18, Transit and crew 99, Other nonimmigrant classes 31)Jan 2025: 8,631 (Visitors 6,960, Students and exchange visitors 287, Temporary workers 1,136, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 19, Transit and crew 183, Other nonimmigrant classes 46)Feb 2025: 6,978 (Visitors 4,447, Students and exchange visitors 1,325, Temporary workers 961, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 177, Other nonimmigrant classes 47)Mar 2025: 12,141 (Visitors 5,475, Students and exchange visitors 3,091, Temporary workers 3,341, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 28, Transit and crew 169, Other nonimmigrant classes 37)Apr 2025: 13,388 (Visitors 6,593, Students and exchange visitors 3,331, Temporary workers 3,227, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 57, Transit and crew 143, Other nonimmigrant classes 37)May 2025: 10,833 (Visitors 5,989, Students and exchange visitors 1,924, Temporary workers 2,690, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 49, Transit and crew 156, Other nonimmigrant classes 25)Jun 2025: 7,091 (Visitors 5,195, Students and exchange visitors 346, Temporary workers 1,347, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 37, Transit and crew 151, Other nonimmigrant classes 15)Jul 2025: 7,653 (Visitors 5,215, Students and exchange visitors 879, Temporary workers 1,338, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 40, Transit and crew 161, Other nonimmigrant classes 20)Aug 2025: 6,409 (Visitors 4,607, Students and exchange visitors 281, Temporary workers 1,298, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 55, Transit and crew 150, Other nonimmigrant classes 18)Sep 2025: 7,190 (Visitors 5,674, Students and exchange visitors 124, Temporary workers 1,139, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 80, Transit and crew 151, Other nonimmigrant classes 22)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Kingston 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 Jamaica and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025KingstonJamaicaAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued7,1907,190823,557
Change on Sep 2024+5%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued1,2071,20745,966
Visitors share78.9%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share1.7%—2.9%
Temporary workers share15.8%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share1.1%—2.1%
Transit and crew share2.1%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0.3%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment3 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 Jamaica within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of Jamaica, which is on the Jamaica nationality page.

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure5,66178.7%27 of 211
H2BTemporary worker performing other services84011.7%3 of 88
H2ATemporary worker performing agricultural services1131.6%8 of 43
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa1091.5%38 of 171
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse691%20 of 163
J1Exchange visitor610.8%42 of 194
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3530.7%11 of 137
J2Spouse or child of exchange visitor460.6%7 of 124
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family430.6%50 of 169
C1Alien in transit420.6%2 of 87
K1Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen190.3%22 of 96
C3Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit180.3%5 of 49
P3Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program160.2%16 of 69
F1Student in an academic or language training program150.2%93 of 184
O2Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-1150.2%21 of 83
G2Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family120.2%89 of 157
B1Temporary visitor for business80.1%59 of 128
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)80.1%87 of 144
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family70.1%39 of 137
B2Temporary visitor for pleasure50.1%12 of 50
E2Treaty investor, spouse or child50.1%41 of 68
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee50.1%94 of 133
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics50.1%61 of 132
R2Spouse or child of R140.1%8 of 42
K2Child of K-130%21 of 35
P1Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group30%76 of 110
M1Vocational student and other nonacademic student20%52 of 91
E3DSpouse or child of Australian specialty occupation professional10%17 of 23
P4Spouse or child of P-1, P-2, or P-310%28 of 38
R1Alien in a religious occupation10%79 of 96

Immigrant visa classes

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
IR5Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age25220.9%11 of 109
IR2Child of U.S. citizen24320.1%4 of 103
F1Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12)20817.2%3 of 82
IR1Spouse of U.S. citizen14011.6%14 of 115
F3Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33)847%5 of 65
F2AFamily second preference (2A): spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (F21, F22, F23, C21-C23, B21-B23)816.7%1 of 73
FXFamily second preference, exempt from country limitations: spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (FX1, FX2, FX3, CX1-CX3, BX1-BX3)564.6%10 of 84
F2BFamily second preference (2B): unmarried son or daughter of lawful permanent resident, and child (F24, F25, C24, C25, B24, B25)494.1%6 of 58
CR1Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status)433.6%8 of 99
E3Employment third preference: skilled worker or professional holding baccalaureate degree, spouse and child (E31, E32, E34, E35)171.4%4 of 35
F4Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age, spouse and child (F41, F42, F43)161.3%27 of 73
CR2Child of U.S. citizen (conditional status)131.1%2 of 39
IB1Self-petition spouse of U.S. citizen30.2%2 of 6
SB1Returning resident20.2%12 of 38

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

Seasonality

Jan70
Feb88
Mar145
Apr113
May122
Jun144
Jul114
Aug103
Sep75
Oct86
Nov76
Dec94
Which months are busiest at Kingston. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

0184368202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 92 days; F/M/J 6; H/L/O/P/Q 91 Dec 2022: B1/B2 72 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 5117 Jan 2023: B1/B2 84 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 281 Feb 2023: B1/B2 31 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 326 Mar 2023: B1/B2 343 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 5917 Apr 2023: B1/B2 368 days; F/M/J 18; H/L/O/P/Q 569 Jun 2023: B1/B2 117 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 4231 Jul 2023: B1/B2 141 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 171 Aug 2023: B1/B2 141 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 1720 Sep 2023: B1/B2 141 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 1712 Oct 2023: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 85 Nov 2023: B1/B2 54 days; F/M/J 20; H/L/O/P/Q 1917 Dec 2023: B1/B2 36 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Jan 2024: B1/B2 28 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Feb 2024: B1/B2 25 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 16 Mar 2024: B1/B2 10 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q —9 Apr 2024: B1/B2 15 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 88 May 2024: B1/B2 15 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 817 Jun 2024: B1/B2 15 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 86 Jul 2024: B1/B2 43 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 67 Aug 2024: B1/B2 23 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 1314 Sep 2024: B1/B2 23 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q —2 Oct 2024: B1/B2 16 days; F/M/J 4; H/L/O/P/Q 112 Nov 2024: B1/B2 13 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 11 Dec 2024: B1/B2 8 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 56 Jan 2025: B1/B2 8 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 17 Feb 2025: B1/B2 — days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q —5 Mar 2025: B1/B2 — days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q —16 Apr 2025: B1/B2 4 days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q —1 May 2025: B1/B2 15 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 04 Jun 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 02 Jul 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Aug 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 07 Sep 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Oct 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Nov 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 72 Dec 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Jan 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 78 Feb 2026: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Mar 2026: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 74 Apr 2026: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 714 May 2026: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Jun 2026: B1/B2 150 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Jul 2026: B1/B2 90 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 Kingston 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 20257,1901,207+5%
Aug 20256,4091,327-20%
Jul 20257,653939-31%
Jun 20257,0911,058-27%
May 202510,833969-16%
Apr 202513,388858-2%
Mar 202512,141672-12%
Feb 20256,978994-25%
Jan 20258,631888-14%
Dec 20246,556892-20%
Nov 20248,6611,430-4%
Oct 20249,4601,633+13%
Sep 20246,8181,586+5%
Aug 20248,0531,706+4%
Jul 202411,0572,133+22%
Jun 20249,6872,1820%
May 202412,9401,680+22%
Apr 202413,6891,620+48%
Mar 202413,8331,366+10%
Feb 20249,351865+32%
Jan 202410,0781,450+75%
Dec 20238,1571,370+38%
Nov 20238,9821,207+53%
Oct 20238,405963+29%

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.

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

Questions and answers

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

7,190 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables, and 1,207 immigrant visas. In September 2024 the post issued 6,818 nonimmigrant visas.

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

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 3 months away (2 to 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 Kingston?

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 Kingston issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (5,661, 78.7%), H2B (840, 11.7%), H2A (113, 1.6%), C1/D (109, 1.5%) and H1B (69, 1%). 30 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Kingston rising or falling?

September 2025: 7,190 nonimmigrant visas, close to September 2024 (6,818, +5%). 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 Kingston 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 Kingston 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.