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Panama City · Panama

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

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 34th 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."

Panama City, Panama: 6,568 nonimmigrant visas issued in September 2025, up 29% on September 2024 (5,111).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 6,138, 93.5% of the post's issuances, C1/D (combined transit and crewmember visa) with 158, 2.4% of the post's issuances and H2B (temporary worker performing other services) with 100, 1.5% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Panama City ranks 26th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 66th of 184.

On the immigrant side the post issued 45 immigrant visas in September 2025, led by IR1 (14) and IR5 (10); 35 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 under ½ month for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is shorter than the 3.5 months 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, 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.

6,568nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025+29% vs Sep 2024 (5,111)
6,645nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025-1% month on month
45immigrant visas, Sep 202535 in Sep 2024
0.8%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

03,3946,787VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 3,721 (Visitors 3,297, Students and exchange visitors 71, Temporary workers 65, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 35, Transit and crew 249, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Nov 2022: 2,542 (Visitors 2,233, Students and exchange visitors 104, Temporary workers 92, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 35, Transit and crew 74, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Dec 2022: 2,333 (Visitors 2,074, Students and exchange visitors 91, Temporary workers 64, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 24, Transit and crew 76, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Jan 2023: 3,103 (Visitors 2,773, Students and exchange visitors 75, Temporary workers 87, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 44, Transit and crew 123, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Feb 2023: 2,712 (Visitors 2,433, Students and exchange visitors 33, Temporary workers 53, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 39, Transit and crew 150, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Mar 2023: 3,140 (Visitors 2,753, Students and exchange visitors 101, Temporary workers 49, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 87, Transit and crew 147, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Apr 2023: 2,585 (Visitors 2,214, Students and exchange visitors 83, Temporary workers 55, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 56, Transit and crew 168, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)May 2023: 3,340 (Visitors 2,803, Students and exchange visitors 146, Temporary workers 58, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 82, Transit and crew 247, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Jun 2023: 2,745 (Visitors 2,169, Students and exchange visitors 247, Temporary workers 94, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 38, Transit and crew 191, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)Jul 2023: 2,577 (Visitors 2,052, Students and exchange visitors 213, Temporary workers 79, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 65, Transit and crew 168, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2023: 3,126 (Visitors 2,665, Students and exchange visitors 163, Temporary workers 54, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 73, Transit and crew 169, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Sep 2023: 2,952 (Visitors 2,537, Students and exchange visitors 53, Temporary workers 137, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 36, Transit and crew 183, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)Oct 2023: 3,232 (Visitors 2,778, Students and exchange visitors 68, Temporary workers 67, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 41, Transit and crew 270, Other nonimmigrant classes 8)Nov 2023: 2,695 (Visitors 2,240, Students and exchange visitors 67, Temporary workers 55, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 27, Transit and crew 281, Other nonimmigrant classes 25)Dec 2023: 3,260 (Visitors 2,854, Students and exchange visitors 100, Temporary workers 51, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 223, Other nonimmigrant classes 11)Jan 2024: 3,663 (Visitors 3,073, Students and exchange visitors 97, Temporary workers 76, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 21, Transit and crew 391, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)Feb 2024: 1,818 (Visitors 1,533, Students and exchange visitors 57, Temporary workers 46, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 35, Transit and crew 137, Other nonimmigrant classes 10)Mar 2024: 3,254 (Visitors 2,900, Students and exchange visitors 44, Temporary workers 65, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 31, Transit and crew 206, Other nonimmigrant classes 8)Apr 2024: 2,700 (Visitors 2,259, Students and exchange visitors 118, Temporary workers 70, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 67, Transit and crew 181, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)May 2024: 3,413 (Visitors 2,974, Students and exchange visitors 191, Temporary workers 54, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 42, Transit and crew 141, Other nonimmigrant classes 11)Jun 2024: 3,255 (Visitors 2,769, Students and exchange visitors 213, Temporary workers 80, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 60, Transit and crew 128, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)Jul 2024: 3,510 (Visitors 3,022, Students and exchange visitors 253, Temporary workers 73, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 51, Transit and crew 105, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)Aug 2024: 3,828 (Visitors 3,415, Students and exchange visitors 110, Temporary workers 91, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 88, Transit and crew 110, Other nonimmigrant classes 14)Sep 2024: 5,111 (Visitors 4,739, Students and exchange visitors 36, Temporary workers 144, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 86, Transit and crew 101, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)Oct 2024: 4,826 (Visitors 4,451, Students and exchange visitors 49, Temporary workers 69, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 106, Transit and crew 147, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Nov 2024: 3,492 (Visitors 3,176, Students and exchange visitors 93, Temporary workers 29, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 93, Transit and crew 92, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)Dec 2024: 5,095 (Visitors 4,758, Students and exchange visitors 128, Temporary workers 69, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 26, Transit and crew 106, Other nonimmigrant classes 8)Jan 2025: 4,401 (Visitors 4,126, Students and exchange visitors 40, Temporary workers 64, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 66, Transit and crew 92, Other nonimmigrant classes 13)Feb 2025: 5,636 (Visitors 5,396, Students and exchange visitors 42, Temporary workers 41, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 25, Transit and crew 117, Other nonimmigrant classes 15)Mar 2025: 5,981 (Visitors 5,758, Students and exchange visitors 43, Temporary workers 67, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 20, Transit and crew 83, Other nonimmigrant classes 10)Apr 2025: 6,787 (Visitors 6,470, Students and exchange visitors 83, Temporary workers 57, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 87, Transit and crew 88, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)May 2025: 4,489 (Visitors 4,195, Students and exchange visitors 107, Temporary workers 60, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 45, Transit and crew 74, Other nonimmigrant classes 8)Jun 2025: 4,268 (Visitors 3,948, Students and exchange visitors 98, Temporary workers 59, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 48, Transit and crew 110, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)Jul 2025: 4,332 (Visitors 3,918, Students and exchange visitors 221, Temporary workers 73, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 37, Transit and crew 79, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Aug 2025: 6,645 (Visitors 6,257, Students and exchange visitors 154, Temporary workers 67, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 46, Transit and crew 115, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)Sep 2025: 6,568 (Visitors 6,155, Students and exchange visitors 52, Temporary workers 119, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 80, Transit and crew 158, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Panama City 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 Panama and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025Panama CityPanamaAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued6,5686,568823,557
Change on Sep 2024+29%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued454545,966
Visitors share93.7%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share0.8%—2.9%
Temporary workers share1.8%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share1.2%—2.1%
Transit and crew share2.4%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0.1%—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 Panama within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of Panama, which is on the Panama nationality page.

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure6,13893.5%26 of 211
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa1582.4%26 of 171
H2BTemporary worker performing other services1001.5%14 of 88
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family600.9%41 of 169
F1Student in an academic or language training program250.4%66 of 184
J1Exchange visitor250.4%85 of 194
B1Temporary visitor for business160.2%36 of 128
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family90.1%23 of 137
A1Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family60.1%37 of 128
C3Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit40.1%28 of 49
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse40.1%117 of 163
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)40.1%101 of 144
K1Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen30%61 of 96
E2Treaty investor, spouse or child20%61 of 68
H2ATemporary worker performing agricultural services20%33 of 43
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-320%115 of 137
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee20%116 of 133
O2Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-120%61 of 83
B2Temporary visitor for pleasure10%43 of 50
C4/D3Nonimmigrant visa class C4/D3 (no description in the Department's symbol list)10%17 of 19
F2Spouse or child of F110%99 of 104
G1Principal resident representative of recognized foreign government to international organization, staff, or immediate family10%52 of 57
J2Spouse or child of exchange visitor10%119 of 124
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics10%125 of 132

Immigrant visa classes

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
IR1Spouse of U.S. citizen1431.1%61 of 115
IR5Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age1022.2%74 of 109
IR2Child of U.S. citizen817.8%56 of 103
CR2Child of U.S. citizen (conditional status)48.9%9 of 39
DVDiversity immigrant (DV1, DV2, DV3)36.7%79 of 96
CR1Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status)24.4%76 of 99
F1Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12)12.2%78 of 82
F2AFamily second preference (2A): spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (F21, F22, F23, C21-C23, B21-B23)12.2%67 of 73
FXFamily second preference, exempt from country limitations: spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (FX1, FX2, FX3, CX1-CX3, BX1-BX3)12.2%80 of 84
IB1Self-petition spouse of U.S. citizen12.2%6 of 6

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

Seasonality

Jan105
Feb90
Mar103
Apr85
May99
Jun93
Jul96
Aug99
Sep104
Oct110
Nov89
Dec108
Which months are busiest at Panama City. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

0343686202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 624 days; F/M/J 23; H/L/O/P/Q 141 Dec 2022: B1/B2 686 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 817 Jan 2023: B1/B2 267 days; F/M/J 21; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Feb 2023: B1/B2 324 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Mar 2023: B1/B2 357 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 1617 Apr 2023: B1/B2 338 days; F/M/J 9; H/L/O/P/Q 159 Jun 2023: B1/B2 436 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 831 Jul 2023: B1/B2 499 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 151 Aug 2023: B1/B2 499 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 1520 Sep 2023: B1/B2 108 days; F/M/J 16; H/L/O/P/Q 212 Oct 2023: B1/B2 337 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 95 Nov 2023: B1/B2 413 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 817 Dec 2023: B1/B2 443 days; F/M/J 24; H/L/O/P/Q 26 Jan 2024: B1/B2 350 days; F/M/J 23; H/L/O/P/Q 161 Feb 2024: B1/B2 457 days; F/M/J 8; H/L/O/P/Q 306 Mar 2024: B1/B2 421 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 29 Apr 2024: B1/B2 443 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 28 May 2024: B1/B2 463 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 217 Jun 2024: B1/B2 464 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 26 Jul 2024: B1/B2 464 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 27 Aug 2024: B1/B2 506 days; F/M/J 13; H/L/O/P/Q 214 Sep 2024: B1/B2 499 days; F/M/J 2; H/L/O/P/Q 22 Oct 2024: B1/B2 133 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 512 Nov 2024: B1/B2 93 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 51 Dec 2024: B1/B2 79 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 56 Jan 2025: B1/B2 28 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 57 Feb 2025: B1/B2 28 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 55 Mar 2025: B1/B2 28 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 516 Apr 2025: B1/B2 21 days; F/M/J 20; H/L/O/P/Q 201 May 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 304 Jun 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 302 Jul 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 303 Aug 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q 307 Sep 2025: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q 303 Oct 2025: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q 301 Nov 2025: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q 302 Dec 2025: B1/B2 105 days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q 306 Jan 2026: B1/B2 105 days; F/M/J 75; H/L/O/P/Q 758 Feb 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 307 Mar 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 74 Apr 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 714 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 71 Jul 2026: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 7

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

Next available appointment at Panama City 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 20256,56845+29%
Aug 20256,64555+74%
Jul 20254,33262+23%
Jun 20254,26841+31%
May 20254,48951+32%
Apr 20256,78768+151%
Mar 20255,98147+84%
Feb 20255,63680+210%
Jan 20254,401107+20%
Dec 20245,09587+56%
Nov 20243,492102+30%
Oct 20244,82696+49%
Sep 20245,11135+73%
Aug 20243,82870+22%
Jul 20243,51050+36%
Jun 20243,25568+19%
May 20243,41343+2%
Apr 20242,70037+4%
Mar 20243,25431+4%
Feb 20241,81849-33%
Jan 20243,66335+18%
Dec 20233,26010+40%
Nov 20232,69533+6%
Oct 20233,23276-13%

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.

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

Questions and answers

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

6,568 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables, and 45 immigrant visas. In September 2024 the post issued 5,111 nonimmigrant visas.

What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in Panama City?

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 Panama City?

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 Panama City issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (6,138, 93.5%), C1/D (158, 2.4%), H2B (100, 1.5%), A2 (60, 0.9%) and F1 (25, 0.4%). 24 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Panama City rising or falling?

September 2025: 6,568 nonimmigrant visas, up 29% on September 2024 (5,111). 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 Panama City 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 Panama City 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.