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Colombo · Sri Lanka

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

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 124th 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."

Colombo, Sri Lanka: 656 nonimmigrant visas issued in September 2025, close to September 2024 (671, -2%).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 426, 64.9% of the post's issuances, A2 (other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family) with 67, 10.2% of the post's issuances and C1/D (combined transit and crewmember visa) with 60, 9.1% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Colombo ranks 117th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 116th of 184.

On the immigrant side the post issued 173 immigrant visas in September 2025, led by DV (102) and F4 (22); 29 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 1.5 months for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, 3.5 months 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/B21.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, J3.5 monthsnext 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.

656nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025-2% vs Sep 2024 (671)
700nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025-6% month on month
173immigrant visas, Sep 202529 in Sep 2024
0.08%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

07951,590VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 1,075 (Visitors 834, Students and exchange visitors 26, Temporary workers 70, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 36, Transit and crew 109, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2022: 1,173 (Visitors 937, Students and exchange visitors 65, Temporary workers 69, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 25, Transit and crew 77, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2022: 1,031 (Visitors 755, Students and exchange visitors 99, Temporary workers 77, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 20, Transit and crew 80, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2023: 849 (Visitors 592, Students and exchange visitors 64, Temporary workers 57, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 38, Transit and crew 98, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2023: 973 (Visitors 684, Students and exchange visitors 39, Temporary workers 75, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 40, Transit and crew 135, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2023: 1,323 (Visitors 1,068, Students and exchange visitors 50, Temporary workers 67, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 22, Transit and crew 115, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Apr 2023: 1,090 (Visitors 836, Students and exchange visitors 80, Temporary workers 37, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 54, Transit and crew 82, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)May 2023: 1,408 (Visitors 899, Students and exchange visitors 248, Temporary workers 54, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 81, Transit and crew 124, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jun 2023: 1,191 (Visitors 686, Students and exchange visitors 255, Temporary workers 37, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 105, Transit and crew 106, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jul 2023: 1,590 (Visitors 1,079, Students and exchange visitors 275, Temporary workers 56, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 68, Transit and crew 112, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2023: 1,404 (Visitors 1,024, Students and exchange visitors 80, Temporary workers 78, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 61, Transit and crew 161, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2023: 1,091 (Visitors 801, Students and exchange visitors 30, Temporary workers 41, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 115, Transit and crew 101, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Oct 2023: 993 (Visitors 757, Students and exchange visitors 55, Temporary workers 42, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 40, Transit and crew 90, Other nonimmigrant classes 9)Nov 2023: 971 (Visitors 728, Students and exchange visitors 75, Temporary workers 53, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 53, Transit and crew 55, Other nonimmigrant classes 7)Dec 2023: 816 (Visitors 579, Students and exchange visitors 77, Temporary workers 52, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 28, Transit and crew 77, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Jan 2024: 880 (Visitors 636, Students and exchange visitors 59, Temporary workers 60, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 41, Transit and crew 83, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Feb 2024: 734 (Visitors 546, Students and exchange visitors 31, Temporary workers 44, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 44, Transit and crew 66, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Mar 2024: 526 (Visitors 377, Students and exchange visitors 31, Temporary workers 33, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 36, Transit and crew 48, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Apr 2024: 1,002 (Visitors 726, Students and exchange visitors 56, Temporary workers 48, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 111, Transit and crew 58, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)May 2024: 1,024 (Visitors 673, Students and exchange visitors 179, Temporary workers 48, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 41, Transit and crew 80, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Jun 2024: 830 (Visitors 414, Students and exchange visitors 223, Temporary workers 36, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 72, Transit and crew 81, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)Jul 2024: 722 (Visitors 337, Students and exchange visitors 188, Temporary workers 48, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 96, Transit and crew 52, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Aug 2024: 789 (Visitors 466, Students and exchange visitors 88, Temporary workers 69, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 90, Transit and crew 66, Other nonimmigrant classes 10)Sep 2024: 671 (Visitors 474, Students and exchange visitors 38, Temporary workers 37, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 70, Transit and crew 49, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Oct 2024: 737 (Visitors 592, Students and exchange visitors 23, Temporary workers 45, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 28, Transit and crew 43, Other nonimmigrant classes 6)Nov 2024: 644 (Visitors 417, Students and exchange visitors 71, Temporary workers 50, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 32, Transit and crew 73, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Dec 2024: 610 (Visitors 390, Students and exchange visitors 108, Temporary workers 50, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 24, Transit and crew 38, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2025: 653 (Visitors 453, Students and exchange visitors 61, Temporary workers 58, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 38, Transit and crew 43, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2025: 560 (Visitors 405, Students and exchange visitors 23, Temporary workers 40, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 49, Transit and crew 38, Other nonimmigrant classes 5)Mar 2025: 781 (Visitors 635, Students and exchange visitors 12, Temporary workers 50, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 40, Transit and crew 43, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Apr 2025: 897 (Visitors 685, Students and exchange visitors 19, Temporary workers 43, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 68, Transit and crew 78, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)May 2025: 925 (Visitors 628, Students and exchange visitors 161, Temporary workers 46, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 44, Transit and crew 45, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Jun 2025: 618 (Visitors 311, Students and exchange visitors 184, Temporary workers 26, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 42, Transit and crew 54, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Jul 2025: 840 (Visitors 536, Students and exchange visitors 105, Temporary workers 49, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 56, Transit and crew 91, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Aug 2025: 700 (Visitors 433, Students and exchange visitors 101, Temporary workers 56, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 34, Transit and crew 73, Other nonimmigrant classes 3)Sep 2025: 656 (Visitors 426, Students and exchange visitors 27, Temporary workers 35, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 104, Transit and crew 60, Other nonimmigrant classes 4)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Colombo 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 Sri Lanka and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025ColomboSri LankaAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued656656823,557
Change on Sep 2024-2%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued17317345,966
Visitors share64.9%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share4.1%—2.9%
Temporary workers share5.3%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share15.9%—2.1%
Transit and crew share9.1%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0.6%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment1.5 months—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointment3.5 months—median under ½ month

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

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure42664.9%117 of 211
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family6710.2%34 of 169
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa609.1%63 of 171
G2Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family223.4%57 of 157
J1Exchange visitor142.1%106 of 194
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee91.4%72 of 133
C3Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit81.2%15 of 49
F1Student in an academic or language training program81.2%116 of 184
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse81.2%88 of 163
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)81.2%84 of 144
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-371.1%68 of 137
F2Spouse or child of F140.6%47 of 104
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family40.6%59 of 137
K1Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen40.6%51 of 96
A1Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family30.5%70 of 128
P3Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program20.3%43 of 69
M1Vocational student and other nonacademic student10.2%73 of 91
R1Alien in a religious occupation10.2%69 of 96

Immigrant visa classes

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
DVDiversity immigrant (DV1, DV2, DV3)10259%15 of 96
F4Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age, spouse and child (F41, F42, F43)2212.7%20 of 73
IR5Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age2212.7%55 of 109
IR1Spouse of U.S. citizen95.2%73 of 115
IR2Child of U.S. citizen84.6%55 of 103
CR1Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status)63.5%41 of 99
F2AFamily second preference (2A): spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (F21, F22, F23, C21-C23, B21-B23)21.2%53 of 73
F3Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33)21.2%58 of 65

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

Seasonality

Jan83
Feb83
Mar116
Apr100
May105
Jun109
Jul131
Aug129
Sep91
Oct105
Nov89
Dec83
Which months are busiest at Colombo. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

078155202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Dec 2022: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 717 Jan 2023: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Feb 2023: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Mar 2023: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 717 Apr 2023: B1/B2 40 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 79 Jun 2023: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 731 Jul 2023: B1/B2 50 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Aug 2023: B1/B2 50 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 720 Sep 2023: B1/B2 35 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 512 Oct 2023: B1/B2 35 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 105 Nov 2023: B1/B2 21 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 1017 Dec 2023: B1/B2 20 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 76 Jan 2024: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 61 Feb 2024: B1/B2 14 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 106 Mar 2024: B1/B2 40 days; F/M/J 14; H/L/O/P/Q 79 Apr 2024: B1/B2 60 days; F/M/J 21; H/L/O/P/Q 148 May 2024: B1/B2 90 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 1417 Jun 2024: B1/B2 140 days; F/M/J 55; H/L/O/P/Q 306 Jul 2024: B1/B2 155 days; F/M/J 55; H/L/O/P/Q 307 Aug 2024: B1/B2 140 days; F/M/J 65; H/L/O/P/Q 6014 Sep 2024: B1/B2 131 days; F/M/J 88; H/L/O/P/Q 92 Oct 2024: B1/B2 135 days; F/M/J 73; H/L/O/P/Q 212 Nov 2024: B1/B2 137 days; F/M/J 23; H/L/O/P/Q 161 Dec 2024: B1/B2 115 days; F/M/J 15; H/L/O/P/Q 106 Jan 2025: B1/B2 151 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 177 Feb 2025: B1/B2 114 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 585 Mar 2025: B1/B2 114 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 5816 Apr 2025: B1/B2 114 days; F/M/J 48; H/L/O/P/Q 361 May 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 04 Jun 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 02 Jul 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 30; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Aug 2025: B1/B2 30 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 07 Sep 2025: B1/B2 0 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 03 Oct 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Nov 2025: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 90; 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 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 7 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 714 May 2026: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 77 Jun 2026: B1/B2 7 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 71 Jul 2026: B1/B2 45 days; F/M/J 105; H/L/O/P/Q 7

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

Next available appointment at Colombo 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 2025656173-2%
Aug 2025700128-11%
Jul 2025840114+16%
Jun 2025618120-26%
May 202592591-10%
Apr 2025897123-10%
Mar 2025781126+48%
Feb 2025560127-24%
Jan 202565385-26%
Dec 202461036-25%
Nov 202464435-34%
Oct 202473787-26%
Sep 202467129-38%
Aug 202478994-44%
Jul 202472260-55%
Jun 2024830180-30%
May 20241,024177-27%
Apr 20241,002158-8%
Mar 2024526115-60%
Feb 2024734115-25%
Jan 202488082+4%
Dec 202381667-21%
Nov 202397162-17%
Oct 202399363-8%

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.

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

Questions and answers

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

656 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables, and 173 immigrant visas. In September 2024 the post issued 671 nonimmigrant visas.

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

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 1.5 months 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 Colombo?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as 3.5 months away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does Colombo issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (426, 64.9%), A2 (67, 10.2%), C1/D (60, 9.1%), G2 (22, 3.4%) and J1 (14, 2.1%). 18 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Colombo rising or falling?

September 2025: 656 nonimmigrant visas, close to September 2024 (671, -2%). 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 Colombo 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 Colombo 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.