Top 10 Asian countries with highest US visa rejection rates, and why

The US continued to tighten visa application policies, especially for applicants from certain Asian countries in 2025.

Rejection rates — or refusal of entry — have climbed sharply especially for applicants from certain countries.

Recent developments out of Washington have only added fuel to the fire. As for visitor visas, these 10 nations currently experience the highest "adjusted" refusal rates for B1/B2 (visitor) visas, per the US Department of State and independent watchdog reports:

Bangladesh posted a refusal rate around 46.09%, with US officials increasingly wary of visa overstays, undocumented entry, and economic migration.

Why is Bangladesh’s US visa rejection rate high in 2025? 

One major reason is frequent misuse of tourist visas. There have been recurring cases where individuals use tourist visas not for travel, but to illegally stay or work in the United States. US immigration officials have grown increasingly cautious when reviewing applications from Bangladeshi citizens.

What challenges do young Bangladeshi applicants face?
Many visa applicants from Bangladesh are young individuals without permanent jobs, assets, or strong financial ties to their home country. This lack of stability makes it hard for them to prove that they intend to return after their visit.

For US consular officers, weak home-country ties raise a red flag and increase the risk of potential overstaying — leading to more denials.

Pakistan recorded a 46.65% refusal rate, as per official State Department data. Analysts attribute this to security concerns, economic instability, and stricter vetting for potential overstay risks ﹣ an increase from roughly 31% in 2023 ﹣ placing it among Asia’s most heavily scrutinised sources, as per Travelobiz.

Why is the US overly cautious about visa applicants from Pakistan?

Due to frequent reports of terrorism and unstable regions, the US tends to be strict. Even if not everyone is involved in these issues, the country’s overall image plays a big role in how visa officers make decisions.

Are they really lacking in requirements?
Many applicants from Pakistan struggle to show clear proof of financial stability. From the US perspective, there's a higher risk of overstaying or working illegally — especially if the person has no strong ties back home.

How does this affect genuine travellers?
The overall political climate and security concerns shape the final verdict. So even with complete documents, some still end up getting denied.

Sri Lanka’s rejection rate reaching 29.76% is tied to political instability and weak economic indicators, which can fuel fears of overstays or asylum intent, according to Travel and Tour World.

Why is Sri Lanka on this list? 

It has been going through a severe economic crisis in recent years, with high inflation, political instability, and a lack of job opportunities. 

Many citizens are hoping to migrate, especially to the United States. But due to the large number of applicants and the growing fear of potential overstays, Sri Lanka now has one of the highest US visa rejection rates in 2025.

What are the reasons for visa denials among Sri Lankan applicants?
Most applicants lack strong documentation that proves they’ll return home — such as stable employment, sufficient financial support, or property ownership. 

This makes US visa officers doubt their intent to return after their visa expires. Even honest applicants often get caught in this strict screening system.

Are past violations by Sri Lankans affecting new applicants?
Yes. In past years, there have been several cases of overstaying and illegal work by Sri Lankans in the US. 

These incidents are now flagged in immigration systems, so new applicants are being screened more harshly, even if they have no negative record at all. As a result, even students and tourists with genuine plans are being denied more frequently.

The Philippines sees roughly 28.33% denial rates. Despite being a close US ally, applicants often fail due to unclear travel purpose, weak proof of home ties, and ties to undocumented relatives abroad, according to Travel and Tour World.

Is "weak economic connection" a factor?
Yes. US consular officers often look for strong ties to home country as proof that a person won't overstay. In the Philippines’ case, a lot of applicants — especially younger ones — lack solid financial or social ties, making them "high risk" in the eyes of immigration officers.

Chinese visa applicants saw rejection rates between 25.37%, a notable rise linked to geopolitical tensions, concerns about espionage, and frequent student visa denials.

Why is China's visa rejection rate high in 2025?
One major reason is the ongoing tension between the US and China — from the trade war to the Taiwan issue. Because of this, the US has become stricter when it comes to visa screening for Chinese citizens.

What is the common issue among applicants?
Many Chinese applicants fail to clearly state the purpose of their trip, lacking details or documents explaining why they're going to the US. In addition, some cannot present strong reasons to return to their home country.

Is visa fraud a concern?
Yes. There have been reported cases of visa fraud and overstaying among Chinese nationals, which made US immigration more cautious. As a result many applications are denied even if they seem complete at first glance.

Thailand clocks in at 22.5%, mainly due to high overstay statistics, which raise red flags during vetting, based on US State Department data.

The latest official figures for US B‑visa refusal rates for Thai citizens shows that the refusal rate was 22.5% in 2024, a bit lower than 24.34% in 2023.

Roughly one-quarter of Thai applicants are denied a US visitor (B‑1/B‑2) visa, give or take a couple of percentage points depending on the year.

The most common reason for denial of a US visa for Thai applicants — particularly under the B-1/B-2 visitor visa category — is a lack of strong ties to Thailand, no prior travel history abroad, unclear reasons for visiting the US, a suspicion of intent to overstay and inadequate financial proof. 

At 22.12%, Vietnamese applicants often fall short in demonstrating strong financial or social ties, prompting consular suspicion.

Why is Vietnam on this list in 2025?

Vietnam remains one of the Asian countries with a relatively high US visa rejection rate. 

One reason: the rising number of visa overstays by Vietnamese nationals. In recent years, many enter on tourist visas but end up staying illegally, which damages the credibility of future applicants.

What’s the usual pattern among rejected applicants?
A common issue is that some apply as tourists but secretly plan to find work or stay long-term in the US. Without strong documents to prove their return — like stable jobs, property, or family obligations — many applications get denied.

Is weak economic connection a factor?
Yes. Without strong documents to prove their return like stable jobs, property, or family obligations, many applications get denied.

Also around 20.09%, Indonesia faces rejections due to incomplete paperwork, unclear travel intentions, and visa interview missteps, Travelobiz.

While Indonesia remains one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant nations, its US visa rejection rate continues to be high in 2025. 

One reason: applicants who submit vague reasons for travel. If US immigration officers spot red flags, i.e. if an applicant cannot clearly explain the purpose of their trip, it often leads to an automatic denial.

What financial issues affect Indonesian visa applicants?

Many Indonesian applicants struggle to provide strong proof of financial stability. US embassies often look for documents showing sufficient income, employment, or savings to support the entire trip. If the financial capability isn’t convincing, even tourist visas are likely to be denied. 

In some cases, applicants present bank statements without clear sources, which only raises more doubts during evaluation.

Have past visa violations impacted current approval rates?
Yes. Prior records of overstays and violations by other Indonesian nationals have made immigration officers more cautious.

Turkey’s 19.78% rejection rate stems from political volatility, strained U.S. relations, and internal security concerns, according to an AP report.

Why is Turkey’s US visa rejection rate so high in 2025? Amid ongoing political instability and a worsening economic crisis, many Turkish citizens are looking for better opportunities abroad — especially in the United States.

Due to rising tensions between Turkey and the US, the visa screening process has become even stricter this year. Turkey ranks among Asian countries with high rejection rates, as more applicants are now flagged as “high risk”.

Tourists and student visa applicants are now subjected to intense background checks. If immigration officers suspect someone may overstay or seek asylum, that’s an automatic red flag — leading to a higher chance of rejection even for legitimate applicants.

Even genuine travellers are affected by these heightened procedures. As of 2025, getting a US visa has become one of the most difficult tasks for many Turkish citizens.

While not as extreme, India’s 11% refusal rate is notable due to volume; misconceptions or weak documentation can still trip applicants in one of the most populous visa-seeking nations.

Although India’s rejection rate is lower compared to other Asian countries, the sheer number of applicants results in a significant volume of denials. 

One of the key concerns for US immigration officers in 2025 is the number of young, single Indian applicants who may be tempted to overstay or work illegally. 

How do visa interviews affect Indian applicants?
In India, the visa interview plays a crucial role in determining approvals. It’s during this face-to-face process that officers assess the applicant’s credibility and intentions.

Given the high volume of applications from India, interviews are used as a key tool to filter out high-risk individuals. So even if the paperwork is complete, failing to convince the visa officer during the interview can still lead to rejection.

According to the Cato Institute, In 2022, roughly 1 in 5 non-immigrant visa applications were denied. Specific visa types like student visas have seen higher rejection rates in recent years, with student visa denials reaching 36% in 2023.