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AI Visa Officer is an interview practice tool. AV Guide is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, any embassy or consulate, and nothing here is legal or immigration advice.

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Back to L-1 Visa Countries
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L-1 Visa Approvals in South Africa

How many L-1 visa applications U.S. Embassies and Consulates in South Africa approved, by fiscal year and by post. Every visa issued is an approved application.

The State Department publishes issuance counts for this visa class but not refusals, so there is no approval rate to report and none is shown. Figures run from March 2017 to September 2025.

Visas approved per year: South Africa

Totals by U.S. fiscal year, which runs October to September, so FY2025 covers October 2024 to September 2025. Refusals are not published for this visa class, so an approval rate cannot be shown.

0239478716955Visas approvedFiscal yearFY2017: 339 approved339FY17FY2018: 816 approved816FY18FY2019: 955 approved955FY19FY2020: 499 approved499FY20FY2021: 114 approved114FY21FY2022: 790 approved790FY22FY2023: 785 approved785FY23FY2024: 521 approved521FY24FY2025: 538 approved538FY25

538

FY2025

955

Peak (FY2019)

+3.3%

vs FY2024

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How South Africa compares for L-1 visas

Against every country that received a L-1 visa in FY2025.

#22

of 168 countries

596

Approved in FY2025

0.8%

Of the world total

77,144

Issued worldwide

Fewest (168th)Most (1st)
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Which consulate in South Africa approves the most

L-1 visas issued at each post in FY2025, as a share of the 538 issued across South Africa.

  • Johannesburg31157.8%
  • Cape Town18334.0%
  • Durban448.2%

How each South Africa consulate has changed

L-1 visas approved per fiscal year, by post. The share chart shows who is largest today; this shows who is rising.

JohannesburgCape TownDurban
0128256384512Visas approvedFiscal yearJohannesburg, FY2017: 223 approvedJohannesburg, FY2018: 512 approvedJohannesburg, FY2019: 433 approvedJohannesburg, FY2020: 196 approvedJohannesburg, FY2021: 71 approvedJohannesburg, FY2022: 418 approvedJohannesburg, FY2023: 468 approvedJohannesburg, FY2024: 289 approvedJohannesburg, FY2025: 311 approvedCape Town, FY2017: 98 approvedCape Town, FY2018: 239 approvedCape Town, FY2019: 456 approvedCape Town, FY2020: 280 approvedCape Town, FY2021: 34 approvedCape Town, FY2022: 326 approvedCape Town, FY2023: 224 approvedCape Town, FY2024: 188 approvedCape Town, FY2025: 183 approvedDurban, FY2017: 18 approvedDurban, FY2018: 65 approvedDurban, FY2019: 66 approvedDurban, FY2020: 23 approvedDurban, FY2021: 9 approvedDurban, FY2022: 46 approvedDurban, FY2023: 93 approvedDurban, FY2024: 44 approvedDurban, FY2025: 44 approvedFY17FY18FY19FY20FY21FY22FY23FY24FY25
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When L-1 visas are approved in South Africa

Average approvals per calendar month across 6 complete years. Busiest month is Nov, quietest is Apr.

66
50
46
44
49
45
59
59
62
75
115
64
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Calendar months, not fiscal. A busy month means more applications competing for the same interview slots, not a better chance of approval.

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Monthly Visa Issuance Data

Month201720182019202020212022202320242025
Jan-6470828130735355
Feb-4855487102464240
Mar42476224688363746
Apr38487811053373750
May405573-966553341
Jun59564812055375244
Jul48718312154675641
Aug64587222685427052
Sep794910013891445051
Oct54841383321034942-
Nov891881186891665971-
Dec18293831014894063-

Fiscal Year Visa Issuance

Fiscal YearVisas ApprovedChange on YearRelative to peak
FY2025538▲3.3%
FY2024521▼33.6%
FY2023785▼0.6%
FY2022790▲593.0%
FY2021114▼77.2%
FY2020499▼47.7%
FY2019955▲17.0%
FY2018816▲140.7%
FY2017339—

Consulate-Specific Data

Cape Town
View detailed approval data →
Durban
View detailed approval data →
Johannesburg
View detailed approval data →

L-1 interview prep

The numbers are history. Your interview is not.

Nothing on this page changes your odds. What happens in the two minutes at the window does. Face a live AI visa officer for the L-1 as applicants in South Africa face it, answer out loud under follow-up pressure, and get a readiness score with feedback on every answer.

Practise your L-1 interviewFirst session free. No card required.

View L-1 Visa Issuance Trends for Other Countries

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Afghanistan
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Albania
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Algeria
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Andorra
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Angola
🏳️
Antigua And Barbuda
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Argentina
Flag of Armenia
Armenia
Flag of Australia
Australia
Flag of Austria
Austria
Flag of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Flag of Bahamas
Bahamas
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the approval rate for L-1 visas in South Africa?
There is no published approval rate for L-1 visas. The State Department reports how many visas it issued but not how many it refused, and a rate needs both. This page shows the issuance counts that genuinely exist for South Africa.
How many L-1 visas does South Africa get?
The tables and charts above show issuances by U.S. fiscal year, which runs October to September, and where the data allows, by individual consulate. These counts come directly from the State Department's monthly issuance tables.
What factors affect L-1 visa approval in South Africa?
Factors include the completeness and accuracy of your application, supporting documents, interview performance, and the specific consulate's workload and policies. Common reasons for refusal include missing documents, insufficient ties to home country, or unclear travel purpose.
How can I improve my chances of getting a L-1 visa in South Africa?
Prepare thoroughly for your interview, provide honest and complete information, and ensure all documents are in order. Review common mistakes and tips provided above, and consider seeking professional guidance if you have a complex case.
Where does this visa data come from?
All figures are sourced from published U.S. Department of State statistics. We update them as new monthly and annual tables are released.

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  • Visa Interview Wait Times – Check current wait times for US consulates worldwide.
  • Visa Interview Tips & Guides – Read expert advice and articles.
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Data Source & Transparency

Data Source: All visa approval statistics are compiled from the official U.S. Department of State’s annual visa statistics reports. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, visit the U.S. Department of State Visa Statistics.

Methodology: These are counts of visas issued, taken from the State Department’s monthly issuance tables. No approval rate is shown because refusals are not published per country or per post, and a rate cannot be calculated without them. Figures exclude cases under administrative processing and are subject to reporting delays.

Disclaimer: This website is not affiliated with the U.S. government. All data is provided for informational purposes only. For official guidance, always refer to the U.S. Department of State or your local U.S. embassy/consulate.

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