The 2024 fiscal report brought unpleasant news for Uzbeks wishing to obtain a US visa for short-term trips. According to official information published by the State Department, 64.41 % of Uzbek citizens’ applications for B‑1/B‑2 visas were denied. This figure is the highest among Central Asian countries and is noted as an absolute “anti-record” for the region.
B‑1/B‑2 visas are short-term visas issued for tourism, visiting relatives, medical treatment, and business trips. However, in recent years the number of denials for these visas has increased sharply. For example, in 2023, 59.56 % of Uzbek applicants for this category of visa also received a denial. In other words, the denial rate rose by 5 % over the past two years.
Compared with neighbors in Central Asia, Uzbekistan ranks first in this unfortunate ranking. Citizens of Turkmenistan were denied in 58.8 % of cases, Kazakhstan – 46.29 %, Tajikistan – 45.24 %, and Kyrgyzstan – 39.14 %.
Globally, the highest rates of visa refusals are seen in Laos (82.84 %), Somalia (77.02 %), Guinea‑Bissau (76.59 %), Senegal (74.65 %), and Guinea (70.25 %). The lowest denial rates are in the UAE (1.46 %), Cyprus (2.16 %), and Romania (2.61 %).
In addition, in recent years the U.S. embassy requirements have been significantly tightened. For example, the U.S. embassy in Tashkent requires students applying for educational or exchange programs to change the privacy settings of all social media accounts to “public.” This requirement was introduced to facilitate additional verification for U.S. entry. The embassy warns that refusal to provide these data may result in the loss of visa eligibility.
Experts note that this trend is linked to the U.S. policy of strengthening security and control measures, especially for citizens from regions like Central Asia. Put simply, Uzbeks wishing to travel to America are now facing stricter scrutiny and complex rules.
The Zamin.uz editorial team will continue to monitor the situation and swiftly deliver the most urgent news to our country’s citizens. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
Ctrl
Enter
Did you find a Mistake?
Highlight the phrase and press Ctrl+Enter Related News
