South Africa Immigration Statistics
South Africa accounts for 0.2% of U.S. immigration applications, ranking #45 among 198 countries with 3.5K total applications and a 71% approval rate.
South Africa applicants see a USCIS approval rate of 71.0 percent on the 3,481 applications tracked. Mid-tier approval rates reflect the mix of family- and employment-based petitions; specific categories within the country mix can run materially above or below this average.
Among the top visa types for South Africa, Family Spouse accounts for the largest single share of applications. The country page on this site groups every USCIS visa form together and shows the per-form approval rate and average processing time — for any specific applicant, the per-form pattern matters more than the country aggregate.
Top Visa Categories
| Category | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Family Spouse | 894 | 25.7% |
| Employment 3rd Pref | 831 | 23.9% |
| Employment 1st Pref | 583 | 16.7% |
| Diversity Visa | 263 | 7.6% |
| Employment 2nd Pref | 261 | 7.5% |
Compare South Africa
See how South Africa compares to other countries of origin.
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About This Data
Data from USCIS quarterly reports and the DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (2023). Last updated May 2025. See our methodology.
Source: USCIS reports and studies, 2026.