SOURCE CNW: More than 12,000 Jamaican nationals overstayed their U.S. visas in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s newly released Entry/Exit Overstay Report for Fiscal Year 2023. The document reveals that Jamaica recorded a total overstay rate of 5.25%, more than triple the global average of 1.45%.
The report, which tracks nonimmigrant visitors arriving by air and sea only, specifically excludes land border entries — such as those from Canada or Mexico. As the report notes:
“This report provides data on departures and overstays by nonimmigrants who entered the United States through air or sea Ports of Entry (POEs) and who were expected to depart in FY 2023.”
For non-Visa Waiver Program countries — which includes Jamaica and most of the Caribbean — the average overstay rate was 3.2%, meaning Jamaica’s rate was well above the regional benchmark.
Haiti, meanwhile, recorded one of the highest overstay rates in the world, with 27,269 of 86,906 travelers overstaying their visas — a rate of 31.38%, the highest in the region. Guyana’s rate was also elevated at 5.59%, while the Dominican Republic’s stood at 4.59%.
Jamaica
- Expected Departures: 233,668
- Suspected In-Country Overstays: 11,931
- Total Overstays: 12,268
- Total Overstay Rate: 5.25%– Advertisement –
- In-Country Overstay Rate: 5.11%
Haiti
- Expected Departures: 86,906
- Suspected In-Country Overstays: 26,995
- Total Overstays: 27,269
- Total Overstay Rate: 31.38%
- In-Country Overstay Rate: 31.06%
➡️ Highest rate among Caribbean nations and one of the highest globally.
Other Caribbean nations had much lower rates:
- The Bahamas: 1.43%
- Trinidad and Tobago: 0.77%
- Barbados: 0.52%
- Saint Lucia: 1.96%
- Antigua and Barbuda: 1.38%
The report defines an overstay as a traveler who remained in the U.S. beyond their authorized period of admission without receiving an extension or status adjustment. Importantly, not all overstays are confirmed — some are classified as “suspected in-country overstays.”
“A nonimmigrant traveler may be counted as an overstay if DHS cannot confirm their timely departure and has no evidence of an authorized stay beyond their admission period.”
While the report is primarily data-driven, it acknowledges the implications of high overstay rates. In general, an overstay rate above 2% is viewed as a potential red flag.
The document does not detail enforcement actions or penalties for countries with high rates. However, it notes that overstays can lead to visa ineligibility, entry bans, and stricter screening for future travelers.
Lastly, the report acknowledges possible data limitations:
“Some travelers may have departed the United States, but their departure could not be confirmed due to missing or incomplete data.”
In total, the U.S. recorded over 565,000 overstays out of nearly 39 million expected air and sea departures in FY 2023 — meaning 98.55% of travelers complied with their visa terms.
Laos, with an overstay rate of 34.77%, had the highest rate in the world, followed by Haiti, Congo (Brazzaville) – 29.63%; Myanmar – 27.07%; and Sudan – 26.30%.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Jamaica and DR will have to post $15,000 USD bond.
Of course we are dealing with countries of vastly different population ratios. Jamaica with a population of almost 2.9 million people as opposed Antigua and Barbuda with about 100 thousand people. The vast majority of Antiguans and Barbudans who applies for a visa just wants a little holiday get away. They go to the US to visit family, shop, pack a barrel or two and head back home. Many, including hundreds with US permanent residency have no interest in living in the United States. On the other hand, many Jamaicans are eager to escape the social and economic realities in their country so a trip abroad to the US is always going to be a one way affair. Only ICE alone could get them to return to Jamaica. So whilst Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are the three countries with the highest US overstay rates, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda ranks amongst the ones with the lowest in the Caribbean.
Ebry way dem go dem over stay have no respect for other people’s law an den want fu rule you in you own country
@ Mr Byam, that is not so. Thus far the US has only named 2 countries whose citizens are required to pay a bond Malawi and Zambia.
Jamaicans 🇯🇲 are ‘LAWLESS’ people !! 😔
This is exactly why UPP don’t want any Jamaican in “are we subben” and the HBIC instructed the infamous Women’s Forum to “support brother Lovell”
Give them a mm, they take an inch.
But no whey tarl better dan fu dem yard eh!?! .Yet dem till.want fi dutty de warta; but till warnt fu drink fram um. Dem really Crabid, fu tru: wid dem belly full pan empty. But anna all a dem tan so. A coo dem dey! Lmao 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness saw his wealth rocket from J$350,000 to J$160 million without a full, complete and public explanation as to source and details of this economic miracle.
It’s not only in Antigua and Barbuda where economic miracle takes place either the Prime Ministers wealth