Africa-Press – Cape verde. Cape Verde is among the countries with the highest rates of irregular stays in the United States in 2023, according to the latest report from the Center for Immigration Studies, based on data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The overstay rate for Cape Verdean citizens with tourist or business visas (visa B) was 12.8%, while the rate for student and exchange visas (F/M/J) reached 25.7%.
According to the document published on July 11, these figures place Cape Verde above several countries whose citizens saw their entry into the US suspended or partially restricted in 2025, by decision of President Donald Trump.
Cuba, for example, which faces a partial suspension, recorded a rate of 7.7% for B visas and 18.8% for F/M/J visas, both lower than the percentages attributed to Cape Verdeans.
The report highlights that while many undocumented immigrants enter the United States through clandestine border crossings, more than 40 percent remain illegally after their temporary visas expire.
Based on this data, the study’s authors recommend that President Trump consider extending the entry ban to citizens of other countries that have recorded higher rates of illegal overstay than those already sanctioned.
The average overstay rate for countries outside the Visa Waiver Program (such as Cape Verde) was 3.2% in 2023.
In the case of F, M and J visas, the global average was 3.67%. Cape Verde, with 25.7%, appears on a list of 67 countries with higher percentages than Laos, whose rate of 6.5% was used to justify entry restrictions.
It is worth noting that since July 7, non-immigrant visas for Cape Verdean citizens are now valid for three months and allow only one entry into the United States.
Earlier in June, the US announced that, from now on, anyone wanting to obtain a student or exchange visa (F, M or J visas) for that country will have to make their social media accounts public.
List of countries whose nationals had their entry fully or partially suspended by the “2025 Proclamation”, together with their overstay rates in 2023:
Afghanistan (fully suspended): B visa overstay rate of 9.7% and F/M/J visa overstay rate of 29.3%.
Burma/Myanmar (fully suspended): 27.1% (B); 42.2% (F/M/J)
Burundi (partially suspended): 15.4% (B); 17.5% (F/M/J)
Chad (fully suspended): 49.5% (B); 55.6% (F/M/J) (not cited as justification)
Cuba (partially suspended): 7.7% (B); 18.8% (F/M/J)
Republic of the Congo (fully suspended): 29.7% (B); 35.1% (F/M/J)
Equatorial Guinea (fully suspended): 22.0% (B); 70.2% (F/M/J)
Eritrea (fully suspended): 20.1% (B); 55.4% (F/M/J)
Haiti (fully suspended): 31.4% (B); 25.1% (F/M/J)
Iran (partially suspended): 5.0% (B); 4.5% (F/M/J) (Iran overstay fees were not mentioned as a justification for the suspension)
Laos (partially suspended): 34.8% (B); 6.5% (F/M/J)
Libya (fully suspended): 6.7% (B); 31.2% (F/M/J) (Libya overstay fees were not mentioned as a justification for the suspension)
Sierra Leone (partially suspended): 15.4% (B); 35.8% (F/M/J)
Somalia (fully suspended): 10.9% (B); 34.4% (F/M/J) (Somalia overstay fees were not mentioned as a justification for the suspension)
Sudan (fully suspended): 26.3% (B); 28.4% (F/M/J)
Togo (partially suspended): 19.0% (B); 35.1% (F/M/J)
Turkmenistan (partially suspended): 15.4% (B); 21.7% (F/M/J)
Venezuela (partially suspended): 9.8% (B); 2.7% (F/M/J) (Venezuela’s F/M/J overstay rate was not mentioned as a justification for the suspension)
Yemen (fully suspended): 19.8% (B); 40.9% (F/M/J) (Yemen overstay fees were not mentioned as a justification for the suspension)
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