By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
CHINA is among the countries with the lowest overstay rates, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s fiscal year 2024 report to Congress.
Submitted by CBP Acting Deputy Commissioner John Modlin, the entry/exit overstay report provided data on expected departures and overstays by country for foreign travelers admitted to the U.S. as nonimmigrants who were expected to depart in FY 2024.
The report presents overstay rates for individuals who remained in the U.S. beyond their authorized period of admission, with no evidence of an extension or adjustment to another immigration status. CBP identifies two types of overstays:
• Suspected In-Country Overstays — individuals for whom no departure was recorded.
• Out-of-Country Overstays — individuals whose departure was recorded after their authorized period of admission expired.
One set of data covers temporary visitors admitted under B1 or B2 visa classes for business or pleasure. The report notes that the total number of overstays identified does not equal the number of overstays currently remaining in the U.S., as some may depart or adjust their status after being identified.
The data shows that the country with the highest number of overstayers in the U.S. is Suriname, with a 31.14% total overstay rate and a 31.07% suspected in-country overstay rate. Bulgaria has the lowest rates, with 0.43% total and 0.37% suspected in-country overstay rates. China’s rates are 1.63% total and 1.43% in-country.
In the “All Other In-Scope Classes of Admission” category, the Central African Republic has the highest rates, at 40% total and 40% suspected in-country, while China remains among the countries with the lowest rates, at 1.31% total and 0.94% suspected in-country.
In FY 2024, there were 46.6 million expected departures, a 19.6% increase from FY2023’s 39 million. The report attributes the rise to multiple factors, including reduced impacts from Covid-19 travel restrictions.
CBP noted that recent years have seen significant progress in accurately reporting overstay data and pledged to continue expanding its entry and exit system to further improve data collection and reporting.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
