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TIMES CARIBBEAN | ANALYTICAL REPORT

August 2025 — The recently released Entry/Exit Overstay Report for Fiscal Year 2023, submitted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to Congress, has sent ripples through the Caribbean region. The report highlights growing concerns over visa compliance among Caribbean nationals entering the U.S. by air and sea, with several countries recording troubling overstay rates — both among general visitors and student visa holders.

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What is an Overstay?

An overstay occurs when a foreign national remains in the United States beyond the period of their authorized stay. Overstays are classified into two types:

• Suspected In-Country Overstays: No departure was recorded.
• Out-of-Country Overstays: Departure was recorded, but occurred after the authorized period.

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CARIBBEAN OVERSTAY RATES – FY2023 (BUSINESS & PLEASURE VISAS)

(Excluding land arrivals, only air and sea)

Country	Expected Departures	Total Overstays	Overstay Rate
Haiti	86,906	27,269	31.38%
Guyana	56,965	3,186	5.59%
Jamaica	233,668	12,268	5.25%
Dominican Republic	440,894	20,259	4.59%
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines	8,169	264	3.23%
Saint Lucia	13,442	264	1.96%
Dominica	5,654	210	3.71%
Belize	28,666	1,013	3.53%
Antigua & Barbuda	13,368	185	1.38%
Trinidad & Tobago	136,504	1,053	0.77%
Barbados	38,365	201	0.52%
Saint Kitts & Nevis	8,176	111	1.36%

Haiti tops the list with a staggering 31.38% overstay rate, raising serious concerns about immigration compliance and potentially affecting future visa issuance policies.

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TOP 5 CARIBBEAN OVERSTAY RATES (Business & Pleasure Visitors):

1. Haiti – 31.38%
2. Dominica – 3.71%
3. Saint Vincent & the Grenadines – 3.23%
4. Belize – 3.53%
5. Guyana – 5.59%

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STUDENT VISA OVERSTAYS – FY2023 (F, M, J Visas)

The Caribbean also features in the student and exchange visitor category. The report notes the following student visa overstay rates for select nations:

Country	Expected Departures	Total Overstays	Overstay Rate
Haiti	7,308	212	2.90%
Jamaica	5,866	157	2.68%
Bahamas	7,308	212	2.90%
Trinidad & Tobago	2,899	40	1.38%
Saint Vincent	213	7	3.29%
Dominican Republic	1,778	39	2.19%
Saint Lucia	207	7	3.38%

Though smaller in volume, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines report concerning overstay rates among student visa holders.

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OVERALL STUDENT VISA TRENDS

Across all countries, the total student overstay rate stood at 3.65% — notably higher than the 1.45% average for all visa types. Caribbean nations contributed significantly to this figure.

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IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REGION

The data paints a sobering picture. While the overall overstay rate for nonimmigrant visitors from all countries is 1.45%, several Caribbean countries are well above this mark, particularly Haiti, Jamaica, and Guyana.

With growing calls in Washington for stricter visa controls, this data could:

• Trigger targeted restrictions or bond requirements on travelers from high-overstay nations.
• Influence student visa approvals from certain Caribbean states.
• Lead to public awareness campaigns spearheaded by Caribbean governments to improve compliance and avoid future sanctions.

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Conclusion

The CBP FY2023 Entry/Exit Overstay Report casts a spotlight on overstay patterns from the Caribbean — and the findings are not flattering. While some nations like Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago remain largely compliant, others like Haiti, Jamaica, and Guyana now face increasing scrutiny.

For Caribbean citizens, the message is clear: comply with visa terms or face serious consequences — including possible bans, visa denials, or costly reentry bonds.

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Stay with Times Caribbean for continuing coverage on Caribbean-U.S. visa policy developments.