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Sri Lanka → United States

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Sri Lanka
To
United States
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
2,280
Change since 2018
+52.6%
Share of all arrivals in the United States, 2023
0.19%
Inflow 20232,280OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Sri Lanka to the United States

Inflows of nationals of Sri Lanka recorded by the United States; stock of nationals of Sri Lanka living there; and acquisitions of the United States' nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,2372,474200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,2372,4742000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,118
20011,505
20021,529
20031,246
20041,431
20051,894
20062,191
20071,831
20081,820
20091,901
20101,940
20111,922
20121,905
20131,747
20141,665
20151,667
20161,779
20171,521
20181,494
20191,557
20201,375
20211,172
20222,474
20232,280
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—21,464—
20232,28022,1181,500
20222,47425,6481,823
20211,17216,5971,473
20201,37515,7751,082
20191,55725,1751,510
20181,49417,7741,400
20171,52122,5421,261
20161,77914,9171,422
20151,66722,1451,152
20141,66525,597998
20131,74722,6591,144
20121,90518,4321,034
20111,92226,1491,225
20101,94023,9741,354
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

U.S. visas

Visas issued to citizens of Sri Lanka (fiscal years) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B28,488
  2. C1/D917
  3. F1640
  4. A2244
  5. H1B162
  6. F2150
  7. J1149
  8. L2111
  9. H497
  10. L194
  11. P371
  12. G467

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

8,86118k201720182019202020212022202320242025
8,86118k20172019202120232025
Data table
201711,532
201813,686
201911,661
20204,781
20212,627
202211,005
202317,722
202413,836
202511,613
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV394
  2. IR5281
  3. IR1151
  4. F4150
  5. CR163
  6. F358
  7. IR247
  8. F2A31

Certified PERM cases by fiscal year (citizenship published to FY2024)

11823620082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
1182362008201120142017202020232024
Data table
2008131
200991
2010216
2011151
2012126
201372
2014123
2015160
2016192
2017150
2018236
2019167
2020159
2021151
2022125
2023136
2024141
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards, citizenship and admissions

Green cards and naturalizations of people born in Sri Lanka, and I-94 admissions of citizens of Sri Lanka, by fiscal year (DHS).

Fiscal yearGreen cardsNaturalizationsI-94 admissions
20242,2901,66025,920
20232,2701,68023,710
20222,5701,94015,780
20211,2301,5804,990
20201,4601,14010,750
20191,6901,61028,440
20181,5901,48030,580
20171,6301,36031,480
20161,9101,50029,590
20151,7601,25027,950
I-94 admissions by class of admission, FY2024
  1. B32,750
  2. F5,050
  3. C2,170
  4. G1,000
  5. A840
  6. H1B820
  7. L590
  8. J560
  9. L2S280
  10. H260
  11. E220
  12. L2Y190
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens990
  2. Diversity visa lottery600
  3. Employment-based preferences430
  4. Family-sponsored preferences130
  5. Refugees and asylees130
  6. Other classes10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Specialty occupations (H-1B)490
  2. Spouses and children450
  3. Intracompany transferees (L-1)350
  4. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)80
  5. Other temporary workers80
  6. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)30
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Sri Lanka)
2,290
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Sri Lanka)
1,660
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
25,920
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the United States, 2023; Sri Lanka ranks 69.

Inflows to the United States, 2023
  1. Mexico190,560
  2. Cuba88,480
  3. India68,420
  4. Dominican Republic67,700
  5. China57,240
  6. Philippines48,690
  7. Vietnam37,040
  8. Afghanistan35,630
  9. Brazil27,440
  10. El Salvador27,280
  11. Colombia26,150
  12. Jamaica22,120
Other destinations for people from Sri Lanka, 2023
  1. Japan11,328
  2. South Korea8,576
  3. New Zealand7,044
  4. Australia6,055
  5. Finland3,260
  6. Italy2,877
  7. Canada2,710
  8. Germany2,058
  9. France1,883
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more