DOS Issues Record Number of Visas

The Department of State issued a record 5.2 million nonimmigrant visas in the first half of FY 2024, including 205,000 H-2A & H-2B visas, and about 25,000 employment-based immigrant visas, marking a 75% increase from 2019. Family based immigrant visas also increased, with 152,000 green cards issued to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, a record highest for this period. Additionally, nearly 134,000 J-1, 115,000 F-1 visas, and 4.1 million B-1/B-2 visas and border crossing cards were issued.