The State Department has reported significant progress in visa processing during the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2024, which spans from October 2023 to March 2024. This period saw the issuance of nearly 5.2 million nonimmigrant visas worldwide, surpassing any previous year's records for the same timeframe. Furthermore, within this six-month span, 30 percent of U.S. embassies and consulates overseas set all-time records for nonimmigrant visas issued.
"We are proud of the work our teams worldwide are doing to facilitate travel, promote people-to-people ties, and bring economic benefit to local communities and key sectors across the United States," a spokesperson stated. They emphasized that supporting travel and tourism—a crucial sector for U.S. job growth—is a serious responsibility for the department, as international visitors have contributed up to $239 billion annually to the U.S. economy in recent years, supporting an estimated 9.5 million American jobs.
In addition to facilitating tourism and business travel, with nearly 4.1 million B visitor visas issued globally in FY 2024's first half, the State Department's efforts also strengthen the United States' position as a leading academic destination and ensure a robust workforce. The Department issued visas to nearly 134,000 exchange visitor program participants and 115,000 students by mid-year FY 2024.
Moreover, record-breaking numbers were seen in other areas: approximately 205,000 visas were issued to temporary or seasonal workers in agriculture and other sectors; around 160,000 nonimmigrant visas were given to airline and shipping crew members; and nearly 25,000 employment-based immigrant visas were issued—75 percent more than during the same period in FY 2019.
The administration remains committed to timely immigrant visa processing as a means of reuniting families and bolstering the U.S. economy. Over the first six months of FY 2024, over 281,000 immigrant visas were issued. A quarter of U.S. embassies and consulates issued more immigrant visas by the FY 2024 midpoint than in any prior year of the last decade. Furthermore, over 152,000 immigrant visas were issued to immediate family members of U.S. citizens—an all-time high for the fiscal half-year mark.
The State Department continues to enhance its capacity to handle historically high levels of demand for U.S. visas. This includes adopting innovative technological solutions and expanding the use of secure tools such as waiving in-person interviews for eligible visa applicants while maintaining strict national security requirements.
"The Department of State is committed to supporting the U.S. economy and American families and communities through the timely processing of visa applications around the world," concluded the spokesperson.
