Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced that the U.S. State Department issued a record-breaking 11.5 million visas in fiscal year 2024.

Key Points:

  • Of the 11.5 million visas issued in FY 2024, 8.5 million were visitor visas — a 10% increase over FY 2023.
  • Visa wait times are down by nearly 60% since the height of the pandemic backlogs, with the median wait time for a first-time visitor visa interview now less than 60 days.
  • The State Department intends to provide an additional 1 million visa appointments in FY 2025.

Additional Information: Secretary Blinken also stated that a record-setting 24.5 million U.S. passport books and cards were issued in FY 2024, half a million more than in FY 2023, and that passport wait times continue to trend down, currently now at just 4-6 weeks.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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