Biden Administration Sets Records with 30 Million Nonimmigrant Visas and 90 Million U.S. Passports Issued

The Biden Administration has broken the record for passports issued, according to the U.S. Department of State. Since 2021, the Department has issued a record-breaking 90 million U.S. passports, increasing the total number of valid passports in circulation to nearly 170 million—an all-time high.

“The demand for U.S. travel documents has reached historic levels, and the Bureau of Consular Affairs has risen to the challenge,” the Department of State stated in a media note.

In 2024, the Department announced a faster passport processing timeline of 4–6 weeks, marking the best turnaround in over five years. “Expanding accessibility, plans are underway to open six new passport agencies, making services more convenient for millions of Americans,” the Department added.

Visa services have also achieved record levels, with U.S. embassies and consulates issuing approximately 30 million nonimmigrant visas since 2021. In FY 2024 alone, 11.5 million visas were granted.

In the same year, the Department launched the first-ever Online Passport Renewal (OPR) system, streamlining the process for over 1.5 million users to date. Domestic visa renewal programs have further reduced disruptions for skilled workers, benefiting thousands of applicants and supporting industry productivity, the Department noted.

The Biden Administration has also evacuated over 10,000 U.S. citizens from crisis zones. Additionally, the Department has issued more than 78,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to Afghan allies, representing over half of all Afghan SIVs issued since the program began in 2009.