The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has reported that over 51,000 immigrant visas (green cards) and approximately 915,000 non-immigrant visas were issued in February 2025, according to recently released data. This level of activity aligns with the preceding months, which saw issuances of over 54,000 immigrant and over 954,000 non-immigrant visas in January 2025; over 50,000 immigrant and 884,739 non-immigrant visas in December 2024; 49,612 immigrant and 811,088 non-immigrant visas in November 2024; and 62,832 immigrant and 977,715 non-immigrant visas in October 2024.
Family-based immigrant visas constituted the majority in each of these months, with Mexico, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic being the primary countries of origin. Notably, most of these visas fell under family-sponsored categories, including Immediate Relative (IR) visas and Family Preference (F) visas. For instance, in February, Mexico led with 5,374 issuances, including 1,838 IR1 (spouses of U.S. citizens) and 1,198 IR5 (parents of U.S. citizens) visas. The Philippines followed with 3,969 issuances, of which 1,176 were IR5 visas.
The Diversity Visa (DV) program also demonstrated significant activity in February, with Nepal topping the list with 394 visas, followed by Uzbekistan (303) and Egypt (294). This highlights the program’s role in promoting immigration from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
Employment-based visa categories, such as E1, E2, and E3 visas, also saw notable issuances. China (mainland-born) received 287 such visas, while the Philippines received 818.
In the Special Immigrant Visa categories (SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3), Afghanistan accounted for 902 issuances, primarily for individuals who had worked with the U.S. government or military. Yemen saw 323 IR1 visa issuances, while the Dominican Republic received 1,225 FX (family-sponsored, other) visas.
The issuance of non-immigrant visas totaled 914,989 in February. The B1/B2 visa category, which facilitates tourism and business travel, was the most prevalent. China (mainland) led with 80,887 B1/B2 visas, followed by Brazil (74,819) and Colombia (57,020).
Other non-immigrant visa categories included C1/D visas for crew members, with the Philippines receiving 7,479 and China (mainland) receiving 676. For F1 student visas, China (mainland) received 1,117, while Vietnam received 302. South Africa received 3,800 H2A visas for agricultural workers, and the Philippines received 236 H1B visas for specialty occupations.
Thailand received 3,645 J1 visas, often used for cultural exchange programs, followed by China (mainland) (807) and Brazil (607). In the Fiancé(e) Visa (K1) category, the Philippines led with 263 issuances, followed by the Dominican Republic (138) and Vietnam (108).
The issuance of these immigrant and non-immigrant visas in February 2025 occurs during the early stages of the Trump administration, which has historically emphasized stricter immigration enforcement and more selective immigration policies.
The recent data suggest that the visa processing system continues to operate at a consistent level, facilitating both permanent and temporary migration. These initial figures provide a point of reference for observing future immigration trends under the current administration. Subsequent months will be crucial in determining whether visa issuance rates remain stable, increase, or are affected by potential policy adjustments.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
