2009 CRS Report on Nonimmigrant Visas

“Nonimmigrant visas issued abroad dipped to 5.0 million in FY2004 after peaking at 7.6 million in FY2001. In FY2008, 6.6 million nonimmigrant visas were issued. Over the past 12 years, DOS has typically issued around 6 million nonimmigrant visas annually. The growth in visa issuance in the late 1990s has been largely attributable to the issuances of border crossing cards to residents of Mexico and the issuances of temporary worker visas. Combined, visitor visas issued for tourism and business comprised the largest group of nonimmigrants in FY2008, with about 4.7 million, down from 5.7 million in FY2000. Other notable categories were students and exchange visitors (11.6%) and temporary workers (9.9%).”

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