Temporary Visa Holders in the United States
December 5, 2019
By Brittany Blizzard and Jeanne Batalova
Foreign nationals who receive a visa to travel to the United States temporarily for a specific purpose, such as tourists, international students, temporary workers, and short-term business travelers are broadly classified as nonimmigrant visa holders. In fiscal year (FY) 2018, the U.S. State Department issued 9 million temporary visas to nonimmigrants, a 7 percent decrease from a year earlier.
Indeed, visa issuance has declined in recent years: after the U.S. government granted nearly 11 million temporary visas in FY 2015 (a record high since FY 2000), the number dropped by 17 percent in FY 2018 (see Figure 1). In addition, the number of visa applications that were initially refused has risen slightly: in FY 2018, 29 percent of visa applications were found ineligible, compared to 22 percent in FY 2015. Prior to FY 2015, sharp declines in nonimmigrant visas issued were recorded during the 2007-09 recession and following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/temporary-visa-holders-united-statesReplaced the url with one that works - PeteS in CA
