US Sees 250,000 Drop In Visas, Overall Approvals Down 11% In 2025

Immigration to the United States has dropped sharply, new data shows, with about 250,000 fewer visas issued in the first eight months of 2025 compared to last year. 

The decline followed the Donald Trump administration's new policies that overhauled the immigration policy. Officials say the tighter rules have affected several visa categories, leading to fewer approvals across many countries. 

Between January and August 2025, the US approved 11 per cent fewer visas for people seeking to live, work, or study in the country compared to the same period in 2024, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

These include visas for students, skilled workers, and family members of US citizens or green card holders. The numbers also do not include tourist visas, which separately saw a decline. In addition to this, visa approvals for green cards have also dropped, according to data from the US Department of State.

Business and tourist visas dropped by about 3.4 per cent between January and August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, data showed.

India and China saw the biggest fall in visa approvals. The US issued 84,000 fewer visas to international students, cultural exchange visitors, and fiances and spouses of US citizens.

By June 2025, the US had issued the lowest number of visas in a year since the Covid-19 pandemic. The biggest drop was seen in visas for workers, some family members, and also for Iraqi and Afghan nationals. 

More immigrants left the US than entered last year, something that hasn't happened in at least 50 years, according to estimates by the Brookings Institution. The last time the US saw more people leave than arrive was in 1935, when many Americans moved to the Soviet Union in search of work. 

At least 180,000 US citizens relocated overseas last year, and the true number might be significantly higher than official figures, as per a report by Wall Street Journal last week.