I Visa Statistics: Issued by Country and Post
The State Department issued 12,425 I visas in FY2025. Top nationalities and posts for FY2023 to FY2025, with the limits of the data.
Page reviewed October 30, 2026.
What it is
The State Department issued 10,841 I visas in FY2023, 12,939 in FY2024 and 12,425 in FY2025, by our sums of its monthly tables.
The United Kingdom received the most in all three years, followed by Japan. London issued the most of any post in each year. The counts combine principals and dependents, count visas issued abroad, and say nothing about the reasons for any change.
- I visas issued, FY2025
- 12,425up 14.6% from 10,841 in FY2023.
- Top nationality, FY2025
- United Kingdom2,222 visas, 17.9% of the world total.
- Top post, FY2025
- London2,262 visas issued at the post, to applicants of any nationality.
- Dependents
- IncludedThe State Department uses one class code for principals and dependents.
World totals
These are our sums of the State Department's monthly tables of nonimmigrant visas issued by nationality and by post, October to September. The nationality totals equal the post totals exactly in each year. The class code is I for principals and dependents together, so a count of visas is not a count of journalists.
| Fiscal year | I visas issued | Change from prior year |
|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 10,841 | Not computed |
| FY2024 | 12,939 | up 19.4% |
| FY2025 | 12,425 | down 4.0% |
Top 15 nationalities, FY2025
| Nationality | FY2023 | FY2024 | FY2025 | Rank FY2023 | Rank FY2024 | Rank FY2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1,831 | 1,871 | 2,222 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Japan | 1,112 | 1,139 | 1,251 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Mexico | 733 | 856 | 913 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Germany | 780 | 848 | 879 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| France | 540 | 690 | 632 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Brazil | 282 | 301 | 448 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| Dominican Republic | 261 | 260 | 388 | 9 | 14 | 7 |
| Spain | 209 | 434 | 379 | 11 | 6 | 8 |
| South Korea | 330 | 231 | 349 | 6 | 15 | 9 |
| Australia | 273 | 388 | 332 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Italy | 230 | 283 | 309 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
| Argentina | 131 | 260 | 186 | 16 | 13 | 12 |
| India | 186 | 426 | 172 | 13 | 7 | 13 |
| Ireland | 157 | 151 | 167 | 14 | 21 | 14 |
| China (mainland) | 43 | 262 | 144 | 41 | 12 | 15 |
Top 10 posts, FY2025
Post counts are visas issued at that post to applicants of any nationality, so they are not the same as the nationality totals above.
| Post | FY2023 | FY2024 | FY2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 1,904 | 1,941 | 2,262 |
| Tokyo | 975 | 1,012 | 1,178 |
| Paris | 545 | 681 | 660 |
| Mexico City | 525 | 619 | 658 |
| Berlin | 423 | 448 | 433 |
| Santo Domingo | 274 | 262 | 396 |
| Madrid | 211 | 416 | 386 |
| Seoul | 334 | 226 | 342 |
| Frankfurt | 274 | 269 | 281 |
| Sao Paulo | 172 | 184 | 265 |
What these figures leave out
- They count visas issued, not people or admissions. A multi-year visa can be used many times.
- They leave out people who change status to I inside the United States, because the State Department counts visas issued abroad.
- Some swings, such as mainland China's move from 43 to 262 to 144, are as published and we have no explanation for them.
- Paris and Mexico City differ by only two visas in FY2025, so their order is close to a tie.
- No source we read explains the trend, and we do not offer a reason.
What the $8,000 fee covers
Lando's flat fee for the I visa is $8,000. It covers preparing the application: a review of your work against the foreign-media tests, the employer letter or contract and the credentials that support it, the DS-160, interview preparation, and applications for a spouse and unmarried children. The I visa has no USCIS petition, so there is no petition filing, no Request for Evidence and no USCIS filing fee, and the fee-back terms that apply to Lando's petition-based visas do not apply here. The State Department's visa application fee is separate and is paid to the State Department. A consular officer decides every application, and Lando does not promise an outcome.
How it works
From first call to your interview
1. Evaluation
You get an honest answer.
We review your work and your media employer or contracts on a 15-minute call and tell you honestly whether you fit the foreign-media tests.
2. Documents
You know what proves each test.
We map the employer letter or freelance contract, the credentials and the other papers to each test, and what is still missing.
3. Application
Your application is prepared.
We prepare the DS-160 and the document set, and prepare you for the interview, including applications for a spouse and children if they travel.
4. Interview
You attend the consular interview.
The I visa has no USCIS petition. A consular officer decides the application, and Lando does not promise an outcome.
Common questions
How many I visas does the U.S. issue a year?
10,841 in FY2023, 12,939 in FY2024 and 12,425 in FY2025, by our sums of State Department monthly tables. The count combines principals and dependents.
Which nationality gets the most I visas?
The United Kingdom in each of FY2023, FY2024 and FY2025, with 2,222 in FY2025, followed by Japan with 1,251.
Which U.S. post issues the most I visas?
London, with 2,262 in FY2025, followed by Tokyo with 1,178. Post counts include applicants of any nationality.
Are dependents counted?
Yes. The State Department uses one class code for the I visa, so the counts combine principals and dependents.
Is Lando a law firm?
No. Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys. For advice about your own situation, speak to a licensed immigration attorney.
Sources
Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys.