In August, the U.S. set a new monthly record by granting 125,700 visas to Brazilians since tracking began in 2017.
According to a study by AG Immigration, this marks an 18.5% increase from July. Compared to last August, it’s a 62.3% jump.
The U.S. Embassy in Brazil took steps last year to improve service. Since reopening in November 2021, demand for U.S. visas has skyrocketed.
Previously, waiting times ranged from days to weeks. Now, they exceed 630 days.
To tackle the backlog, the State Department added more staff in Brazil. They even started Saturday appointments.
As a result, seven of the top monthly totals have occurred in 2023.
In August, Brazil ranked second in receiving U.S. visas. It outpaced India, which got 101,000 visas.
Mexico led the chart with 197,000. China and Colombia followed with 50,100 and 42,300 respectively.
Of the visas granted to Brazilians in August, 96% were for tourism. The J-1 exchange visas came next with 797, followed by F-1 student visas at 648.
AG Immigration’s CEO notes that Brazil is among the top countries sending students to the U.S.
Regarding “green cards,” the IR-5 visa led in August with 93 issuances. Next were the EB-2 and IR-1 visas, with 82 and 49, respectively.
By August 2023, a total of 778,800 visas had been issued. This nearly matches the 815,000 visas issued in all of 2022.
If the trend continues, 2023 could see a record 1.16 million visas for Brazilians. AG Immigration expects the year-end count could reach 1.2 million.
Background
The visa numbers aren’t just a win for Brazilians; they also benefit the U.S. economy. Tourism and international study contribute billions to the nation’s GDP.
These visas offer avenues for international exposure and potential economic ties for Brazil. More than ever, globalization connects countries, and mobility is critical.
The U.S. seems to recognize this and is actively opening doors for international relations.