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F1 vs H2B: U.S. visas issued
Updated: February 2026 · Source: U.S. Department of State, visa statistics · Unofficial
In the 12 months from March 2025 to February 2026, 252,252 F1 visas were issued, compared with 120,489 H2B visas. F1 received about 2.1 times as many as H2B. These count visas issued, not approval rates.
| Month | F1 visas | H2B visas |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | 4,035 | 3,079 |
| January 2026 | 8,780 | 2,807 |
| December 2025 | 17,730 | 2,439 |
| November 2025 | 7,708 | 3,935 |
| October 2025 | 5,766 | 12,147 |
| September 2025 | 7,535 | 10,200 |
- Source numbers: visas F1 and H2B, State Department monthly reports. Recent months can be revised.
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