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H2B vs J1: 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, 120,489 H2B visas were issued, compared with 284,275 J1 visas. J1 received about 2.4 times as many as H2B. These count visas issued, not approval rates.
| Month | H2B visas | J1 visas |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | 3,079 | 18,000 |
| January 2026 | 2,807 | 12,408 |
| December 2025 | 2,439 | 13,686 |
| November 2025 | 3,935 | 12,838 |
| October 2025 | 12,147 | 12,557 |
| September 2025 | 10,200 | 13,392 |
- Source numbers: visas H2B and J1, State Department monthly reports. Recent months can be revised.
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