Visas for Qualified International Professionals Break Records in the US

Fiscal year 2024 marked a turning point for skilled immigration in the United States. For the first time in history, several merit-based visa categories broke records simultaneously, reflecting a combination of factors: the maturation of scientific training across multiple sending countries, structural talent shortages in the American labor market, and greater sophistication among petitioners assembling strong cases for USCIS and the Department of State.

Data consolidated by the Department of State shows a clear pattern: international professionals are moving away from predominantly tourist applicant profiles and becoming key players in the highest-value employment categories. The five categories with the highest percentage growth in 2024 over the previous decade’s average all belong to the employment-based spectrum.

Before diving into the numbers, it helps to understand what is at stake. Each of these visas belongs to a distinct regulatory framework, with specific requirements defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Federal Regulations. The profile that qualifies for EB-1 rarely qualifies for H-1B, and vice versa. Knowing which route fits your trajectory is the first step in any serious planning.

Numbers that made history

The standout of 2024 was EB-2, the immigrant category for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. Globally, numbers hit all-time records, confirming a trend observed since Matter of Dhanasar (2016), the Administrative Appeals Office decision that made the National Interest Waiver more predictable for professionals in STEM, healthcare, and entrepreneurship fields.

Second was H-1B, with the lottery receiving more than 780,000 valid registrations in the selection cycle. The number confirms consistent demand for highly specialized professionals in technology, finance, and engineering. The H-1B lottery cycle remains competitive, with an annual cap of 65,000 plus 20,000 for holders of master’s degrees from US universities.

Third was O-1, a category in steady expansion. This nonimmigrant visa covers professionals with extraordinary ability proven by objective criteria defined in 8 CFR 214.2(o). The jump reflects greater petitioner maturity in assembling evidence packages (publications, awards, high salaries, critical roles in prestigious organizations).

EB-1 and the advance of extraordinary talent

EB-1, commonly known as the Einstein visa, posted strong growth in 2024. The category covers three subdivisions: EB-1A (extraordinary ability), EB-1B (outstanding professor or researcher), and EB-1C (multinational manager or executive).

The typical beneficiary profile has shifted. Ten years ago, EB-1 was dominated by executives transferred via EB-1C. Today, there is significant growth among scientists, academic researchers, and tech entrepreneurs pursuing EB-1A based on strategically assembled evidence portfolios built from the early stages of their careers.

The countries driving the skilled flow

The composition of beneficiaries reflects a well-defined geography. The top sending countries for skilled visas to the United States follow this consolidated pattern:

• India: dominates H-1B and EB-2/EB-3, accounting for more than 70% of H-1B approvals in recent cycles
• China: strong presence in EB-1, EB-2, and F-1 with transition to OPT/H-1B
• Mexico: top sender for TN (USMCA) and H-2A/H-2B
• Brazil: accelerating growth in EB-2, EB-1, and O-1, with more than 2,300 EB-2 visas issued in 2024
• Philippines: traditional strength in healthcare (nurses via EB-3) and technical professionals
• South Korea: significant in E-2 (treaty investor) and L-1
• Canada: strong in TN and corporate L-1
• United Kingdom: consistent presence in O-1 and executive L-1
• Nigeria: growing in EB-2 NIW and academic F-1
• Germany: significant in E-1/E-2 and L-1 transfers

Brazil’s trajectory illustrates the growth curve well. For the first time, 2,302 EB-2 visas were issued to Brazilian nationals, surpassing the previous record of 1,988. H-1B rose from 1,866 to 1,947 issuances, and O-1 reached 1,722 issuances. EB-1 jumped from 385 to 491 visas. This trend mirrors what is happening in various emerging countries with consolidating scientific bases.

Categories completing the 2024 picture

Beyond the four main categories, other visas also performed strongly in FY2024:

• O-2 (support staff for O-1 beneficiaries): strong expansion
• G-2 (government representatives at international organizations)
• H-2A (temporary agricultural work): no cap, record demand
• K-1 and K-2 (fiances and children of US citizens)
• F-1 in consular issuances with subsequent transition to OPT/H-1B
• H-2B (temporary non-agricultural work): 66,000 cap exhausted quickly

Why records are happening now

The phenomenon has multiple drivers. On the supply side, countries such as India, China, Brazil, South Korea, and Mexico have consolidated over the past two decades a consistent postgraduate talent base: the number of doctoral graduates, indexed publications, and patents with international co-authorship has grown significantly. This creates an eligible pool for EB-2, EB-2 NIW, EB-1, and O-1.

On the demand side, the United States faces structural deficits in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, healthcare, advanced engineering, and energy. American universities and employers maintain global leadership positions and act as magnets for skilled talent.

There is also a third, less-discussed factor: collective learning. Communities of applicants and immigration professionals have accumulated practical knowledge on how to build defensible petitions, avoid Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and respond effectively when an RFE arrives. This information capital reduces denials and increases the absolute number of visas ultimately issued.

What each category requires in practice

Each visa has a different point of entry. Standard EB-2 requires labor certification (PERM) with a job offer from a US employer, a master’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressive experience. EB-2 NIW waives the job offer requirement upon proof of the three Dhanasar prongs: substantial merit and national importance of the endeavor, the applicant’s privileged position to advance it, and the national interest benefit of waiving PERM.

H-1B requires a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the specialty occupation, a job offer from an employer willing to petition, and selection in the annual lottery. The salary must meet the prevailing wage set by the Department of Labor (levels I through IV based on experience). O-1 requires evidence of extraordinary ability through sustained national or international acclaim, demonstrated by at least three of the criteria listed in 8 CFR 214.2(o)(3).

EB-1A is the most demanding: a singular, highly recognized award (Nobel, Pulitzer, Olympic gold), or evidence under at least three of the ten regulatory criteria, with quality placing the beneficiary at the very top of their field.

Common risks and pitfalls

Despite record numbers, the RFE rate remains high in employment-based categories. The most common errors observed in AAO decisions include: confusing the importance of an industry with the individual impact of the petitioner; documenting contributions with generic letters instead of objective, measurable evidence; and underestimating the centrality of the final merits determination step in USCIS review.

Building a strong file starts well before the petition. For EB-1A and EB-2 NIW, it is advisable to structure the professional trajectory at least two years in advance, accumulating publications, independent citations, roles on editorial or selection committees, and participation in projects with demonstrable impact.

Trends for 2026 and beyond

The coming years should maintain pressure on employment-based categories. Demand for artificial intelligence engineers, cybersecurity specialists, healthcare professionals, and data scientists shows no signs of slowing. The Visa Bulletin remains a critical variable: applicants from countries without retrogression are subject to the worldwide cutoff, with substantially shorter wait times than those applicable to applicants from India and China, who face specific priority dates with retrogression spanning years or decades in EB-2 and EB-3.

For those planning to enter this flow, the recommendation is strategic: study the INA carefully, identify the category that best fits your trajectory, organize evidence over months or years, and build the case on objective, measurable data. The records of 2024 show that the path is open for those who prepare.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.