U.S. visas issued to Canadian nationals rose 142% in February 2026 compared with the monthly average for 2023–2024. Canada posted the largest increase among countries and regions in the data.
Mexico ranked second. Its issuance rose 17%, and the two neighbors accounted for about 30% of the month's total.
The overall picture ran the other way. The State Department issued 26,000 immigrant visas, compared with a monthly average of 52,000 before President Donald Trump took office.
The figures cover visas issued at U.S. consulates abroad. They do not count green cards granted through adjustment of status inside the United States. These visas provide lawful permanent residency.
The February tally came during Trump's presidency and Mark Carney's tenure as Canadian prime minister. The numbers track visa issuance across that period.
Issuance fell in every listed region except the two neighbors
The regional comparison shows how far the declines extended. Canada and Mexico were the exceptions.
| Region | Change against 2023–2024 monthly average |
|---|---|
| Central Asia | Down 99% |
| Africa | Down 89% |
| Eastern Europe | Down 84% |
| Middle East | Down 81% |
| Australia and Oceania | Down 73% |
| South Asia | Down 63% |
| South America | Down 60% |
| Caribbean | Down 53% |
| East Asia | Down 33% |
| Central America | Down 30% |
| Southeast Asia | Down 17% |
| Western Europe | Down 16% |
The administration's policies made immigration all but impossible for people from 91 countries and reduced visa availability in another 61. The measures were intended to tighten screening and assess whether applicants might later rely on public benefits, the administration said.
The administration used entry bans and separate visa suspensions
An expanded U.S. travel ban took effect in January 2026. It barred people from 39 countries from receiving visas or entering the country, following the designation of 12 countries as entry-ban targets late last year.
Those countries were Iran, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia and Sudan. A separate suspension of immigrant visa issuance covered applicants from another 52 countries.
The administration had suspended the diversity immigrant visa program a month earlier. It also abolished the prior random lottery system for selecting H-1B skilled-worker visa recipients.
Officials described the goal as to “strengthen security screening and assess applicants' potential future reliance on public benefits.” The measures took effect without congressional approval.
Several countries and visa categories moved in different directions
South Korea's issuance fell 19%, from a 2023–2024 monthly average of 420 to 340 in February. China fell 31%, Japan 25% and India 16%.
The Philippines, the United Kingdom, Türkiye and Spain also recorded increases. Among majority-Muslim countries, visa issuance plunged by more than 90%; Türkiye had the smallest decline, at 8%.
Only Qatar, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates recorded increases among majority-Muslim countries. The country-level changes varied even as the broader decline spread.
Student and worker visas fell 30% from a year earlier. Tourist and business visitor visas dropped about 25% in February.
India and China were not covered by the travel bans, but their student and H-1B work visas fell amid new rules and fees. Seasonal agricultural and exchange-worker visas remained broadly stable. Other seasonal-worker issuances, including in hospitality and tourism, declined.
Court orders and delayed cases left families separated
At the end of August, courts in two separate lawsuits ordered the government to resume issuing visas. David Bier, an immigration expert at the Cato Institute, said that outside the pandemic period, the contraction was the largest since the Hoover administration denied visas to qualified legal immigrants during the Great Depression. The institute used 1929–1933 as its comparison period.
The cases have affected families waiting on immigration processes. Daniel Brackins, a U.S. citizen, said his wife's application was denied at the final stage under the new policy. Their son was born in Kazakhstan.
“Watching my son grow up over video calls has put my wife and my relationship under great stress.”
Brackins said.
Wilian Nelson Hernandez Morales had lived in New Jersey with his wife and four children before traveling to Guatemala, where he became stranded. He entered the United States illegally as a minor 26 years ago and married a U.S. citizen in 2021.
He was seeking lawful permanent residency through the marriage, but his visa process stalled. He has been unable to return to the United States since January.
The White House highlighted the decline in legal admissions
The White House's “Rapid Response 47” X account posted a graphic showing the drop and added a thumbs-up emoji to its caption. A White House statement said: “Legal migration fell sharply under Trump immigration policies adopted early this year”.
The White House had previously shared a Cato Institute graphic saying immigration from Muslim-majority nations had fallen 96% since former President Joe Biden left office. The count of monthly immigrant visa issuances and permanent lawful refugee admissions fell from 21,096 in December 2024 to 808 in February 2026.
Afghans represented 27% of the decline among majority-Muslim countries. Pakistani issuances fell 97.9%.
Afghan issuances fell from 5,563 in December 2024 to 9 in February 2026, a 99.8% decline. The broader decline followed a year when immigrant visa numbers had fallen about 10% during Trump's first year back in the White House.
