Are There 55 Million Visa Holders in the U.S.? What to Know

No, there are not 55 million visa holders in the United States. As of January 2025, the best government-based estimate puts the Foreign-Born Population at about 53.3 million, based on the Current Population Survey (CPS). That total includes everyone born abroad who now lives in the country: naturalized citizens, green card holders, people on temporary visas, and undocumented immigrants. It does not mean this entire group holds valid U.S. visas. The actual number of current visa holders is far lower—still in the millions, but not tens of millions—according to publicly available data and program tallies.

This confusion is common in public debate. Some posts and TV segments say “55 million visa holders,” but they mix two very different concepts: temporary visa holders (people with nonimmigrant visas) and the broader foreign-born population (which covers a much wider set of residents). The CPS estimate of 53.3 million also includes an estimated 15.4 million undocumented immigrants as of January 2025. That is why experts caution against using the foreign-born total as a substitute for visa numbers. Each category—citizen, lawful permanent resident, temporary visa holder, undocumented—carries different rights, duties, and immigration paths. Conflating them misleads policy debates and creates needless worry for families and employers.

Why “55 million visa holders” is wrong

Start with plain definitions. The Foreign-Born Population includes all people living in the U.S. who were born abroad. That broad category contains four main groups:

• Naturalized U.S. citizens
• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
• Temporary visa holders (workers, students, tourists)
• Undocumented immigrants

Only temporary visa holders are usually meant by “visa holders” in everyday talk. The CPS puts the foreign-born total at 53.3 million (January 2025), and within that number the estimate for undocumented immigrants is 15.4 million. By design, the foreign-born count includes many people who do not have a current visa—naturalized citizens and many green card holders, for example. Treating the whole foreign-born total as the visa-holding population turns a clear measure into a confused one.

Other surveys show the same lesson. The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) estimated 47.8 million immigrants living in the U.S. in 2023. Like the CPS, the ACS counts all immigrants—not just those with active visas. Comparing CPS and ACS helps explain trends, but neither supports a claim of “55 million visa holders.”

Program numbers: H-1B and H-2B put scale in perspective

Looking at specific visa programs shows how far off “55 million” really is:

• H-1B (high-skilled worker):
  • FY 2022 admissions: about 410,000 H-1B workers admitted.
  • FY 2025 registrations: about 470,000 eligible registrations in the lottery, with roughly 120,000 selected for possible approval.
  • Note: Selected ≠ approved; approved ≠ present in the U.S.
• H-2B (seasonal non-agricultural workers):
  • FY 2025 supplement: 64,716 additional visas temporarily added to meet labor demand.
  • These supplemental slots are tied to specific times and rules, often linked to returning workers and fraud protections.

Even adding these program counts together keeps totals in the hundreds of thousands or low millions per year—not tens of millions.

Program updates, backlogs, and how they affect totals

Recent policy moves help explain where numbers come from and what they do not imply:

• In 2024–2025, the Biden administration maintained or expanded some temporary worker programs (including the H-2B supplement) and reinstated some screening steps such as enhanced biometrics in 2025.
• These changes affect processing speed and eligibility but do not create a sudden leap to “55 million” people on visas.
• As of late 2023, there were more than 4 million applicants waiting for immigrant visas (family and employment categories). That number is a queue, not a count of people currently holding visas.

The State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin controls who can move forward each month. It shows measured movement—predictable, incremental shifts rather than dramatic jumps. See the official bulletin at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html.

How program mechanics limit totals

H-1B detail illustrates constraints:

1. About 470,000 eligible registrations (FY 2025).
2. Roughly 120,000 selected for possible filing.
3. Many selected never file; some are denied; some beneficiaries never come to the U.S.
4. FY 2022 admissions ≈ 410,000, many renewals or border crossings by existing workers.

H-2B supplements and other temporary slots come with guardrails—timing windows, returning-worker preferences, and anti-fraud rules—so they don’t create massive, instant increases to the stock of visa holders.

What these numbers mean for workers, families, and students

• Workers:
  • The H-1B and H-2B figures show why “55 million” is implausible.
  • These programs supply important labor in thousands-to-hundreds-of-thousands annual ranges, not tens of millions.
• Families:
  • More than 4 million people waiting for immigrant visas reflect demand, not current visa holders.
  • Many on the waiting list are abroad; others remain in temporary status inside the U.S. awaiting adjustment.
• Students:
  • Program changes for seasonal workers do not automatically alter student visa pathways.
  • Reinstated screening measures in 2025 may add processing time and documentation checks, but they don’t swell the count of visa holders.

Economists note that immigrant workers help fill labor gaps and support growth. However, the scale of H-1B and H-2B programs is far below what would be needed to justify a “55 million” headline.

Policy context and practical guidance

• The Biden administration kept or expanded certain worker paths (e.g., H-2B supplement) to address short-term employer needs.
• Some Trump-era restrictions were later rolled back, while some screening measures (like enhanced biometrics) returned in 2025.
• These policy toggles affect eligibility and processing but do not convert the foreign-born total into visa-holder counts.

For readers trying to interpret numbers, ask these three questions whenever you see a figure:

1. Is it a count of everyone born abroad who lives in the U.S. now?
2. Is it a tally of people waiting for a green card?
3. Is it a count of people holding a current, temporary visa in the country today?

Each question points to a different dataset. Mixing them inflates or shrinks the picture inaccurately.

Key takeaway: The Foreign-Born Population is about 53.3 million (January 2025), but it includes citizens, permanent residents, temporary visa holders, and undocumented residents. The everyday phrase “visa holders” refers to the temporary slice—millions, not tens of millions. The H-1B and H-2B program numbers, the more than 4 million immigrant visa backlog, and the steady Visa Bulletin movements all point to steady flows and real backlogs, not any evidence for “55 million visa holders.”

Quick reference of main figures cited

Keeping these categories distinct—foreign-born, permanent resident, temporary visa holder, undocumented—keeps debate honest and planning grounded in the real size and needs of each group. None of the official figures above support the claim of “55 million visa holders.”