The long view
State Dept publishes its annual totals by US government fiscal year, which runs October to September.
Point at a year for its exact count.
3
8
2
6
9
Pre-COVID peak11
7
3
4
2
2
7
8
4
6
2
Striped: the current year so far.
FY2011: 3 visas; FY2012: 8 visas; FY2013: 2 visas; FY2014: 6 visas; FY2015: 9 visas; FY2016: 11 visas; FY2017: 7 visas; FY2018: 3 visas; FY2019: 4 visas; FY2020: 2 visas; FY2021: 2 visas; FY2022: 7 visas; FY2023: 8 visas; FY2024: 4 visas; FY2025: 6 visas; FY2026: 2 visas so far.
FY2025 had 6 visas (+50% on FY2024). That's 45% below the pre-pandemic peak (FY2016). FY2026 so far (Oct–Dec) is running 33% behind the same months of FY2025.