In absolute numbers, 1,899 “exceptional professionals” left the country permanently last year, the highest rate in at least a decade. The statistic includes both new visas granted and status adjustments – in other words, cases of people who entered the country with authorization of a different kind, but managed to change it later. This increase contrasts with the 48% drop, practically a halving, in overall visa issuances by the US government in 2020. Because of the pandemic, the United States has suspended some activities at consulates, which has interrupted some of the processes.
