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Table 7. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status By Type And Detailed Class Of Admission: Fiscal Year 2015

The 2015 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics is a compendium of tables that provide data on foreign nationals who are granted lawful permanent residence (i.e., immigrants who receive a “green card”), admitted as temporary nonimmigrants, granted asylum or refugee status, or are naturalized. The Yearbook also presents data on immigration enforcement actions, including apprehensions and arrests, removals, and returns.

Family-Sponsored Preferences
Type and Class of Admission Total Adjustments of Status New Arrivals
       Total, all immigrants 1,051,031 542,315 508,716
Family-sponsored preferences 213,910 16,783 197,127
   First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children 24,533 2,503 22,030
     Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals (F11) 13,033 - 13,033
     Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments (F16) 2,327 2,327 -
     Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals, self petitioning (B11) D - D
     Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments, self petitioning (B16) D D -
     Children of F11 or F16, new arrivals (F12) D - D
     Children of F11 or F16, adjustments (F17) D D -
   Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents 104,892 6,950 97,942
     Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals (F21) 11,010 - 11,010
     Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments (F26) 1,360 1,360 -
     Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals, self petitioning (B21) 20 - 20
     Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments, self petitioning (B26) 513 513 -
     Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals, conditional (C21) 21 - 21
     Spouses of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments, conditional (C26) 397 397 -
     Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals (FX1) 20,301 - 20,301
     Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, adjustments (FX6) 677 677 -
     Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals, self petitioning (BX1) D - D
     Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, adjustments, self petitioning (BX6) 378 378 -
     Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals, conditional (CX1) 20 - 20
     Spouses of alien residents, exempt from country limits, adjustments, conditional (CX6) 30 30 -
     Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals (F22) 8,741 - 8,741
     Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments (F27) 642 642 -
     Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals, self petitioning (B22) 21 - 21
     Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments, self petitioning (B27) 86 86 -
     Children of C21, C22, C26, or C27, subject to country limits, new arrivals, conditional (C23) 3 - 3
     Children of C21, C22, C26, or C27, subject to country limits, adjustments, conditional (C28) 7 7 -
     Children of B21, B22, B26, or B27, subject to country limits, new arrivals (B23) 13 - 13
     Children of B21, B22, B26, or B27, subject to country limits, adjustments (B28) 47 47 -
     Children of F21, F22, F26, or F27, subject to country limits, new arrivals (F23) 4,919 - 4,919
     Children of F21, F22, F26, or F27, subject to country limits, adjustments (F28) 32 32 -
     Children of C24 or C29, subject to country limits, adjustments, conditional (C20) 3 3 -
     Children of B24 or B29, subject to country limits, adjustments (B20) 6 6 -
     Children of F24 or F29, subject to country limits, new arrivals (F25) 8,899 - 8,899
     Children of F24 or F29, subject to country limits, adjustments (F20) 142 142 -
     Children of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments, conditional (C27) 5 5 -
     Children of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals (FX2) 25,913 - 25,913
     Children of alien residents, exempt from country limits, adjustments (FX7) 392 392 -
     Children of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals, self petitioning (BX2) D - D
     Children of alien residents, exempt from country limits, adjustments, self petitioning (BX7) 41 41 -
     Children of BX1, BX2, BX6, or BX7, exempt from country limits, new arrivals (BX3) D - D
     Children of BX1, BX2, BX6, or BX7, exempt from country limits, adjustments (BX8) 91 91 -
     Children of FX1, FX2, FX7, or FX8, exempt from country limits, new arrivals (FX3) 6,679 - 6,679
     Children of FX1, FX2, FX7, or FX8, exempt from country limits, adjustments (FX8) 31 31 -
     Children of alien residents, exempt from country limits, new arrivals, conditional (CX2) 11 - 11
     Unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals (F24) 11,365 - 11,365
     Unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments (F29) 2,056 2,056 -
     Unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents, subject to country limits, adjustments, self petitioning (B29) 14 14 -
     Unmarried children of alien residents, subject to country limits, new arrivals, conditional (C24) D - D
   Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children 24,271 2,510 21,761
     Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals (F31) 6,115 - 6,115
     Married Amerasian sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments (A36) D D -
     Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments (F36) 1,244 1,244 -
     Spouses of A31 or A36, adjustments (A37) D D -
     Spouses of married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals (F32) D - D
     Spouses of married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments (F37) 955 955 -
     Spouses of C31 or C36, new arrivals, conditional (C32) D - D
     Spouses of married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments, conditional (C37) D D -
     Children of A31 or A36, subject to country limits, adjustments (A38) D D -
     Children of married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals (F33) 10,037 - 10,037
     Children of married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens, adjustments (F38) 306 306 -
   Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children 60,214 4,820 55,394
     Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals (F41) 19,072 - 19,072
     Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens, adjustments (F46) 2,963 2,963 -
     Spouses of brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals (F42) 13,181 - 13,181
     Spouses of brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens, adjustments (F47) 1,321 1,321 -
     Children of brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens, new arrivals (F43) 23,141 - 23,141
     Children of brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens, adjustments (F48) 536 536 -

 

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
Type and Class of Admission Total Adjustments of Status New Arrivals
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens 465,068 230,194 234,874
   Spouses, new arrivals (IR1) 69,160 - 69,160
   Spouses, adjustments (IR6) 33,937 33,937 -
   Spouses, new arrivals, conditional (CR1) 36,950 - 36,950
   Spouses, adjustments, conditional (CR6) 90,560 90,560 -
   Spouses, new arrivals, self petitioning (IB1) 175 - 175
   Spouses, adjustments, self petitioning (IB6) 4,813 4,813 -
   Spouses, widows or widowers, new arrivals (IW1) 314 - 314
   Spouses, widows or widowers, adjustments (IW6) 316 316 -
   Spouses, entered as fiance(e), adjustments, conditional (CF1) 28,434 28,434 -
   Spouses, entered as fiance(e), adjustments (IF1) 708 708 -
   Children, new arrivals (IR2) 40,077 - 40,077
   Children, adjustments (IR7) 7,077 7,077 -
   Children, new arrivals, conditional (CR2) 4,855 - 4,855
   Children, adjustments, conditional (CR7) 4,513 4,513 -
   Children, Amerasian, new arrivals (AR1) D - D
   Children, new arrivals, self petitioning (IB2) 62 - 62
   Children, adjustments, self petitioning (IB7) 427 427 -
   Children of IB1 or IB6, new arrivals (IB3) 134 - 134
   Children of IB1 or IB6, adjustments (IB8) 343 343 -
   Children of IW1 or IW6, new arrivals (IW2) 87 - 87
   Children of IW1 or IW6, adjustments (IW7) 39 39 -
   Children of CF1, adjustments, conditional (CF2) 3,358 3,358 -
   Children of IF1, adjustments (IF2) 305 305 -
   Children adopted abroad under the Hague Convention, new arrivals (IH3) 2,389 - 2,389
   Children adopted abroad under the Hague Convention, adjustments (IH8) D D -
   Children to be adopted under the Hague Convention, new arrivals (IH4) 209 - 209
   Children to be adopted under the Hague Convention, adjustments (IH9) D D -
   Orphans adopted abroad, new arrivals (IR3) 2,314 - 2,314
   Orphans adopted abroad, adjustments (IR8) 6 6 -
   Orphans to be adopted, new arrivals (IR4) 538 - 538
   Orphans to be adopted, adjustments (IR9) 3 3 -
   Parents of adult U.S. citizens, new arrivals (IR5) 77,605 - 77,605
   Parents of adult U.S. citizens, adjustments (IR0) 55,233 55,233 -
   Parents battered or abused, of U.S. citizens, new arrivals, self petitioning (IB5) D - D
   Parents battered or abused, of U.S. citizens, adjustments, self petitioning (IB0) 119 119 -

 

Employment-Based Preferences
Type and Class of Admission Total Adjustments of Status New Arrivals
Employment-based preferences 144,047 121,978 22,069
   First: Priority workers 41,688 39,924 1,764
     Aliens with extraordinary ability, new arrivals (E11) 563 - 563
     Aliens with extraordinary ability, adjustments (E16) 3,788 3,788 -
     Outstanding professors or researchers, new arrivals (E12) 7 - 7
     Outstanding professors or researchers, adjustments (E17) 2,792 2,792 -
     Multinational executives or managers, new arrivals (E13) 83 - 83
     Multinational executives or managers, adjustments (E18) 9,933 9,933 -
     Spouses of E11, E12, E13, E16, E17, or E18, new arrivals (E14) 493 - 493
     Spouses of E11, E12, E13, E16, E17, or E18, adjustments (E19) 12,694 12,694 -
     Children of E11, E12, E13, E16, E17, or E18, new arrivals (E15) 618 - 618
     Children of E11, E12, E13, E16, E17, or E18, adjustments (E10) 10,717 10,717 -
   Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability 44,344 42,531 1,813
     Professionals holding advanced degrees, new arrivals (E21) 661 - 661
     Professionals holding advanced degrees, adjustments (E26) 21,600 21,600 -
     Spouses of E21 or E26, new arrivals (E22) 488 - 488
     Spouses of E21 or E26, adjustments (E27) 14,304 14,304 -
     Children of E21 or E26, new arrivals (E23) 664 - 664
     Children of E21 or E26, adjustments (E28) 6,627 6,627 -
   Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and needed unskilled workers 37,243 29,648 7,595
     Skilled workers, new arrivals (E31) 1,686 - 1,686
     Skilled workers, adjustments (E36) 4,514 4,514 -
     Professionals with baccalaureate degrees, new arrivals (E32) 683 - 683
     Professionals with baccalaureate degrees, adjustments (E37) 10,007 10,007 -
     Needed unskilled workers, new arrivals (EW3) 354 - 354
     Needed unskilled workers, adjustments (EW8) 487 487 -
     Chinese Student Protection Act (CSPA) principals, adjustments (EC6) D D -
     Spouses of EX1 or EX6, adjustments (EX7) D D -
     Spouses of E31, E32, E36, or E37, new arrivals (E34) 1,625 - 1,625
     Spouses of E31, E32, E36, or E37, adjustments (E39) 9,190 9,190 -
     Spouses of EW3 or EW8, new arrivals (EW4) 256 - 256
     Spouses of EW3 or EW8, adjustments (EW9) 259 259 -
     Children of EX1 or EX6, adjustments (EX8) D D -
     Children of E31, E32, E36, or E37, new arrivals (E35) 2,555 - 2,555
     Children of E31, E32, E36, or E37, adjustments (E30) 5,012 5,012 -
     Children of EW3 or EW8, new arrivals (EW5) 436 - 436
     Children of EW3 or EW8, adjustments (EW0) D D -
   Fourth: Certain special immigrants 10,584 8,890 1,694
     Broadcast (IBCB of BBG) employees, new arrivals (BC1) 7 - 7
     Broadcast (IBCG of BBG) employees, adjustments (BC6) 36 36 -
     Ministers, new arrivals (SD1) 43 - 43
     Ministers, adjustments (SD6) 1,092 1,092 -
     Employees of U.S. government abroad, new arrivals (SE1) 409 - 409
     Employees of U.S. government abroad, adjustments (SE6) 32 32 -
     Former employees of the Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone Government, new arrivals (SF1) D - D
     Former employees of the Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone Government, adjustments (SF6) D D -
     Foreign medical school graduate who was licensed to practice in the United States on Jan. 9, 1978, adjustments (SJ6) D D -
     Retired employees of international organizations, new arrivals (SK1) 4 - 4
     Retired employees of international organizations, adjustments (SK6) 175 175 -
     Juvenile court dependents, new arrivals (SL1) 68 - 68
     Juvenile court dependents, adjustments (SL6) 5,126 5,126 -
     Religious workers, new arrivals (SR1) 22 - 22
     Religious workers, adjustments (SR6) 661 661 -
     Spouses of BC1 or BC6, new arrivals (BC2) 5 - 5
     Spouses of BC1 or BC6, adjustments (BC7) 20 20 -
     Spouses of SD1 or SD6, new arrivals (SD2) 50 - 50
     Spouses of SD1 or SD6, adjustments (SD7) 451 451 -
     Spouses of SE1 or SE6, new arrivals (SE2) 319 - 319
     Spouses of SE1 or SE6, adjustments (SE7) 17 17 -
     Spouses of SK1 or SK6, new arrivals (SK2) D - D
     Spouses of SK1 or SK6, adjustments (SK7) 42 42 -
     Spouses of SR1 or SR6, new arrivals (SR2) 9 - 9
     Spouses of SR1 or SR6, adjustments (SR7) 170 170 -
     Children of BC1 or BC6, new arrivals (BC3) 6 - 6
     Children of BC1 or BC6, adjustments (BC8) 27 27 -
     Children of SD1 or SD6, new arrivals (SD3) 100 - 100
     Children of SD1 or SD6, adjustments (SD8) 550 550 -
     Children of SE1 or SE6, new arrivals (SE3) 631 - 631
     Children of SE1 or SE6, adjustments (SE8) 26 26 -
     Certain unmarried children of SK1 or SK6, new arrivals (SK3) D - D
     Certain unmarried children of SK1 or SK6, adjustments (SK8) 258 258 -
     Children of SR1 or SR6, new arrivals (SR3) 17 - 17
     Children of SR1 or SR6, adjustments (SR8) 197 197 -
     Certain unmarried sons/daughters of SN1 or SN6, adjustments (SN8) 7 7 -
   Fifth: Employment creation (investors) 10,188 985 9,203
     Employment creation, not in targeted area, new arrivals, conditional (C51) 7 - 7
     Employment creation, not in targeted area, adjustments, conditional (C56) 17 17 -
     Employment creation, targeted area, pilot program, new arrivals, conditional (I51) 3,096 - 3,096
     Employment creation, targeted area, pilot program, adjustments, conditional (I56) 439 439 -
     Employment creation, targeted area, new arrivals, conditional (T51) 14 - 14
     Employment creation, targeted area, adjustments, conditional (T56) 17 17 -
     Investor pilot program, not targeted, new arrivals, conditional (R51) D - D
     Investor pilot program, not targeted, adjustments, conditional (R56) D D -
     Spouses of C51 or C56, new arrivals, conditional (C52) 8 - 8
     Spouses of C51 or C56, adjustments, conditional (C57) 9 9 -
     Spouses of E51 or E56, adjustments (E57) D D -
     Spouses of I51 or I56, new arrivals, conditional (I52) 2,197 - 2,197
     Spouses of I51 or I56, adjustments, conditional (I57) 199 199 -
     Spouses of T51 or T56, new arrivals, conditional (T52) 11 - 11
     Spouses of T51 or T56, adjustments, conditional (T57) D D -
     Spouses of R51 or R56, new arrivals, conditional (R52) D - D
     Spouses of R51 or R56, adjustments, conditional (R57) D D -
     Children of C51 or C56, new arrivals, conditional (C53) 13 - 13
     Children of C51 or C56, adjustments, conditional (C58) 16 16 -
     Children of I51 or I56, new arrivals, conditional (I53) 3,832 - 3,832
     Children of I51 or I56, adjustments, conditional (I58) 265 265 -
     Children of T51 or T56, new arrivals, conditional (T53) 16 - 16
     Children of T51 or T56, adjustments, conditional (T58) 12 12 -
     Children of R51 or R56, new arrivals, conditional (R53) 5 - 5

 

Diversity
Type and Class of Admission Total Adjustments of Status New Arrivals
Diversity 47,934 1,268 46,666
   Principals, new arrivals (DV1) 24,374 - 24,374
   Principals, adjustments (DV6) 734 734 -
   Spouses of DV1 or DV6, new arrivals (DV2) 10,723 - 10,723
   Spouses of DV1 or DV6, adjustments (DV7) 328 328 -
   Children of DV1 or DV6, new arrivals (DV3) 11,569 - 11,569
   Children of DV1 or DV6, adjustments (DV8) 206 206 -

 

Refugees and Asylees
Type and Class of Admission Total Adjustments of Status New Arrivals
Refugees and asylees 151,995 151,995 -
   Refugees 118,431 118,431 -
     Cuban refugees (P.L. 89-732 of 1966) (CU6) 43,344 43,344 -
     Non-Cuban spouses or children of Cuban refugees (CU7) 3,007 3,007 -
     Indochinese refugees (P.L. 95-145 of 1977) (IC6) D D -
     Spouses or children of Indochinese refugees not qualified as refugees on their own (IC7) D D -
     Other refugees (P.L. 96-212 Refugee Act of 1980) (RE6) 31,565 31,565 -
     Spouses of RE6 (RE7) 12,321 12,321 -
     Children of RE6 (RE8) 28,187 28,187 -
     Other relatives (RE9) 4 4 -
   Asylees 33,564 33,564 -
     Asylees (AS6) 16,958 16,958 -
     Spouses of AS6 (AS7) 6,562 6,562 -
     Children of AS6 (AS8) 10,044 10,044 -

 

All Other Types of Admission
Type and Class of Admission Total Adjustments of Status New Arrivals
Parolees 23 23 -
   Parolees, Soviet/Indochinese (LA6) 12 12 -
   Parolees, Indochinese (ID6) 11 11 -
Children born abroad to alien residents (NA3) 403 - 403
Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA Section 202, P.L. 105-100) 49 49 -
   Principals (NC6) 33 33 -
   Spouses of NC6 (NC7) 7 7 -
   Children of NC6 (NC8) 6 6 -
   Unmarried sons/daughters of NC6 (NC9) 3 3 -
Cancellation of removal 4,713 4,713 -
   Sec. 244, P.L. 89-236, subject to 4,000 annual limit (Z13) 3,647 3,647 -
   Battered spouses or children (Violence Against Women Act), P.L. 103-322 of 1994, subject to 4,000 annual limit (Z14) 73 73 -
   Salvadoran, Guatemalan and former Soviet bloc country nationals (NACARA Section 203, P.L. 105-100 of 1997) (Z15) 993 993 -
Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA, P.L. 105-277) 9 9 -
   Haitian asylum applicants (HA6) D D -
   Spouses of HA6 (HA7) D D -
   Unmarried sons/daughters of HA6 (HA9) D D -
IRCA legalization 13 13 -
   Entered without inspection before 1/1/82 (W16) 8 8 -
   Entered as nonimmigrant and overstayed visa before 1/1/82 (W26) D D -
   Seasonal Agricultural Workers (SAW), worked at least 90 days during the year ending on May 1, 1986 (S26) D D -
IRCA legalization dependents 19 14 5
   Spouses of legalized aliens, new arrivals (LB1) D - D
   Spouses of legalized aliens, new arrivals, conditional (CB1) D - D
   Spouses of legalized aliens, adjustments (LB6) D D -
   Spouses of legalized aliens, adjustments, conditional (CB6) 7 7 -
   Children of LB1 or LB6, new arrivals (LB2) D - D
   Children of LB1 or LB6, adjustments (LB7) D D -
Other 22,848 15,276 7,572
   Spouses of AA1 or AA6, new arrivals (AA2) D - D
   Amerasians, born in Vietnam between 1/1/62-1/1/76, new arrivals (AM1) D - D
   Spouses or children of AM1 or AM6, new arrivals (AM2) 9 - 9
   Individuals born under diplomatic status, adjustments, (DS1) 24 24 -
   Parolees adjusting under the Help HAITI Act of 2010, adjustments (HH6) D D -
   Cuban Haitian entrants, adjustments (P.L. 99-603) (CH6) 61 61 -
   American Indians born in Canada, new arrivals (S13) 206 - 206
   Special immigrant interpreters who are nationals of Iraq or Afghanistan, new arrivals (SI1) 44 - 44
   Special immigrant interpreters who are nationals of Iraq or Afghanistan, adjustments (SI6) 8 8 -
   Spouses of SI1 or SI6, new arrivals (SI2) 39 - 39
   Children of SI1 or SI6, new arrivals (SI3) 118 - 118
   Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government, new arrivals (SQ1) 2,422 - 2,422
   Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government, adjustments (SQ6) 11 11 -
   Spouses of SQ1 or SQ6, new arrivals (SQ2) 1,599 - 1,599
   Spouses of SQ1 or SQ6, adjustments (SQ7) 4 4 -
   Children of SQ1 or SQ6, new arrivals (SQ3) 3,002 - 3,002
   Children of SQ1 or SQ6, adjustments (SQ8) 10 10 -
   Adjustment of T1 nonimmigrant (ST6) 451 451 -
   Adjustment of T2 nonimmigrant (ST7) 158 158 -
   Adjustment of T3 nonimmigrant (ST8) 331 331 -
   Adjustment of T4 nonimmigrant (ST0) 14 14 -
   Adjustment of T5 nonimmigrant (ST9) 16 16 -
   Spouses of SU6, new arrivals (SU2) D - D
   Children of SU6, new arrivals (SU3) 24 - 24
   Parents of SU6, new arrivals (SU5) D - D
   Adjustment of U1 nonimmigrant (SU6) 8,310 8,310 -
   Adjustment of U2 nonimmigrant (SU7) 1,055 1,055 -
   Adjustment of U3 nonimmigrant (SU8) 3,271 3,271 -
   Adjustment of U4 nonimmigrant (SU0) 1,042 1,042 -
   Adjustment of U5 nonimmigrant (SU9) 434 434 -
   Late amnesty applicants (Immigration Reform and Control Act) (W46) 3 3 -
   Presumed lawfully admitted for permanent residence (XB3) D D -
   Children born subsequent to issuance of parent's employment-based preference visa, new arrivals (XE3) 7 - 7
   Children born subsequent to issuance of parent's family-sponsored preference visa, new arrivals (XF3) 13 - 13
   Children born subsequent to issuance of parent's immediate relative of U.S. citizen visa, new arrivals (XR3) 15 - 15
   Children born subsequent to issuance of parent's visa other, new arrivals (XN3) 67 - 67
   Entered 6/29/40-1/1/72, Section 249, P.L. 89-236, adjustments (Z66) 66 66 -
   Foreign government official who is immediate relative of U.S. citizen or special immigrant (Z83) 4 4 -

D Data withheld to limit disclosure.

- Represents zero.

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Last Updated: 11/21/2023
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