The 2016 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.
| Type and Class of Admission | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,016,518 | 1,051,031 | 1,183,505 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 229,104 | 213,910 | 238,087 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 25,686 | 24,533 | 22,072 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 105,641 | 104,892 | 121,267 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 25,830 | 24,271 | 27,392 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 71,947 | 60,214 | 67,356 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 416,456 | 465,068 | 566,706 |
| Spouses | 238,852 | 265,367 | 304,358 |
| Children 1 | 61,217 | 66,740 | 88,494 |
| Parents | 116,387 | 132,961 | 173,854 |
| Employment-based preferences | 151,596 | 144,047 | 137,893 |
| First: Priority workers | 40,554 | 41,688 | 42,862 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 48,801 | 44,344 | 38,858 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 43,156 | 37,243 | 35,933 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 8,362 | 10,584 | 10,377 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 10,723 | 10,188 | 9,863 |
| Diversity | 53,490 | 47,934 | 49,865 |
| Refugees | 96,066 | 118,431 | 120,216 |
| Asylees | 38,176 | 33,564 | 37,209 |
| Parolees | 95 | 23 | 15 |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | 594 | 403 | 92 |
| Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) | 70 | 49 | 34 |
| Cancellation of removal | 5,248 | 4,713 | 3,453 |
| Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) | 22 | 9 | 15 |
| Other | 25,601 | 22,880 | 29,920 |
| Type and Class of Admission | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 535,126 | 542,315 | 565,427 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 23,202 | 16,783 | 15,116 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 2,296 | 2,503 | 1,952 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 11,784 | 6,950 | 6,751 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 1,851 | 2,510 | 2,073 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 7,271 | 4,820 | 4,340 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 228,128 | 230,194 | 257,302 |
| Spouses | 162,049 | 158,768 | 171,353 |
| Children 1 | 15,603 | 16,074 | 17,438 |
| Parents | 50,476 | 55,352 | 68,511 |
| Employment-based preferences | 129,645 | 121,978 | 113,640 |
| First: Priority workers | 38,813 | 39,924 | 40,445 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 46,872 | 42,531 | 36,448 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 35,588 | 29,648 | 26,878 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 6,933 | 8,890 | 8,478 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 1,439 | 985 | 1,391 |
| Diversity | 1,331 | 1,268 | 1,048 |
| Refugees | 96,066 | 118,431 | 120,216 |
| Asylees | 38,176 | 33,564 | 37,209 |
| Parolees | 95 | 23 | 15 |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | - | - | - |
| Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) | 70 | 49 | 34 |
| Cancellation of removal | 5,248 | 4,713 | 3,453 |
| Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) | 22 | 9 | 15 |
| Other | 13,143 | 15,303 | 17,379 |
| Type and class of admission | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 481,392 | 508,716 | 618,078 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 205,902 | 197,127 | 222,971 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 23,390 | 22,030 | 20,120 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 93,857 | 97,942 | 114,516 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 23,979 | 21,761 | 25,319 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 64,676 | 55,394 | 63,016 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 188,328 | 234,874 | 309,404 |
| Spouses | 76,803 | 106,599 | 133,005 |
| Children 1 | 45,614 | 50,666 | 71,056 |
| Parents | 65,911 | 77,609 | 105,343 |
| Employment-based preferences | 21,951 | 22,069 | 24,253 |
| First: Priority workers | 1,741 | 1,764 | 2,417 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 1,929 | 1,813 | 2,410 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 7,568 | 7,595 | 9,055 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 1,429 | 1,694 | 1,899 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 9,284 | 9,203 | 8,472 |
| Diversity | 52,159 | 46,666 | 48,817 |
| Refugees | - | - | - |
| Asylees | - | - | - |
| Parolees | - | - | - |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | 594 | 403 | 92 |
| Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) | - | - | - |
| Cancellation of removal | - | - | - |
| Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) | - | - | - |
| Other | 12,458 | 7,577 | 12,541 |
- Represents zero.
1 Includes orphans.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.