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Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status By Type And Major Class Of Admission: Fiscal Years 2014 To 2016

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.

Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status By Type And Major Class Of Admission: Fiscal Years 2014 To 2016
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

 

Adjustments of Status
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

 

New Arrivals
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.

Last Updated: 11/21/2023
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