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Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Type and Major Class of Admission: Fiscal Years 2015 to 2017

The 2017 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 2015 to 2017
Type and Class of Admission 2015 2016 2017
      Total 1,051,031 1,183,505 1,127,167
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens 465,068 566,706 516,508
   Spouses 265,367 304,358 292,909
   Children 1 66,740 88,494 74,989
   Parents 132,961 173,854 148,610
Family-sponsored preferences 213,910 238,087 232,238
   First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children 24,533 22,072 26,219
   Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents 104,892 121,267 113,500
   Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children 24,271 27,392 23,260
   Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children 60,214 67,356 69,259
Employment-based preferences 144,047 137,893 137,855
   First: Priority workers 41,688 42,862 41,060
   Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability 44,344 38,858 39,331
   Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers 37,243 35,933 38,083
   Fourth: Certain special immigrants 10,584 10,377 9,504
   Fifth: Employment creation (investors) 10,188 9,863 9,877
Diversity 47,934 49,865 51,592
Refugees 118,431 120,216 120,356
Asylees 33,564 37,209 25,647
Parolees 23 15 26
Children born abroad to alien residents 403 92 75
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children 7,048 12,151 19,191
Cancellation of removal 4,713 3,453 3,539
Victims of human trafficking 970 1,069 1,317
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children 14,138 16,184 18,065
Other 782 565 758

 

Adjustment of Status
Type and Class of Admission 2015 2016 2017
      Total 542,315 565,427 549,086
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens 230,194 257,302 252,231
   Spouses 158,768 171,353 177,473
   Children 1 16,074 17,438 16,749
   Parents 55,352 68,511 58,009
Family-sponsored preferences 16,783 15,116 13,478
   First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children 2,503 1,952 1,929
   Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents 6,950 6,751 5,846
   Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children 2,510 2,073 2,093
   Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children 4,820 4,340 3,610
Employment-based preferences 121,978 113,640 113,330
   First: Priority workers 39,924 40,445 38,496
   Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability 42,531 36,448 36,217
   Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers 29,648 26,878 29,377
   Fourth: Certain special immigrants 8,890 8,478 7,610
   Fifth: Employment creation (investors) 985 1,391 1,630
Diversity 1,268 1,048 918
Refugees 118,431 120,216 120,356
Asylees 33,564 37,209 25,647
Parolees 23 15 26
Children born abroad to alien residents - - -
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children 25 15 46
Cancellation of removal 4,713 3,453 3,539
Victims of human trafficking 970 1,069 1,317
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children 14,112 16,148 17,993
Other 254 196 205

 

New Arrivals
Type and Class of Admission 2015 2016 2017
      Total 508,716 618,078 578,081
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens 234,874 309,404 264,277
   Spouses 106,599 133,005 115,436
   Children 1 50,666 71,056 58,240
   Parents 77,609 105,343 90,601
Family-sponsored preferences 197,127 222,971 218,760
   First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children 22,030 20,120 24,290
   Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents 97,942 114,516 107,654
   Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children 21,761 25,319 21,167
   Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children 55,394 63,016 65,649
Employment-based preferences 22,069 24,253 24,525
   First: Priority workers 1,764 2,417 2,564
   Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability 1,813 2,410 3,114
   Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers 7,595 9,055 8,706
   Fourth: Certain special immigrants 1,694 1,899 1,894
   Fifth: Employment creation (investors) 9,203 8,472 8,247
Diversity 46,666 48,817 50,674
Refugees - - -
Asylees - - -
Parolees - - -
Children born abroad to alien residents 403 92 75
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children 7,023 12,136 19,145
Cancellation of removal - - -
Victims of human trafficking - - -
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children 26 36 72
Other 528 369 553

NA Not available.
- Represents zero.
1 Includes orphans.

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. removals, and returns.

Last Updated: 11/21/2023
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