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Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Type and Major Class of Admission: Fiscal Years 2016 to 2018

The 2018 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 2016 to 2018
Class of Admission (Adjustments of Status and New Arrivals)201620172018
      Total1,183,5051,127,1671,096,611
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens566,706516,508478,961
   Spouses304,358292,909268,149
   Children 188,49474,98966,794
   Parents173,854148,610144,018
Family-sponsored preferences238,087232,238216,563
   First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children22,07226,21927,251
   Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents121,267113,500109,841
   Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children27,39223,26019,531
   Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children67,35669,25959,940
Employment-based preferences137,893137,855138,171
   First: Priority workers42,86241,06039,514
   Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability38,85839,33140,095
   Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers35,93338,08339,228
    Fourth: Certain special immigrants10,3779,5049,711
   Fifth: Employment creation (investors)9,8639,8779,623
Diversity49,86551,59245,350
Refugees120,216120,356155,734
Asylees37,20925,64730,175
Parolees152614
Children born abroad to alien residents927569
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children12,15119,19110,297
Cancellation of removal3,4533,5394,421
Victims of human trafficking1,0691,3171,208
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children16,18418,06515,012
Other565758636

 

Adjustments of Status
Class of Admission (Adjustments of Status)201620172018
      Total565,427549,086567,884
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens257,302252,231237,321
   Spouses171,353177,473156,475
   Children 117,43816,74916,765
   Parents68,51158,00964,081
Family-sponsored preferences15,11613,47812,448
   First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children1,9521,9291,952
   Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents6,7515,8464,389
   Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children2,0732,0931,539
   Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children4,3403,6104,568
Employment-based preferences113,640113,330110,347
   First: Priority workers40,44538,49635,373
   Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability36,44836,21736,821
   Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers26,87829,37728,568
   Fourth: Certain special immigrants8,4787,6107,886
   Fifth: Employment creation (investors)1,3911,6301,699
Diversity1,0489181,117
Refugees120,216120,356155,734
Asylees37,20925,64730,175
Parolees152614
Children born abroad to alien residents---
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children154632
Cancellation of removal3,4533,5394,421
Victims of human trafficking1,0691,3171,208
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children16,14817,99314,909
Other196205158

 

New Arrivals
Class of Admission (New Arrivals)201620172018
      Total618,078578,081528,727
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens309,404264,277241,640
   Spouses133,005115,436111,674
   Children 171,05658,24050,029
   Parents105,34390,60179,937
Family-sponsored preferences222,971218,760204,115
   First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children20,12024,29025,299
   Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents114,516107,654105,452
   Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children25,31921,16717,992
   Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children63,01665,64955,372
Employment-based preferences24,25324,52527,824
   First: Priority workers2,4172,5644,141
   Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability2,4103,1143,274
   Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers9,0558,70610,660
   Fourth: Certain special immigrants1,8991,8941,825
   Fifth: Employment creation (investors)8,4728,2477,924
Diversity48,81750,67444,233
Refugees---
Asylees---
Parolees---
Children born abroad to alien residents927569
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children12,13619,14510,265
Cancellation of removal---
Victims of human trafficking---
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children3672103
Other369553478

- Represents zero.
1 Includes orphans.

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Last Updated: 09/29/2020
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