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.
| Type and Class of Admission | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 990,553 | 1,016,518 | 1,051,031 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 210,303 | 229,104 | 213,910 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 24,358 | 25,686 | 24,533 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 99,115 | 105,641 | 104,892 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 21,294 | 25,830 | 24,271 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 65,536 | 71,947 | 60,214 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 439,460 | 416,456 | 465,068 |
| Spouses | 248,332 | 238,852 | 265,367 |
| Children1 | 71,382 | 61,217 | 66,740 |
| Parents | 119,746 | 116,387 | 132,961 |
| Employment-based preferences | 161,110 | 151,596 | 144,047 |
| First: Priority workers | 38,978 | 40,554 | 41,688 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 63,026 | 48,801 | 44,344 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 43,632 | 43,156 | 37,243 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 6,931 | 8,362 | 10,584 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 8,543 | 10,723 | 10,188 |
| Diversity | 45,618 | 53,490 | 47,934 |
| Refugees | 77,395 | 96,066 | 118,431 |
| Asylees | 42,235 | 38,176 | 33,564 |
| Parolees | 556 | 95 | 23 |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | 643 | 594 | 403 |
| Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) | 138 | 70 | 49 |
| Cancellation of removal | 5,763 | 5,248 | 4,713 |
| Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) | 62 | 22 | 9 |
| Other | 7,270 | 25,601 | 22,880 |
| Type and Class of Admission | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 530,802 | 535,126 | 542,315 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 26,415 | 23,202 | 16,783 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 2,538 | 2,296 | 2,503 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 6,520 | 11,784 | 6,950 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 1,829 | 1,851 | 2,510 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 15,528 | 7,271 | 4,820 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 232,105 | 228,128 | 230,194 |
| Spouses | 167,211 | 162,049 | 158,768 |
| Children1 | 16,519 | 15,603 | 16,074 |
| Parents | 48,375 | 50,476 | 55,352 |
| Employment-based preferences | 140,009 | 129,645 | 121,978 |
| First: Priority workers | 37,283 | 38,813 | 39,924 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 60,956 | 46,872 | 42,531 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 34,937 | 35,588 | 29,648 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 5,602 | 6,933 | 8,890 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 1,231 | 1,439 | 985 |
| Diversity | 1,505 | 1,331 | 1,268 |
| Refugees | 77,395 | 96,066 | 118,431 |
| Asylees | 42,235 | 38,176 | 33,564 |
| Parolees | 556 | 95 | 23 |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | - | - | - |
| Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) | 138 | 70 | 49 |
| Cancellation of removal | 5,763 | 5,248 | 4,713 |
| Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) | 62 | 22 | 9 |
| Other | 4,619 | 13,143 | 15,303 |
| Type and Class of Admission | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 459,751 | 481,392 | 508,716 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 183,888 | 205,902 | 197,127 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 21,820 | 23,390 | 22,030 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 92,595 | 93,857 | 97,942 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 19,465 | 23,979 | 21,761 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 50,008 | 64,676 | 55,394 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 207,355 | 188,328 | 234,874 |
| Spouses | 81,121 | 76,803 | 106,599 |
| Children1 | 54,863 | 45,614 | 50,666 |
| Parents | 71,371 | 65,911 | 77,609 |
| Employment-based preferences | 21,101 | 21,951 | 22,069 |
| First: Priority workers | 1,695 | 1,741 | 1,764 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 2,070 | 1,929 | 1,813 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 8,695 | 7,568 | 7,595 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 1,329 | 1,429 | 1,694 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 7,312 | 9,284 | 9,203 |
| Diversity | 44,113 | 52,159 | 46,666 |
| Refugees | - | - | - |
| Asylees | - | - | - |
| Parolees | - | - | - |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | 643 | 594 | 403 |
| Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) | - | - | - |
| Cancellation of removal | - | - | - |
| Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) | - | - | - |
| Other | 2,651 | 12,458 | 7,577 |
- Represents zero.
1 Includes orphans.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.