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OHSS | Office of Homeland Security Statistics

Table 6

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.

Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status By Type And Major Class Of Admission: Fiscal Years 2013 To 2015
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

 

Adjustments of Status
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

 

New Arrivals
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.