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Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Type and Major Class of Admission: Fiscal Years 2014 to 2016

On This Page: Totals: Adjustments of Status and New Arrivals | Adjustments of Status | New Arrivals | Footnotes

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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
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	416,456	465,068	566,706
Employment-based preferences	151,596	144,047	137,893
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

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Type and Class of Admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	229,104	213,910	238,087
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	25,686	24,533	22,072
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	105,641	104,892	121,267
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	25,830	24,271	27,392
Fourth priority: 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

Type and Class of Admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	416,456	465,068	566,706
Spouses	238,852	265,367	304,358
Children¹	61,217	66,740	88,494
Parents	116,387	132,961	173,854

Employment-Based Preferences

Type and Class of Admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	151,596	144,047	137,893
First priority: Priority workers	40,554	41,688	42,862
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	48,801	44,344	38,858
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	43,156	37,243	35,933
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	8,362	10,584	10,377
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	10,723	10,188	9,863

Type and Class of Admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	535,126	542,315	565,427
Family-sponsored preferences	23,202	16,783	15,116
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	228,128	230,194	257,302
Employment-based preferences	129,645	121,978	113,640
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

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Type and Class of Admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	23,202	16,783	15,116
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	2,296	2,503	1,952
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	11,784	6,950	6,751
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	1,851	2,510	2,073
Fourth priority: 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

Type and Class of Admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	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

Type and Class of Admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	129,645	121,978	113,640
First priority: Priority workers	38,813	39,924	40,445
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	46,872	42,531	36,448
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	35,588	29,648	26,878
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	6,933	8,890	8,478
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	1,439	985	1,391

Type and class of admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	481,392	508,716	618,078
Family-sponsored preferences	205,902	197,127	222,971
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	188,328	234,874	309,404
Employment-based preferences	21,951	22,069	24,253
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

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Type and class of admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	205,902	197,127	222,971
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	23,390	22,030	20,120
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	93,857	97,942	114,516
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	23,979	21,761	25,319
Fourth priority: 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

Type and class of admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	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

Type and class of admission	2014	2015	2016
Total	21,951	22,069	24,253
First priority: Priority workers	1,741	1,764	2,417
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	1,929	1,813	2,410
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	7,568	7,595	9,055
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	1,429	1,694	1,899
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	9,284	9,203	8,472