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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
