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Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Type and Major Class of Admission: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2015

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	2013	2014	2015
Total	990,553	1,016,518	1,051,031
Family-sponsored preferences	210,303	229,104	213,910
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	439,460	416,456	465,068
Employment-based preferences	161,110	151,596	144,047
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

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	210,303	229,104	213,910
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	24,358	25,686	24,533
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	99,115	105,641	104,892
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	21,294	25,830	24,271
Fourth priority: 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

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	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

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	161,110	151,596	144,047
First priority: Priority workers	38,978	40,554	41,688
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	63,026	48,801	44,344
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	43,632	43,156	37,243
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	6,931	8,362	10,584
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	8,543	10,723	10,188

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	530,802	535,126	542,315
Family-sponsored preferences	26,415	23,202	16,783
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	232,105	228,128	230,194
Employment-based preferences	140,009	129,645	121,978
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

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	26,415	23,202	16,783
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	2,538	2,296	2,503
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	6,520	11,784	6,950
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	1,829	1,851	2,510
Fourth priority: 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

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	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

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	140,009	129,645	121,978
First priority: Priority workers	37,283	38,813	39,924
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	60,956	46,872	42,531
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	34,937	35,588	29,648
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	5,602	6,933	8,890
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	1,231	1,439	985

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	459,751	481,392	508,716
Family-sponsored preferences	183,888	205,902	197,127
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	207,355	188,328	234,874
Employment-based preferences	21,101	21,951	22,069
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

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	183,888	205,902	197,127
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	21,820	23,390	22,030
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	92,595	93,857	97,942
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	19,465	23,979	21,761
Fourth priority: 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

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	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

Type and Class of Admission	2013	2014	2015
Total	21,101	21,951	22,069
First priority: Priority workers	1,695	1,741	1,764
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	2,070	1,929	1,813
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	8,695	7,568	7,595
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	1,329	1,429	1,694
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	7,312	9,284	9,203