Skip to main content

Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Type and Major Class of Admission: Fiscal Years 2015 to 2017

Totals: Adjustments of Status and New Arrivals

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
Family-sponsored preferences	213,910	238,087	232,238
Employment-based preferences	144,047	137,893	137,855
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

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	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

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	213,910	238,087	232,238
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	24,533	22,072	26,219
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	104,892	121,267	113,500
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	24,271	27,392	23,260
Fourth priority: 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

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	144,047	137,893	137,855
First priority: Priority workers	41,688	42,862	41,060
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	44,344	38,858	39,331
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	37,243	35,933	38,083
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	10,584	10,377	9,504
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	10,188	9,863	9,877

Adjustments of Status

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
Family-sponsored preferences	16,783	15,116	13,478
Employment-based preferences	121,978	113,640	113,330
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

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	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

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	16,783	15,116	13,478
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	2,503	1,952	1,929
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	6,950	6,751	5,846
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	2,510	2,073	2,093
Fourth priority: 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

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	121,978	113,640	113,330
First priority: Priority workers	39,924	40,445	38,496
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	42,531	36,448	36,217
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	29,648	26,878	29,377
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	8,890	8,478	7,610
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	985	1,391	1,630

New Arrivals

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
Family-sponsored preferences	197,127	222,971	218,760
Employment-based preferences	22,069	24,253	24,525
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

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	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

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	197,127	222,971	218,760
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	22,030	20,120	24,290
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	97,942	114,516	107,654
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	21,761	25,319	21,167
Fourth priority: 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

Type and Class of Admission	2015	2016	2017
Total	22,069	24,253	24,525
First priority: Priority workers	1,764	2,417	2,564
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	1,813	2,410	3,114
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	7,595	9,055	8,706
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	1,694	1,899	1,894
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	9,203	8,472	8,247