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Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Type and Major Class of Admission: Fiscal Years 2016 to 2018

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

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Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	1,183,505	1,127,167	1,096,611
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	566,706	516,508	478,961
Family-sponsored preferences	238,087	232,238	216,563
Employment-based preferences	137,893	137,855	138,171
Diversity	49,865	51,592	45,350
Refugees	120,216	120,356	155,734
Asylees	37,209	25,647	30,175
Parolees	15	26	14
Children born abroad to alien residents	92	75	69
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children	12,151	19,191	10,297
Cancellation of removal	3,453	3,539	4,421
Victims of human trafficking	1,069	1,317	1,208
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children	16,184	18,065	15,012
Other	565	758	636

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	566,706	516,508	478,961
Spouses	304,358	292,909	268,149
Children ¹	88,494	74,989	66,794
Parents	173,854	148,610	144,018

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	238,087	232,238	216,563
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	22,072	26,219	27,251
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	121,267	113,500	109,841
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	27,392	23,260	19,531
Fourth priority: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children	67,356	69,259	59,940

Employment-Based Preferences

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	137,893	137,855	138,171
First priority: Priority workers	42,862	41,060	39,514
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	38,858	39,331	40,095
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	35,933	38,083	39,228
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	10,377	9,504	9,711
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	9,863	9,877	9,623

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	565,427	549,086	567,884
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	257,302	252,231	237,321
Family-sponsored preferences	15,116	13,478	12,448
Employment-based preferences	113,640	113,330	110,347
Diversity	1,048	918	1,117
Refugees	120,216	120,356	155,734
Asylees	37,209	25,647	30,175
Parolees	15	26	14
Children born abroad to alien residents	-	-	-
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children	15	46	32
Cancellation of removal	3,453	3,539	4,421
Victims of human trafficking	1,069	1,317	1,208
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children	16,148	17,993	14,909
Other	196	205	158

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	257,302	252,231	237,321
Spouses	171,353	177,473	156,475
Children ¹	17,438	16,749	16,765
Parents	68,511	58,009	64,081

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	15,116	13,478	12,448
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	1,952	1,929	1,952
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	6,751	5,846	4,389
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	2,073	2,093	1,539
Fourth priority: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children	4,340	3,610	4,568

Employment-Based Preferences

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	113,640	113,330	110,347
First priority: Priority workers	40,445	38,496	35,373
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	36,448	36,217	36,821
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	26,878	29,377	28,568
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	8,478	7,610	7,886
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	1,391	1,630	1,699

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	618,078	578,081	528,727
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens	309,404	264,277	241,640
Family-sponsored preferences	222,971	218,760	204,115
Employment-based preferences	24,253	24,525	27,824
Diversity	48,817	50,674	44,233
Refugees	-	-	-
Asylees	-	-	-
Parolees	-	-	-
Children born abroad to alien residents	92	75	69
Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children	12,136	19,145	10,265
Cancellation of removal	-	-	-
Victims of human trafficking	-	-	-
Victims of crimes and their spouses and children	36	72	103
Other	369	553	478

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	309,404	264,277	241,640
Spouses	133,005	115,436	111,674
Children ¹	71,056	58,240	50,029
Parents	105,343	90,601	79,937

Family-Sponsored Preferences

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	222,971	218,760	204,115
First priority: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children	20,120	24,290	25,299
Second priority: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents	114,516	107,654	105,452
Third priority: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children	25,319	21,167	17,992
Fourth priority: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children	63,016	65,649	55,372

Employment-Based Preferences

Class of Admission	2016	2017	2018
Total	24,253	24,525	27,824
First priority: Priority workers	2,417	2,564	4,141
Second priority: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability	2,410	3,114	3,274
Third priority: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers	9,055	8,706	10,660
Fourth priority: Certain special immigrants	1,899	1,894	1,825
Fifth priority: Employment creation (investors)	8,472	8,247	7,924