The 2020 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.
Table 6. Persons Obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident Status by Type and Major Class of Admission: Fiscal Years 2018 to 2020
| Class of Admission (Adjustments of Status and New Arrivals) | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,096,611 | 1,031,765 | 707,362 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 478,961 | 505,765 | 321,148 |
| Spouses | 268,149 | 304,334 | 195,718 |
| Children1 | 66,794 | 61,303 | 37,379 |
| Parents | 144,018 | 140,128 | 88,051 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 216,563 | 204,139 | 121,560 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 27,251 | 24,497 | 11,383 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 109,841 | 93,398 | 51,701 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 19,531 | 25,213 | 13,930 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 59,940 | 61,031 | 44,546 |
| Employment-based preferences | 138,171 | 139,458 | 148,959 |
| First: Priority workers | 39,514 | 39,471 | 47,388 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 40,095 | 39,506 | 43,666 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 39,228 | 41,787 | 43,218 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 9,711 | 9,609 | 10,704 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 9,623 | 9,085 | 3,983 |
| Diversity | 45,350 | 43,463 | 25,028 |
| Refugees | 155,734 | 80,908 | 44,404 |
| Asylees | 30,175 | 26,003 | 19,471 |
| Parolees | 14 | 16 | 13 |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | 69 | 60 | 30 |
| Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children | 10,297 | 8,081 | 9,727 |
| Cancellation of removal | 4,421 | 4,033 | 3,685 |
| Victims of human trafficking | 1,208 | 818 | 866 |
| Victims of crimes and their spouses and children | 15,012 | 18,442 | 11,937 |
| Other | 636 | 579 | 534 |
Adjustments of Status
| Class of Admission (Adjustments of Status) | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 572,727 | 578,047 | 439,209 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 241,242 | 316,174 | 210,074 |
| Spouses | 158,424 | 220,071 | 140,337 |
| Children1 | 17,293 | 21,211 | 14,397 |
| Parents | 65,525 | 74,892 | 55,340 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 12,738 | 19,475 | 13,958 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 2,023 | 3,718 | 2,252 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 4,481 | 8,380 | 7,507 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 1,564 | 2,363 | 1,456 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 4,670 | 5,014 | 2,743 |
| Employment-based preferences | 110,948 | 111,016 | 133,741 |
| First: Priority workers | 35,558 | 37,322 | 46,104 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 37,005 | 36,151 | 41,262 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 28,750 | 28,333 | 35,819 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 7,935 | 7,597 | 9,343 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 1,700 | 1,613 | 1,213 |
| Diversity | 1,139 | 1,025 | 868 |
| Refugees | 155,734 | 80,908 | 44,404 |
| Asylees | 30,175 | 26,003 | 19,471 |
| Parolees | 14 | 16 | 13 |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | - | - | - |
| Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children | 32 | 23 | - |
| Cancellation of removal | 4,421 | 4,033 | 3,685 |
| Victims of human trafficking | 1,208 | 818 | 866 |
| Victims of crimes and their spouses and children | 14,909 | 18,326 | 11,888 |
| Other | 167 | 230 | 241 |
New Arrivals
| Class of Admission (New Arrivals) | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 523,884 | 453,718 | 268,153 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 237,719 | 189,591 | 111,074 |
| Spouses | 109,725 | 84,263 | 55,381 |
| Children1 | 49,501 | 40,092 | 22,982 |
| Parents | 78,493 | 65,236 | 32,711 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 203,825 | 184,664 | 107,602 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 25,228 | 20,779 | 9,131 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 105,360 | 85,018 | 44,194 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 17,967 | 22,850 | 12,474 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 55,270 | 56,017 | 41,803 |
| Employment-based preferences | 27,223 | 28,442 | 15,218 |
| First: Priority workers | 3,956 | 2,149 | 1,284 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 3,090 | 3,355 | 2,404 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 10,478 | 13,454 | 7,399 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 1,776 | 2,012 | 1,361 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 7,923 | 7,472 | 2,770 |
| Diversity | 44,211 | 42,438 | 24,160 |
| Refugees | - | - | - |
| Asylees | - | - | - |
| Parolees | - | - | - |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | 69 | 60 | 30 |
| Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children | 10,265 | 8,058 | 9,727 |
| Cancellation of removal | - | - | - |
| Victims of human trafficking | - | - | - |
| Victims of crimes and their spouses and children | 103 | 116 | 49 |
| Other | 469 | 349 | 293 |
- Represents zero.
1 Includes orphans.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.