File:ReasonofAdmission.gif

Note: These numbers do not include immigrants admitted under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act which allowed close to 2.7 million illegal aliens to be admitted legally. SOURCE: INS.


 * "Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens: includes spouses, children under 18 years of age, and parents of adult U.S. citizens. Not limited.


 * Family-Sponsored Immigrants: unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens and their children; spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of legal permanent residents; married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children; and brothers and sisters, including spouses and children, of U.S. citizens ages 21 and over. This category is limited by a numerical quota.


 * Employment-Based Immigrants: priority workers; professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability; skilled workers, professionals (without advanced degrees), and needed unskilled workers; special immigrants (e.g., ministers, religious workers, and employees of the U.S. government abroad); and employment creation immigrants or investors. Limited to 140,000 per year (including spouses and children).


 * Diversity Lottery: a total of 55,000 visas are available to nationals of certain countries under the Diversity Program.


 * Refugees and Asylees: prior to the Refugee Act of 1980, U.S. law did not expressly have provisions to handle the resettlement of refugees or displaced persons. Instead, the country developed ad hoc legislation for the immigration of refugees depending on international circumstances. Today, the number of aliens admitted as refugees to the U.S. each year is established by the president in consultation with Congress.


 * Other: varies across time due to legislative changes. As the current categories did not exist prior to 1965, a large share of immigrants prior to that year fall into “other.” Also, many of those classified as “other” between 1960 and 1977 were Western Hemisphere immigrants who were not limited by quotas at the time" (Regional Review).