Other Nonimmigrants unlimited. Temporary Entrants (Nonimmigrants). Illegal
Aliens. Entered without Inspection estimated at about 60 percent of total illegal
pop.
/ ECOGNIZED UNDER U.S. LAW CATEGORIES OF MIGRANTS R
Illegal Aliens
Immigrants (Lawful Permanent Residents) Humanitarian Immigrants & Amnestied Aliens
Visa Lottery Winners cap = 55,000‡
Family-Based Immigrants
Immediate Relatives
Employment-Based Immigrants* cap = 140,000
Priority Workers
parents, spouses, minor children of U.S. citizens unlimited; 2007=494,920
cap = 40,040
Aliens w/ Extraordinary Ability
Family Preference Immigrants* floor = 226,000
Refugee Adjustments unlimited; 2007=54,942
Asylee Adjustments unlimited; 2007=81,183
Other Humanitarian unlimited
Multinational Executives & Managers
children of citizens cap = 23,400
Family 2A – spouses, minor children of LPRs floor/cap = 87,934/114,000
Family 2B – unmarried adult children of LPRs cap = 26,266
Family 3rd – married adult children of citizens cap = 23,400
Family 4th – siblings of adult citizens cap = 65,000
* A per-country limit applies to visas in these preference categories. For independent countries, the limit is seven percent of the total number of preference visas available, while dependent areas are limited to two percent of total preference visas. ‡ The Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act of 1997 (NACARA) reallocates 5,000 visas annually from both the Visa Lottery and the Unskilled Worker category and makes them available to illegal aliens who qualify for amnesty under NACARA. Once the annual number of NACARA beneficiaries falls below a specified level, this reallocation will end.
Tourists & Short-Term Business Visitors unlimited Other Nonimmigrants unlimited
Temporary Guest Workers Skilled Workers
Ambassadors, Diplomats, United Nations Officials
Treaty Traders, Treaty Investors
And other employees of foreign govern-ments and international organizations, and servants and attendants of such employees
authorized by international free trade agreements
H-1B Workers
Aircraft and Vessel Crew
specialty occupations and fashion models cap = 85,000; exceptions to cap = unlimited
Outstanding Professors & Researchers
Amnesty Family 1st – unmarried adult
Temporary Entrants (Nonimmigrants)
2nd Preference cap = 40,040 Professionals w/ Adv. Degrees Aliens of Exceptional Ability
3rd Preference
NACARA, HRIFA, IRCA unlimited; 2007=5,936
Parolee Adjustments unlimited; 2007=1,999
Cancellation of Removal cap = 4,000; 2007=11,779
Amerasians Professionals Unskilled Workers cap = 10,000‡
care shortage areas cap = 500
unlimited
Exchange Visitors
managers/specialized workers in multinat’l corps unlimited
Fiance(e)s of US Citizens
Unskilled Workers H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers unlimited
cap = 66,000; exempt from cap: “returning workers” from prior three years
Other Workers Other unlimited
4th Preference Special Immigrants cap = 9,940
Workers with Extraordinary Ability in sciences, arts, education, business, athletics unlimited
Students at Academic Institutions Foreign Press Representatives
L-1 Intracompany Transferees
H-2B Temporary or Seasonal Workers
cap = 40,040‡ Skilled Workers
H-1C Nurses coming to work in designated health-
Vocational Students Witness/Informant in Criminal Proceeding Humanitarian Entrants Refugee/asylee admissions Humanitarian parolees Victims of human trafficking and domestic violence
Athletes & Entertainers unlimited
Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries
Religious Workers unlimited
Spouses & minor children of LPRs on the visa waiting list for three or more years
5th Preference Investors cap = 9,940
Entered without Inspection estimated at about 60 percent of total illegal pop. First offense=misdemeanor Subsequent offenses=felonies
Visa Overstay estimated at about 40 percent of total illegal pop. First & subsequent offenses=civil violations
Questions about this chart? Contact Rosemary Jenks, NumbersUSA (202) 543-1341
