The U.S. Immigration System

Fact Sheet - Friday, June 28, 2024

The U.S. immigration system awards more than 1 million green cards and 20+ million nonimmigrant visas to guest workers, foreign students, tourists, and more every year. Additionally, the administration's current border policies have led to a record number of illegal border crossings, increasing the number of illegal aliens currently living in the United States.

Select a category:

Legal
Immigration
Nonimmigrant
Visas
Illegal/Quasi-legal
Immigration

Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs)

FY22: 1,018,349

Nonimmigrants

FY22: 26,313,643

Visa Overstays
Entered without inspection

Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan parole (CHNV)
CBPOne App parole
Ukraine parole (Uniting for Ukraine)
Afghan parole (Operation Allies Welcome)
DACA amnesty (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
Parole-in-place amnesty
College graduate amnesty

CW-1: CNMI-only transitional worker
E-1,2: Treaty traders and investors
Cap: Unlimited
E-3: Specialty occupation workers from Australia
Cap: 10,500
G: NATO employees
Cap: Unlimited
H-1B: Specialty occupations, DOD research and development, and fashion models
Cap: 85,000 with exceptions
H-2A: Temporary agricultural
Cap: Unlimited
H-2B: Temporary non-agricultural
Cap: 66,000
H-3: Trainee or special education exchange visitor
Cap: 50
H-4: Dependents of H-visa holders
Cap: Unlimited - Spouses of H-1Bs may work
I: Representatives of foreign media
Cap: Unlimited
J: Exchange visitors
Cap: Unlimited
L-1: Intracompany transferees
Cap: Unlimited
O: Individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement
Cap: Unlimited
P: Athletes, entertainers, performers, and artists
Cap: Unlimited
Q: Cultural Exchange
Cap: Unlimited
R: Temporary religious workers
Cap: Unlimited
TN/TD: NAFTA Professionals
Cap: Unlimited

A-1: Diplomats
A-2/NATO: Foreign military personnel stationed in U.S.
B-1: Business visitors
B-2: Tourists
D: Crewmembers
F: Students
May work
K: Fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens
M: Students (vocational)
May work
S: Informants
T: Victims of human trafficking
U: Victims of criminal activity
TPS: Temporary Protected Status
V: Spouses and children of LPRs

 

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