Understand the Immigration System in 8 Minutes

Summary

The U.S. immigration system is multifaceted, with various pathways for entering the country. These include family-based immigration, employment-based visas for skilled workers and investors, refugee status for those fleeing persecution, and the Diversity Visa Lottery for individuals from underrepresented countries. The process is limited by annual caps and country-specific quotas. In 2015, over a million immigrants arrived, with the majority coming through family reunification. The system is also impacted by policies that limit immigration from certain countries and by an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. Temporary visitors, including tourists, business travelers, and students, make up a significant portion of U.S. immigration.

Takeaways

• 😀 Immigration to the U.S. can be broadly classified into family-based, work-based, refugee, and lottery-based categories.
• 😀 Family-based immigration allows U.S. citizens to bring close family members (spouse, children, parents) without caps, but extended family (adult children, siblings) face limits.
• 😀 Work-based immigration includes multiple categories: extraordinary ability workers, advanced degree professionals, skilled/unskilled workers, and investors.
• 😀 The U.S. issues a limited number of visas for refugees, with yearly caps and regional restrictions based on global need and policy changes.
• 😀 The Diversity Visa Lottery provides 50,000 random visas annually to individuals from countries with lower immigration rates to the U.S.
• 😀 Immigrants from certain countries are restricted or banned from entering the U.S. under special circumstances, such as national security concerns.
• 😀 In 2015, over 1 million immigrants entered the U.S., the majority coming for family reunification, followed by work-based immigration and refugees.
• 😀 Immigrants make up 13.5% of the total U.S. population, with significant representation from Asia and Mexico.
• 😀 The number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is estimated at 11 million, including both those who overstayed their visas and crossed borders illegally.
• 😀 Visitors to the U.S. (tourists, business travelers, students, etc.) greatly outnumber immigrants, with approximately 181 million visits in 2014.
• 😀 U.S. immigration policies are subject to annual quotas and can change based on political decisions, including caps on refugee admissions and country-specific restrictions.

Q & A

What are the main types of immigration to the United States?

The main types of immigration to the U.S. include family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, refugee status, and the Diversity Visa Lottery.

How does family-based immigration work in the U.S.?

Family-based immigration allows U.S. citizens to sponsor their immediate family members (spouses, children under 21, and parents) for immigration. There are no limits for these immediate family members, but other relatives such as adult children, siblings, and grandparents have annual limits.

Are there limits on how many people can immigrate based on family relationships?

Yes, there are limits on how many people can immigrate based on family relationships. Immediate family members like spouses and children have no annual limit, but there are limits for extended family members like adult children, siblings, and grandparents.

What are the categories of work-based immigration?

Work-based immigration includes five main categories: 1) People with extraordinary abilities in fields like science, art, or business; 2) People with advanced degrees or extensive experience; 3) Skilled, unskilled, and professional workers; 4) Special categories (e.g., broadcasters, ministers, former U.S. government employees); and 5) Investors who create jobs in the U.S.

How do business owners and investors contribute to U.S. immigration?

Business owners and investors can immigrate if they invest at least $1 million (or $500,000 in high-unemployment or rural areas) in a U.S. business that creates at least 10 American jobs within two years.

What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?

The Diversity Visa Lottery randomly selects 50,000 applicants annually from countries that have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years. Applicants must meet certain educational or work experience requirements.

How many refugees can enter the U.S. each year?

The U.S. has a limit of 50,000 refugees per year, down from 110,000 under previous administrations. This number is also divided into regional limits.

What is the process for refugee entry into the U.S.?

Refugees must demonstrate a reasonable fear of persecution based on race, nationality, religion, political views, or social group. Once admitted, refugees are subject to screening and vetting procedures.

How has the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. changed over time?

The estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is about 11 million, with the largest group coming from Mexico. However, the number of undocumented immigrants from Mexico has been decreasing since 2009, while those from Central America, Asia, and Africa have been increasing.

How does the U.S. handle visitors who are not immigrants?

The U.S. allows visitors for various purposes, such as business, tourism, education, medical treatment, or cultural exchange. In 2014, around 181 million people visited the U.S., including business travelers, tourists, students, and temporary workers.