Since the birth of the United States, immigrants have been integral factors in the country’s growth and prosperity. Through pioneering spirit, innovative science, advanced intellect and exceptional art, immigrants have helped drive the nation’s future successes and forward advancement.

Immigrants are deifned by US immigration law as persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the US. Depending on a foreign national’s residence, there are two paths that can be taken to attain lawful permanent residence. Foreign nationals living outside the US apply for an immigration visa at a consular ofifce in their home country. When approved for admission at a port of entry, they become legal immigrants. Foreign nationals already living in the US, including temporary workers, foreign students and refugees, ifle an application for adjustment of status from temporary to lawful permanent residence with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). At the time they apply for adjustment of status, they may also apply for work permits. Adjustment of status applicants receive lawful permanent residence when their applications are approved. New legal immigrants are automatically authorized to work and receive permanent resident cards, which are commonly referred to as green cards.

The Immigration Act of 1990 speciifed annual limits for certain immigration categories. Those categories and those limits are 416,000 to 675,000 for family-sponsored, employment based, and diversity preferences. The break down of these number are 226,000 for family-sponsored preferences; 140,000 for employment-based preferences and 50,000 for diversity immigrants. In the 2006 fiscal year, family-sponsored immigrants accounted for 63% of the total immigrants admitted; employment-based preferences, 22%; diversity program, 4.1%; and other categories, 16%.

Ofifcial immigration records were started in the 1820 ifscal year (FY) when 8,385 immigrants came to the US by vessel at Atlantic or Gulf ports. That year saw the fewest number of immigrants in an annual period, and so far, the highest number was recorded for FY 1991 when the country welcomed nearly two million immigrants. The most recent available immigration statistics are for FY 2006. In that year, 1,266,264 people became US immigrants. The top two regions that these immigrants were born in were Asia (35.7%) and North America (30.8%). The top countries included Mexico (14%), followed by the Philippines (6%), China (7%) and India (4.8%).

While the US welcomes a notable number of immigrants every year, the country welcomes an even larger number of nonimmigrants. Nonimmigrants are deifned as persons admitted to the US for a speciifed purpose and temporary period but not for permanent residence. They are also limited to the restrictions as outlined in the visa in which they entered the US.

It is estimated there were nearly 175.1 million non immigrant admissions during FY 2006. Nearly half of all non immigrants arriving in FY 2006 were citizens of one of three countries: the United Kingdom (15%), Mexico (18%), and Japan (13%). The number of admissions from Mexico increased significantly between the years 2005 and 2006, with a 29% increase between these years. The most popular US destinations for temporary visitors in 2006 were Florida, California, New York, Texas and Hawaii.

There are numerous categories of non immigrants; although, the great majority of them are for short term visits, either for business or pleasure. Other categories include foreign students, treaty traders, treaty investors, visitors connected with a foreign government and representatives of international organizations. Temporary workers also fall under the non immigrant classification, and this category includes workers in specialty occupations; workers performing temporary services; exchange visitors who enter to study, teach or conduct research; intra company transferees; entertainers; athletes; and industrial trainees.

There is no annual limit for the total number of non immigrant admissions; however, there are limits on a few categories, including initial employment for temporary workers

Source: US Citizenship and Immigration Services