Did you know that:There are two paths to legal permanent resident (LPR) status depending on whether the applicant is living in the United States or another country at the time of application. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:Diversity immigrants are nationals of countries with low rates of legal immigration to the United States. The Diversity visa program is limited to nationals of countries with fewer than 50,000 admissions during the preceding five years in the employment-based and family-sponsored preferences and immediate relative classes of admission. The annual Diversity limit has been 50,000 since 1999. The Office of Immigration Statistics (OIS) calculates Diversity limits for six broad world regions using a formula based on immigrant admissions during the preceding five years and the population total of the region. The per country limit of Diversity visas was 3,500 in 2010. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:Some legal permanent resident (LPR) admission categories are exempt from the annual numeric limits for preference and diversity immigration. The largest category numerically is immediate relatives (spouses and children, including orphans adopted abroad, of U.S. citizens and parents of adult U.S. citizens aged 21 and over). Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens typically account for more than 40 percent of the annual LPR flow. New LPRs in the immediate relatives and family-sponsored preference categories of admission are collectively referred to as familysponsored immigrants. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:The number of persons who may be admitted to the United States as refugees each year, as defined by the Refugee Act of 1980, is established by the President in consultation with Congress. The ceiling on refugee admissions was set at 70,000 from 2003 to 2007 and 80,000 in 2008, 2009, and 2010. There is no numerical limit on the number of persons who can be granted asylum status in a year. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:Foreign nationals living abroad apply for an immigrant visa at a consular office of the Department of State. Once issued a visa, a foreign national may enter the United States and become an LPR when admitted at a port of entry. These LPRs are referred to as new arrivals in this report. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:Employment-based preferences consist of five categories of workers (and their spouses and children): priority workers; professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability; skilled workers, professionals (without advanced degrees), and needed unskilled workers; certain special immigrants (e.g., ministers, religious workers, and employees of the U.S. government abroad); and employment creation immigrants or “investors.” The employment-based preference limit is equal to 140,000 plus any unused family-sponsored preferences from the previous year. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:In 2010, the limit on preference immigration was 376,657 which included 226,000 visas in the family-sponsored preferences and 150,657 visas in the employment-based preferences. In addition, there are per-country and dependent area limits equal to 7 percent and 2 percent, respectively, of the total number of family-sponsored and employment preferences. In 2010, the percountry limit was 26,366 and the dependent area limit was 7,533. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:Most legal permanent residents who are at least 18 years of age are eligible to apply for citizenship after meeting certain requirements. These requirements generally include 5 years of lawful permanent residency in the United States or 3 years for those married to a United States citizen and successful completion of English language, civics, and history tests. Legal immigrant children under 18 years of age may automatically acquire citizenship when a parent naturalizes. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:Persons who qualify for legal permanent resident status who are living in the United States, including refugees, asylees, and certain temporary workers, foreign students, family members of U.S. citizens or alien residents, and undocumented immigrants, file an application for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence with USCIS. At the time they apply for adjustment of status, they may also apply for permission to work. Adjustment of status applicants are granted lawful permanent residence at the time their applications are approved. These LPRs are commonly referred to as adjustments of status. (Department of Homeland Security)

Did you know that:Refugees are required to apply for adjustment to legal permanent resident status after one year of residence in the United States. Asylees are eligible to apply one year after they are granted asylum. Refugee and asylee adjustments of status are exempt from preference and diversity annual numerical limits. (Department of Homeland Security)