Immigration articles
How many immigrants are in the US?
There were 50.2 million immigrants in the United States in 2024. This represents approximately 14.8% of the population, or about 1 in 7 residents in the United States. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents, which includes people who became US citizens, are authorized to come to the US (e.g., on work visas, student visas), or are undocumented residents.
Just the Facts about US immigration
Immigration has been the main driver of US population growth for three years in a row. In this episode, Steve covers the green cards the US has issued recently, how the government defines “unauthorized immigrants,” how many people overstay visas, and more.
How many people apprehended at US borders have a prior criminal conviction?
About 17,000 people apprehended at US borders had a prior criminal conviction in fiscal year (FY) 2024. The criminal arrests of people who are not US citizens — referred to as aliens in federal law — represents 1.1% of all border apprehensions by the US Border Patrol (USBP) through September 2024, the end of the federal fiscal year.
What is a L-1 visa?
The L-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. L-1 visas accounted for 0.65% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a G-2 visa?
The G-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. G-2 visas accounted for 0.15% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a C-1/D visa?
The C-1/D visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. C-1/D visas accounted for 3% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a A-2 visa?
The A-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. A-2 visas accounted for 0.88% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a I visa?
The I visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. I visas accounted for 0.12% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a B1/B2 visa?
The B1/B2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. B1/B2 visas accounted for 59.2% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a P-1 visa?
The P-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. P-1 visas accounted for 0.22% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a B-2 visa?
The B-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. B-2 visas accounted for 0.11% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a C-1 visa?
The C-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. C-1 visas accounted for 0.1% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a H-4 visa?
The H-4 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. H-4 visas accounted for 1.3% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a visa?
A visa is an official document the federal government issues to allow a foreign national to travel to a port of entry and request permission to enter for a specific purpose. While a visa does not guarantee entry, it indicates that the person has met the requirements for the type of visit they are requesting.
What is a O-1 visa?
The O-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. O-1 visas accounted for 0.18% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a H-2A visa?
The H-2A visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. H-2A visas accounted for 2.9% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a J-2 visa?
The J-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. J-2 visas accounted for 0.3% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a H-1B visa?
The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. H-1B visas accounted for 2% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a E-2 visa?
The E-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. E-2 visas accounted for 0.5% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a H-2B visa?
The H-2B visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. H-2B visas accounted for 1.3% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a J-1 visa?
The J-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for student purposes. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. J-1 visas accounted for 2.9% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a K-1 visa?
The K-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. K-1 visas accounted for 0.43% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a TN visa?
The TN visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. TN visas accounted for 0.14% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a G-4 visa?
The G-4 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. G-4 visas accounted for 0.2% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a B-1 visa?
The B-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. B-1 visas accounted for 0.29% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a TD visa?
The TD visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family purposes. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. TD visas accounted for 0.11% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a BBBCC visa?
The BBBCC visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. BBBCC visas accounted for 17.1% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a L-2 visa?
The L-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. L-2 visas accounted for 0.67% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a F-1 visa?
The F-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for student purposes. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. F-1 visas accounted for 3.7% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a F-2 visa?
The F-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Immigrant visas are for people who intend to stay in the US permanently. F-2 visas accounted for 0.22% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a BBBCV visa?
The BBBCV visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. BBBCV visas accounted for 0.36% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What are the most and least diverse states?
Every state except New Mexico became more diverse — that is, the likelihood of two randomly selected people having different racial and ethnic backgrounds increased — between 2020 and 2024. The Census Bureau’s Diversity Index measures the probability that two people in a particular location selected at random will be from different racial and ethnic groups and gives each locale a score between 0% and 100%. A score of 0% means that the two people are from similar racial and ethnic backgrounds, and 100% indicates completely different racial backgrounds.
What is a E-3D visa?
The E-3D visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. E-3D visas accounted for 0.03% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a NATO-4 visa?
The NATO-4 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. NATO-4 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a C-3 visa?
The C-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. C-3 visas accounted for 0.03% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a O-3 visa?
The O-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. O-3 visas accounted for 0.06% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a M-1 visa?
The M-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for student purposes. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. M-1 visas accounted for 0.06% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a C-4 visa?
The C-4 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. C-4 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a T-4 visa?
The T-4 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. T-4 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a T-1 visa?
The T-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for safety. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. No data was released on how many T-1 visas were issued in fiscal year 2024.
What is a T-5 visa?
The T-5 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. T-5 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a NATO-5 visa?
The NATO-5 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. NATO-5 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a G-3 visa?
The G-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. G-3 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a M-3 visa?
The M-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for tourism and business. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. No data was released on how many M-3 visas were issued in fiscal year 2024.
What is a K-4 visa?
The K-4 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family purposes. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. No data was released on how many K-4 visas were issued in fiscal year 2024.
What is a N-8 visa?
The N-8 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family purposes. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. N-8 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a R-1 visa?
The R-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. R-1 visas accounted for 0.05% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a E-2C visa?
The E-2C visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. E-2C visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a U-5 visa?
The U-5 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. U-5 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a H-3 visa?
The H-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. H-3 visas accounted for 0.01% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a M-2 visa?
The M-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. M-2 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a G-1 visa?
The G-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. G-1 visas accounted for 0.04% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a S-6 visa?
The S-6 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for safety. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. No data was released on how many S-6 visas were issued in fiscal year 2024.
What is a U-4 visa?
The U-4 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. U-4 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a NATO-2 visa?
The NATO-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. NATO-2 visas accounted for 0.08% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a K-3 visa?
The K-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family purposes. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. K-3 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a S-5 visa?
The S-5 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for safety. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. S-5 visas accounted for 0% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a U-3 visa?
The U-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for family. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. U-3 visas accounted for 0.01% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a Q-1 visa?
The Q-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for student purposes. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. Q-1 visas accounted for 0.02% of all issued visas in FY 2024.
What is a NATO-6 visa?
The NATO-6 visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued for work. Nonimmigrant visas are admitted for people who intend to stay in the US temporarily. NATO-6 visas accounted for 0.02% of all issued visas in FY 2024.