While the headlines often focus on borders, the real story of immigration unfolds through millions of individual approvals, from the over 434,000 international students who received F-1 visas in 2022 to the 878,500 individuals who proudly became naturalized U.S. citizens in 2023, painting a vivid picture of the legal pathways that continue to shape America's communities and economy.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2023, the U.S. issued 6.3 million nonimmigrant visas, a 20% increase from FY 2022.
- In FY 2022, B-1/B-2 visitor visas totaled 5.6 million issuances worldwide.
- H-1B specialty occupation visas approved: 386,000 in FY 2023.
- In FY 2023, USCIS approved 877,000 green cards for adjustment of status.
- Lawful permanent resident admissions: 1.1 million in FY 2022.
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: 454,000 green cards in FY 2023.
- USCIS naturalized 878,500 individuals in FY 2023.
- Naturalizations in FY 2022: 969,000 total.
- Top country of birth for naturalized citizens FY 2023: Mexico with 136,000.
- Legal immigrants make up 45% of U.S. foreign-born population in 2022.
- 47 million immigrants in U.S. in 2023, 76% legal status.
- Top origin for legal immigrants: Mexico 23% of total LPRs ever.
- Legal immigrants contribute $500 billion in taxes annually.
- Immigrant-founded firms generate 25% of U.S. global patents.
- Legal immigrants fill 18% of STEM jobs in 2023.
U.S. legal immigration surged in 2023 with millions of visas and green cards issued.
Demographic Profiles
- Legal immigrants make up 45% of U.S. foreign-born population in 2022.
- 47 million immigrants in U.S. in 2023, 76% legal status.
- Top origin for legal immigrants: Mexico 23% of total LPRs ever.
- India: 7% of current legal immigrants in 2022.
- China: 5% of legal immigrant stock.
- Philippines: 4.5% share in 2023 demographics.
- Median age of legal immigrants: 47 years in 2022.
- 52% of legal immigrants are female.
- Educational attainment: 35% of legal immigrants have bachelor's or higher in 2023.
- High school or less: 28% of legal immigrants.
- English proficiency among legal immigrants: 75% speak well in 2022.
- Homeownership rate for naturalized citizens: 70% vs 65% natives in 2023.
- Legal immigrants in labor force: 68% participation rate 2022.
- Share in poverty: 12% for legal immigrants vs 11% natives.
- California hosts 27% of U.S. legal immigrants in 2023.
- Texas: 15% of legal immigrant population.
- Florida: 9% share in 2022.
- New York: 8% of legal immigrants.
- Legal immigrants from Asia: 31% of total in 2023.
- Latin America: 49% origin share.
- Europe/Canada: 12% of legal immigrants.
- Africa: 6% demographic share 2022.
- 25% of legal immigrants arrived before 1990.
- Recent arrivals (2018-2023): 14% of legal stock.
Demographic Profiles Interpretation
While legal immigrants form the economic and demographic backbone of many American communities, their nearly identical poverty rate to native-born citizens reveals a persistent struggle for economic parity despite high workforce participation.
Economic Contributions
- Legal immigrants contribute $500 billion in taxes annually.
- Immigrant-founded firms generate 25% of U.S. global patents.
- Legal immigrants fill 18% of STEM jobs in 2023.
- H-1B workers boost firm productivity by 10-15%.
- Legal immigration adds $1.6 trillion to GDP over 10 years.
- Each legal immigrant worker generates $80,000 lifetime fiscal surplus.
- EB-5 investments created 256,000 jobs since 1990.
- Legal immigrants remit $150 billion annually abroad.
- 45% of Fortune 500 founded by immigrants or children.
- Legal H-2A workers contribute $16 billion to ag GDP.
- Immigrant entrepreneurs start 55% of billion-dollar startups.
- Legal immigrants have 10% higher entrepreneurship rate than natives.
- Naturalized citizens earn 50-70% more post-citizenship.
- Legal immigration reduces native unemployment by 0.5%.
- Immigrants complement natives in labor market, natives gain $2,000/year.
- Legal immigrants over 25% of physicians in U.S.
- 28% of nurses are foreign-born legal residents.
- Tech sector: 50% workforce legal immigrants.
- Legal immigrants pay $400 billion in payroll taxes yearly.
- Undocumented pay $13B to SS, but legal pay full $300B.
- CBO projects legal immigration adds 0.3% annual GDP growth.
- Family reunification immigrants have 80% employment rate after 5 years.
- EB immigrants innovate 2x patents per capita vs natives.
- Legal immigrants boost housing demand by 15% in gateway cities.
Economic Contributions Interpretation
Far from being a drain, legal immigrants are the nation's most reliable venture capitalists, funding our economy with taxes, patents, and productivity while building the companies and curing the patients that define our future.
Green Card Approvals
- In FY 2023, USCIS approved 877,000 green cards for adjustment of status.
- Lawful permanent resident admissions: 1.1 million in FY 2022.
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens: 454,000 green cards in FY 2023.
- Family preference green cards: 223,000 approvals in FY 2022.
- Employment-based green cards: 265,000 in FY 2023.
- EB-1 priority workers: 41,000 green cards in FY 2022.
- EB-2 advanced degree professionals: 108,000 in FY 2023.
- EB-3 skilled workers: 65,000 green cards approved in FY 2022.
- EB-5 investor green cards: 10,000 principal applicants in FY 2023.
- Diversity immigrants: 54,000 green cards in FY 2022.
- Refugees adjusting status: 20,000 green cards in FY 2023.
- Asylees adjusting: 28,000 green cards in FY 2022.
- Top country for green cards: Mexico with 130,000 in FY 2023.
- India: 126,000 green cards issued in FY 2022.
- China: 78,000 green cards in FY 2023.
- Philippines: 45,000 green cards for family in FY 2022.
- Dominican Republic: 42,000 green cards in FY 2023.
- Adjustment of status from within U.S.: 62% of total green cards in FY 2022.
- New arrivals via consular processing: 38% in FY 2023.
- Green cards to spouses of citizens: 280,000 in FY 2022.
- Children of citizens (under 21): 150,000 green cards in FY 2023.
- Parents of citizens: 85,000 green cards in FY 2022.
- Siblings of citizens: 40,000 family preference in FY 2023.
- Spouses of green card holders: 65,000 in FY 2022.
Green Card Approvals Interpretation
The numbers reveal an immigration system where, despite its reputation for glacial bureaucracy, the heart of the American story still beats—predominantly through family, with a significant assist from skilled talent and a dash of investor optimism—all while over half the new permanent residents simply adjusted their status without leaving the couch.
Naturalizations
- USCIS naturalized 878,500 individuals in FY 2023.
- Naturalizations in FY 2022: 969,000 total.
- Top country of birth for naturalized citizens FY 2023: Mexico with 136,000.
- India: 81,000 naturalizations in FY 2022.
- Philippines: 47,000 naturalized in FY 2023.
- China: 40,000 naturalizations FY 2022.
- Naturalization rate among eligible LPRs: 52% from 2017-2021 cohort.
- Average age at naturalization: 40 years in FY 2023.
- Females comprise 57% of naturalizations in FY 2022.
- Median years as LPR before naturalization: 8 years in FY 2023.
- Naturalizations by military service: 8,300 in FY 2022.
- Children under 18 naturalized via parents: 145,000 in FY 2023.
- Top state for naturalizations: California with 170,000 in FY 2022.
- Florida: 85,000 naturalizations FY 2023.
- Texas: 80,000 naturalizations in FY 2022.
- New York: 75,000 naturalizations FY 2023.
- N-400 applications received: 968,000 in FY 2022.
- Approval rate for N-400: 91% in FY 2023.
- N-600 derivative citizenship certificates: 25,000 issued FY 2022.
- Naturalizations peaked at 3 million in FY 2008 due to backlog reduction.
- FY 2021 naturalizations: 800,000 amid COVID delays.
- English proficiency among naturalized: 92% pass test in FY 2023.
- Civics test pass rate: 91% first attempt FY 2022.
Naturalizations Interpretation
America's immigration system, while often a political football, is quietly and efficiently running a massive naturalization program that consistently turns nearly a million hopeful residents into new citizens each year, proving the enduring power of the American idea even as we argue about its borders.
Visa Issuances
- In FY 2023, the U.S. issued 6.3 million nonimmigrant visas, a 20% increase from FY 2022.
- In FY 2022, B-1/B-2 visitor visas totaled 5.6 million issuances worldwide.
- H-1B specialty occupation visas approved: 386,000 in FY 2023.
- In 2022, F-1 student visas issued: 434,000 to new students.
- J-1 exchange visitor visas: 315,000 issued in FY 2022.
- L-1 intracompany transferee visas: 85,200 approvals in FY 2023.
- O-1 extraordinary ability visas: 18,500 petitions approved in FY 2022.
- E-2 treaty investor visas issued to nationals of 80 countries: over 45,000 in FY 2023.
- TN NAFTA professional visas: 28,000 issuances for Canadians and Mexicans in FY 2022.
- H-2A temporary agricultural worker visas: 287,000 approvals in FY 2023.
- H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker visas: 130,000 approvals in FY 2023.
- P-1 athlete/artist visas: 22,000 issuances in FY 2022.
- R-1 religious worker visas: 5,200 approvals in FY 2023.
- K-1 fiancé(e) visas: 23,000 issuances in FY 2022.
- A-1 diplomatic visas: 12,500 issued in FY 2023.
- In FY 2023, total immigrant visas issued by DOS: 541,000.
- Immediate relative immigrant visas: 295,000 issued in FY 2022.
- Family-sponsored preference visas: 226,000 in FY 2023.
- Employment-based immigrant visas: 160,000 issued in FY 2022.
- Diversity Visa lottery winners issued visas: 54,000 in FY 2023.
- Refugee admissions count as legal immigration entries: 60,000 in FY 2022.
- Asylee adjustments to permanent residency: 28,000 in FY 2023.
- In FY 2022, top country for nonimmigrant visas: Mexico with 1.2 million.
- China received 650,000 nonimmigrant visas in FY 2023.
- India: 420,000 nonimmigrant visas issued in FY 2022.
- Canada: 380,000 nonimmigrant visas in FY 2023.
- H-1B visas to Indians: 72% of total in FY 2023.
- Student visas from India: 236,000 in 2022-23 academic year.
Visa Issuances Interpretation
This data shows America is a complex ecosystem: while millions of visitors, students, and athletes join our daily life, a careful but crucial stream of permanent newcomers, from farm workers and tech innovators to spouses and refugees, must navigate a system better at keeping our doors propped open for guests than smoothly swinging them wide for new neighbors.
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