Information on Immigration and Visas

USA IMMIGRATION VISAS

Immigrants to the United States are divided into two categories:

1. Those who may obtain permanent residence status without numerical limitation, and;
2. Those subject to an annual limitation.

The latter category is further divided into:

• Family-sponsored,
• Employment-based, and;
• Diversity immigrants.

I. UNLIMITED IMMIGRANTS

A. Immediate Relatives:
The spouse, widow(er) and minor unmarried children of a United States citizen, and the parents of a United States citizen who is 21 or older.

B. Returning Residents:
Previous U.S. lawful permanent residents who are returning to the U.S. after a stay of more than one year abroad.

Subject to certain transitional laws, immigration into the United States beginning in 1995 will be limited to 675,000 persons per year. That figure is divided into three distinct sub-categories.

A. USA Family-Based Immigration Visas
Preference relatives may receive all of the visas not used by Immediate Relatives, but no less than 226,000 visas per year.

B. USA Employment-Based Immigration Visas
A total minimum of 140,000 immigrant visas yearly are available for this category.

C. USA Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery (USA Green Card Lottery)
The Diversity Lottery makes available a maximum of 55,000 immigrant visa numbers annually to persons selected at random from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. There is a separate registration for each year's visas. Information on registration for the lottery is announced each year by the State Department.

	Web www.migrationcircus.com