Vast majority of applicants for green cards through extended family reside abroad while 79% of employment-based applicants are already in the United States: New lawful permanent residents by major class and type of admission, 2019
| Major class of admission | Adjustments of status | New arrivals | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total new lawful permanent residents | 572,434 | 458,556 | 1,030,990 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 311,380 | 193,885 | 505,265 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 18,989 | 184,912 | 203,901 |
| Employment-based preferences | 110,604 | 28,733 | 139,337 |
| Diversity | 1,003 | 42,437 | 43,440 |
| Refugees and asylees | 107,057 | 0 | 107,057 |
| Parolees | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Other | 23,385 | 8,589 | 31,974 |
| Total new lawful permanent residents | 56% | 44% | 100% |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 62% | 38% | 100% |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 9% | 91% | 100% |
| Employment-based preferences | 79% | 21% | 100% |
| Diversity | 2% | 98% | 100% |
| Refugees and asylees | 100% | 0% | 100% |
| Parolees | 100% | 0% | 100% |
| Other | 73% | 27% | 100% |

Note: Adjustments of status represents applicants for lawful permanent resident status who are already residing in the United States, and new arrivals represents applicants for lawful permanent resident status who are residing outside of the United States, usually in the country of origin. "Other" category includes children born abroad to alien residents, certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children, cancellation of removal, victims of human trafficking, victims of crimes and their spouses and children, and DHS’s “other” category which primarily consists of those admitted or adjusted under special legislation.
Source: Author's analysis of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Legal Immigration and Adjustment of Status Report Fiscal Year 2019, Quarter 4, Table 1B.
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