United States Code
USC most recently checked for updates: May 19, 2025
§ 1151.
Worldwide level of immigration
(a)
In general
Exclusive of aliens described in subsection (b), aliens born in a foreign state or dependent area who may be issued immigrant visas or who may otherwise acquire the status of an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence are limited to—
(1)
family-sponsored immigrants described in section 1153(a) of this title (or who are admitted under section 1181(a) of this title on the basis of a prior issuance of a visa to their accompanying parent under section 1153(a) of this title) in a number not to exceed in any fiscal year the number specified in subsection (c) for that year, and not to exceed in any of the first 3 quarters of any fiscal year 27 percent of the worldwide level under such subsection for all of such fiscal year;
(2)
employment-based immigrants described in section 1153(b) of this title (or who are admitted under section 1181(a) of this title on the basis of a prior issuance of a visa to their accompanying parent under section 1153(b) of this title), in a number not to exceed in any fiscal year the number specified in subsection (d) for that year, and not to exceed in any of the first 3 quarters of any fiscal year 27 percent of the worldwide level under such subsection for all of such fiscal year; and
(3)
for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1995, diversity immigrants described in section 1153(c) of this title (or who are admitted under section 1181(a) of this title on the basis of a prior issuance of a visa to their accompanying parent under section 1153(c) of this title) in a number not to exceed in any fiscal year the number specified in subsection (e) for that year, and not to exceed in any of the first 3 quarters of any fiscal year 27 percent of the worldwide level under such subsection for all of such fiscal year.
(b)
Aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations
Aliens described in this subsection, who are not subject to the worldwide levels or numerical limitations of subsection (a), are as follows:
(1)
(A)
Special immigrants described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 1101(a)(27) of this title.
(B)
Aliens who are admitted under section 1157 of this title or whose status is adjusted under section 1159 of this title.
(C)
Aliens whose status is adjusted to permanent residence under section 1160 or 1255a of this title.
(D)
Aliens whose removal is canceled under section 1229b(a) of this title.
(E)
Aliens provided permanent resident status under section 1259 of this title.
(2)
(A)
(i)
For purposes of this subsection, the term “immediate relatives” means the children, spouses, and parents of a citizen of the United States, except that, in the case of parents, such citizens shall be at least 21 years of age. In the case of an alien who was the spouse of a citizen of the United States and was not legally separated from the citizen at the time of the citizen’s death, the alien (and each child of the alien) shall be considered, for purposes of this subsection, to remain an immediate relative after the date of the citizen’s death but only if the spouse files a petition under section 1154(a)(1)(A)(ii) of this title within 2 years after such date and only until the date the spouse remarries. For purposes of this clause, an alien who has filed a petition under clause (iii) or (iv) of section 1154(a)(1)(A) of this title remains an immediate relative in the event that the United States citizen spouse or parent loses United States citizenship on account of the abuse.
(ii)
Aliens admitted under section 1181(a) of this title on the basis of a prior issuance of a visa to their accompanying parent who is such an immediate relative.
(B)
Aliens born to an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence during a temporary visit abroad.
(c)
Worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants
(1)
(A)
The worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants under this subsection for a fiscal year is, subject to subparagraph (B), equal to—
(i)
480,000, minus
(ii)
the sum of the number computed under paragraph (2) and the number computed under paragraph (4), plus
(iii)
the number (if any) computed under paragraph (3).
(B)
(i)
For each of fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994, 465,000 shall be substituted for 480,000 in subparagraph (A)(i).
(ii)
In no case shall the number computed under subparagraph (A) be less than 226,000.
(2)
The number computed under this paragraph for a fiscal year is the sum of the number of aliens described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(2) who were issued immigrant visas or who otherwise acquired the status of aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence in the previous fiscal year.
(3)
(A)
The number computed under this paragraph for fiscal year 1992 is zero.
(B)
The number computed under this paragraph for fiscal year 1993 is the difference (if any) between the worldwide level established under paragraph (1) for the previous fiscal year and the number of visas issued under section 1153(a) of this title during that fiscal year.
(C)
The number computed under this paragraph for a subsequent fiscal year is the difference (if any) between the maximum number of visas which may be issued under section 1153(b) of this title (relating to employment-based immigrants) during the previous fiscal year and the number of visas issued under that section during that year.
(4)
The number computed under this paragraph for a fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 1999) is the number of aliens who were paroled into the United States under section 1182(d)(5) of this title in the second preceding fiscal year—
(A)
who did not depart from the United States (without advance parole) within 365 days; and
(B)
who (i) did not acquire the status of aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence in the two preceding fiscal years, or (ii) acquired such status in such years under a provision of law (other than subsection (b)) which exempts such adjustment from the numerical limitation on the worldwide level of immigration under this section.
(5)
If any alien described in paragraph (4) (other than an alien described in paragraph (4)(B)(ii)) is subsequently admitted as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, such alien shall not again be considered for purposes of paragraph (1).
(d)
Worldwide level of employment-based immigrants
(1)
The worldwide level of employment-based immigrants under this subsection for a fiscal year is equal to—
(A)
140,000, plus
(B)
the number computed under paragraph (2).
(2)
(A)
The number computed under this paragraph for fiscal year 1992 is zero.
(B)
The number computed under this paragraph for fiscal year 1993 is the difference (if any) between the worldwide level established under paragraph (1) for the previous fiscal year and the number of visas issued under section 1153(b) of this title during that fiscal year.
(C)
The number computed under this paragraph for a subsequent fiscal year is the difference (if any) between the maximum number of visas which may be issued under section 1153(a) of this title (relating to family-sponsored immigrants) during the previous fiscal year and the number of visas issued under that section during that year.
(e)
Worldwide level of diversity immigrants
The worldwide level of diversity immigrants is equal to 55,000 for each fiscal year.
(f)
Rules for determining whether certain aliens are immediate relatives
(1)
Age on petition filing date
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), for purposes of subsection (b)(2)(A)(i), a determination of whether an alien satisfies the age requirement in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of section 1101(b)(1) of this title shall be made using the age of the alien on the date on which the petition is filed with the Attorney General under section 1154 of this title to classify the alien as an immediate relative under subsection (b)(2)(A)(i).
(2)
Age on parent’s naturalization date
In the case of a petition under section 1154 of this title initially filed for an alien child’s classification as a family-sponsored immigrant under section 1153(a)(2)(A) of this title, based on the child’s parent being lawfully admitted for permanent residence, if the petition is later converted, due to the naturalization of the parent, to a petition to classify the alien as an immediate relative under subsection (b)(2)(A)(i), the determination described in paragraph (1) shall be made using the age of the alien on the date of the parent’s naturalization.
(3)
Age on marriage termination date
In the case of a petition under section 1154 of this title initially filed for an alien’s classification as a family-sponsored immigrant under section 1153(a)(3) of this title, based on the alien’s being a married son or daughter of a citizen, if the petition is later converted, due to the legal termination of the alien’s marriage, to a petition to classify the alien as an immediate relative under subsection (b)(2)(A)(i) or as an unmarried son or daughter of a citizen under section 1153(a)(1) of this title, the determination described in paragraph (1) shall be made using the age of the alien on the date of the termination of the marriage.
(4)
Application to self-petitions
Paragraphs (1) through (3) shall apply to self-petitioners and derivatives of self-petitioners.
(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title II, ch. 1, § 201, 66 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 89–236, § 1, Oct. 3, 1965 , 79 Stat. 911; Pub. L. 94–571, § 2, Oct. 20, 1976 , 90 Stat. 2703; Pub. L. 95–412, § 1, Oct. 5, 1978 , 92 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 96–212, title II, § 203(a), Mar. 17, 1980 , 94 Stat. 106; Pub. L. 97–116, § 20[(a)], Dec. 29, 1981 , 95 Stat. 1621; Pub. L. 101–649, title I, § 101(a), Nov. 29, 1990 , 104 Stat. 4980; Pub. L. 102–232, title III, § 302(a)(1), Dec. 12, 1991 , 105 Stat. 1742; Pub. L. 103–322, title IV, § 40701(b)(2), Sept. 13, 1994 , 108 Stat. 1954; Pub. L. 103–416, title II, § 219(b)(1), Oct. 25, 1994 , 108 Stat. 4316; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, § 308(e)(5), (g)(8)(A)(i), title VI, §§ 603, 671(d)(1)(A), Sept. 30, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3009–620, 3009–624, 3009–690, 3009–723; Pub. L. 106–386, div. B, title V, § 1507(a)(3), Oct. 28, 2000 , 114 Stat. 1530; Pub. L. 107–208, § 2, Aug. 6, 2002 , 116 Stat. 927; Pub. L. 109–162, title VIII, § 805(b)(1), Jan. 5, 2006 , 119 Stat. 3056; Pub. L. 111–83, title V, § 568(c)(1), Oct. 28, 2009 , 123 Stat. 2186.)
cite as: 8 USC 1151
