News
US immigration stats for 2009 released
The number of Brits becoming legal permanent residents of the US is on the rise, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statistics.
The Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2009, which charts the flow of legal residents into America for the last fiscal year, was published on the DHS website recently. This useful resource reveals that the number of Brits gaining permanent residency in America was the highest it has been for three years, with 9.75 per cent more Brits securing legal permanent resident status in America during the last year than in 2008.
Further analysis of the DHS figures reveals that of the 15,748 Brits who became legal permanent residents of the United States during the last year, almost 51 per cent (8,024) were the immediate relatives of existing US citizens. Meanwhile a further 3 per cent of the British-born legal permanent residents achieved this status by being sponsored by a family member (though they were not classed as immediate relatives).
Of the other new legal permanent residents of America in 2009 who originated from the UK, just less than 45 per cent (7,044) gained the ever precious 'green card' by being employee sponsored (this incorporates the EB class of American visas).
Other interesting facts to have come from the latest DHS immigration figures are which states are attracting the most immigrants. California continues to be the most attractive place to live for new legal permanent residents from all areas of the globe – with 227,876 people added to the Golden State's burgeoning population last year. The next most popular state with new legal permanent residents was New York (150,722), followed by Florida (127,006) and Texas (95,384).
In all 1,130,818 people from around the world gained 'green cards' and earned the right to reside permanently in America during 2009.
06 July 2010