Immigration eligibility and quotas

Category	Eligibility	Annual quotac	Immigrant visa backlog
Family-sponsored
IR	Immediate relative (opposite sex spouse, minor children, and parents) of US citizens (A US citizen must be at least 21 years of age in order to sponsor his or her parents.)	No numerical limita
F1	Unmarried (or married to a same sex spouse) sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of US citizens	23,400	7–18 yearsb
F2A	Opposite sex spouse and minor children (under 21 year old) of lawful permanent residents	87,934	4 yearsb
F2B	Unmarried (or married to a same sex spouse) sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of lawful permanent residents	26,266	10–15 yearsb
F3	Married sons and daughters of US citizens	23,400	10–19 yearsb
F4	Brothers and sisters of adult US citizens	65,000	11–23 yearsb
Employment-basedc
EB1	Priority workers. There are three sub-groups: 1. Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics OR 2. Foreign nationals that are outstanding professors or researchers with at least three years' experience in teaching or research and who are recognized internationally. OR 3. Foreign nationals that are managers and executives subject to international transfer to the United States.	40,000	currently available
EB2	Professionals holding advanced degrees (Ph.D., master's degree, or at least five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience) or persons of exceptional ability in sciences, arts, or business	40,000	currently available except for individuals from the People's Republic of China and India (5 years)b
EB3	Skilled workers, professionals, and other workers	40,000	6–9 yearsb
EB4	Certain special immigrants: ministers, religious workers, current or former US government workers, etc.	10,000	currently available
EB5	Investors	10,000	currently available
Diversity Immigrant (DV)		50,000
Political Asylum		No numerical limit
Refugee		70,000
a 300,000–500,000 immediate relatives admitted annually. b No more than 7 percent of the visas may be issued to natives of any one country. Currently, individuals from China (mainland), India, Mexico and the Philippines are subject to per-country quotas in most of the categories, and the waiting time may take longer. c Spouse and minor children of the IR/F4/EB applicants, DV winners, asylums & refugees may apply for immigrant visa adjudication with their spouse or parent. The quotas include not only the principal applicants but also their nuclear family members.