How do immigrants and refugees arrive in the US?
Over 1,000,000 immigrants arrive legally into the US each year. The majority comes on the basis of family relationships; others come based on special employment skills. These immigrants receive special visas entitling them to come to the US legally. Generally between 60,000 and 70,000 refugees arrive in the US each year, depending on a “Presidential Determination” signed by the President which outlines the number of refugees that may be admitted by the US during that year. Refugees must prove to the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) that they qualify as a refugee. If approved, they are granted refugee status. Many refugees wait months or years in camps to be granted permission to come to the US.
