New green cards are given to around a million immigrants every year in the US, though less than half go to newcomers from other nations. The majority of green cards are issued to those already living in the country on permanent resident US visas. This is according to data released by the Department of Homeland Security, demonstrating different profiles for both groups.
In each fiscal year since 2004, more green cards were issued by the US to immigrants already residing in the country on some form of US visa and adjusting their legal status, than to new arrivals. In the most recently available complete fiscal year, 2015, there were 542,315 in the first category compared to 508,716 in the second.
7.4 million immigrants have changed their status since 2004, with 5.5 million new arrivals receiving green cards in that time. There has been a diminishing difference between the sizes of the groups, with the number of US visas given to immigrants already living in the US falling over the last ten years, and a slight rise in the number granted to newcomers.
Restrictions on the number of immigrants granted green cards while already on temporary US visas have been announced by the Trump administration, which could see the figure fall further. The majority of green cards go to family members of people who are either permanent residents or already hold US citizenship.