United States Code

8 U.S.C. § 1151

Worldwide level of immigration

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Bills that would change it 160

  • HR 9758 Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2026 Amends 1151(b)(2)(A) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 4983 A bill to curb criminal activity by aliens, to defend against acts of international terrorism, to protect American workers from unfair la... Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 8827 ASSIMILATION Act Amends 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1151(c) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 4546 ASSIMILATION Act Amends 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1151(c) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 8586 Americans First Immigration Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 7105 Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion Act of 2026 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 3419 Reuniting Families Act Amends 1151(c), 1151(d) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 6565 Reuniting Families Act Amends 1151(c), 1151(d) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 6225 PAUSE Act of 2025 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 6118 Support and Defend Our Military Personnel and Their Families Act Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 2296 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 3009 Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 5528 America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 2886 America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 4867 PHDs First Act Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 4817 Immigrant Witness and Victim Protection Act of 2025 Amends 1151(b)(1)(A) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 4393 DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 1965 Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act Amends 1151(b)(1)(A) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 3763 Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act Amends 1151(b)(1)(A) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 3466 SMART Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 3227 Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2025 Amends 1151(d)(1)(A) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 2851 WISE Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 1328 Nuclear Family Priority Act Amends 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1151(c) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 2705 Nuclear Family Priority Act Amends 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1151(c) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 2627 Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 1233 Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 1747 Break the Chain Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 1585 Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 709 Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • S 461 Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2025 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 1053 Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2025 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 4319 Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2023 Amends 1151(d)(1)(A) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 5145 WISE Act of 2023 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 3599 DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023 Amends 1151(b)(2)(A), 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 3194 U.S. Citizenship Act Amends 1151(c), 1151(d) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 8670 Child Status Fairness and Modernization Act Amends 1151(f)(2) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 7833 Nuclear Family Priority Act Amends 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), 1151(c) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 4069 Affordable and Secure Food Act of 2024 Amends 1151(d)(1)(A) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 6455 Climate Displaced Persons Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 3340 Climate Displaced Persons Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 3128 Protecting Unaccompanied Children Act Amends 1151(b)(1)(A) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 1464 Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 5560 Reuniting Families Act Amends 1151(c), 1151(d) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 5477 Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 2226 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 4942 Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 2384 Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023 Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 4358 PHDs First Act Amends 1151(b)(1) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 4285 Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act Amends 1151(b)(1)(A) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 1885 Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act Amends 1151(b)(1)(A) · introduced · 118th Congress

Showing the 50 most recently active.

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-121.

(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) Immediate relatives.— 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.
Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗