596,144
Iranians granted U.S. permanent residence between 1970 and 2024.
- Counts green cards granted, not the current Iran-born population
- Includes people who later died, returned, or moved elsewhere
- Many recipients first entered on temporary visas (student, work) before receiving permanent residence in a subsequent year
Green card pathways
- Family — immediate relatives or family sponsorship
- Employment — employer or skill-based admission
- Refugee/Asylee — prior refugee or asylee status
- Diversity — annual visa lottery for countries with low U.S. immigration
- Family has been the largest category throughout
- The 1989–91 surge includes a one-time program from a 1986 law (IRCA) that granted permanent residence to many previously undocumented immigrants
Source: INS Annual Reports (1970–1977); INS Statistical Yearbooks (1978–2004); DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (2005–2024)
Family Employment Refugee/Asylee Diversity Other
Source: INS Annual Reports (1970–1977); INS Statistical Yearbooks (1978–2004); DHS Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (2005–2024)