Nonimmigrants in the United States: Flow Data and Stock Estimates for 2005

Elizabeth M. Grieco, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Each year, millions of foreign nationals are admitted into the United States. Those who are temporarily admitted for a defined period of time and for a specific purpose are referred to as nonimmigrants. This paper will first define the term “nonimmigrant” and describe the major categories and classes of admission used in publications by the Office of Immigration Statistics (OIS). It will then review the primary federal data sources available for analyzing nonimmigrant flows and generating stock estimates. The number and characteristics of nonimmigrant admissions will also be presented. This paper will then present the methodology used by OIS to generate nonimmigrant stock estimates and discuss the trends in the size and composition of the nonimmigrant population between 2000 and 2005.