Questions about the Green Card for Brazilians come up often: how many are granted each year, through which pathways, and where new residents settle. The U.S. government answers many of them in public data tables. This article brings together the latest figures from the Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS), the statistics office of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which compiles permanent residence data based on information from USCIS.
The numbers show general trends. They do not indicate whether a specific person qualifies for any category, which always depends on an individual assessment.
How many Brazilians get a Green Card each year
In the three most recent fiscal years with published data, this is how many people born in Brazil became lawful permanent residents of the United States:
| Fiscal year | New residents born in Brazil | Share of U.S. total |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 24,170 | 2.4% |
| 2023 | 28,880 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 28,490 | 2.1% |
The number rose in 2023 and remained virtually flat in 2024. Brazil’s share fell in 2024 because the total number of new permanent residents nationwide grew faster, from about 1.17 million to 1.36 million. The U.S. fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.
Most were already in the United States
The most striking feature of the Brazilian profile is adjustment of status. In fiscal year 2023, 23,710 of the 28,880 new permanent residents born in Brazil (82%) were already in the United States when they received their Green Card. Only 18% arrived from abroad on an immigrant visa. Among the ten countries of birth with the most Green Cards that year, Brazil had the lowest share of new arrivals.
Adjustment of status has its own requirements, and not every immigration situation allows for it. If you are already in the U.S. and want to understand your options, see our guide Status options for people already in the U.S.
Family and employment split the pathways
According to a Migration Policy Institute analysis of DHS data, virtually all Brazilians who obtained a Green Card in 2023 did so through family ties (50%) or employment-based categories (49%). The employment share is nearly three times the average for all immigrants that year, which was 17%. Refugee status, asylum, and the diversity visa lottery accounted for a very small share.
Employment-based Green Cards are divided into five preference categories. For skilled professionals, the most relevant are usually EB-1, EB-2 (including the National Interest Waiver, or NIW), and EB-3. For investors, there is EB-5. The table below summarizes the main differences among the three professional categories. The full criteria are on the official USCIS pages linked in each row.
| Category | Who it is for | Job offer required? | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| EB-1 | People with extraordinary ability (EB-1A), outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1B), and multinational executives or managers (EB-1C) | Not for EB-1A. EB-1B and EB-1C require a U.S. employer | USCIS: EB-1 |
| EB-2 NIW | Professionals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability whose proposed endeavor meets the national interest criteria | No. Applicants can file on their own behalf (self-petition) | USCIS: EB-2 |
| EB-3 | Skilled workers, professionals with a bachelor’s degree, and other workers | Yes, generally with a labor certification (PERM) approved by the Department of Labor | USCIS: EB-3 |
Official data shows volume, not eligibility. Each category has its own criteria, and reading the numbers correctly is the first step in planning, not a conclusion about any specific case.
For more detail on each category, see our pages on EB-1A, EB-1C, EB-2 NIW, and EB-3/PERM, as well as the article EB-2 NIW: what the National Interest Waiver is.
Why employment-based Green Card numbers fluctuate
The number of employment-based Green Cards does not depend on demand alone: it is capped by annual limits. In recent years, unused family-sponsored visa numbers were shifted to the employment-based categories, raising that cap. In fiscal year 2023, the employment-based limit reached 197,091 visas; in 2024, it was 160,791. USCIS stated that the 2025 limit would be higher than before the pandemic but lower than from 2021 to 2024.
The effect shows up in national totals. EB-2 Green Cards granted across all countries rose from 59,830 in 2021 to 109,080 in 2022 and fell back to 55,790 in 2023. For this reason, comparing single years without accounting for annual limits can lead to wrong conclusions about trends.
Where new Brazilian residents live
The state-by-state distribution of new permanent residents born in Brazil remained stable in the two most recent years with detailed data:
| State | Fiscal year 2022 | Fiscal year 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 7,407 | 9,110 |
| Massachusetts | 2,976 | 3,260 |
| California | 2,343 | 2,720 |
| Texas | 1,451 | 1,800 |
| New Jersey | 1,391 | 1,700 |
| New York | 1,092 | 1,170 |
Florida received about 31% of new Brazilian residents in both years, more than twice as many as Massachusetts, which ranked second. DHS rounded the 2023 figures to the nearest ten to protect privacy.
What usually matters when preparing a case
The statistics show how many applications were approved, but not the work behind each one. In any category, three areas usually require attention:
- Complete and consistent documentation: diplomas, transcripts, proof of experience, civil records, and reference letters need to tell the same story, with consistent dates, job titles, and names.
- Proper translations: documents in Portuguese submitted to USCIS must include a full English translation, along with the translator’s certification that they are competent to translate and that the translation is accurate. In consular processing, the National Visa Center (NVC) also has its own requirements for each type of document.
- Clearly defined roles: document organization and project coordination are separate from legal strategy, which is handled exclusively by attorneys licensed in the United States.
A starting roadmap is available in our Document checklist for your first immigration meeting. To compare categories by profile, see Compare immigration categories by profile: a practical guide.
Waiting lines and the Visa Bulletin
An approved petition does not mean an immediate Green Card. When demand exceeds the annual limits, a waiting line forms by category and country of birth. Each month, the Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin with the cut-off dates for each category. A case can only be finalized when the applicant’s priority date is earlier than the current cut-off date, or when the category is marked “C” (current), meaning there is no wait.
Brazil does not have its own column in the bulletin. People born in Brazil fall under “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed,” the same column that applies to most countries. Because the dates change often, any wait-time estimate should be checked against the current month’s edition. Immigrant visas issued by nationality and category are published in the Annual Report of the Visa Office, and USCIS application and decision statistics are available in Immigration and Citizenship Data.
Frequently asked questions
How many Brazilians receive a Green Card each year?
According to DHS, there were 24,170 in fiscal year 2022, 28,880 in 2023, and 28,490 in 2024. Data for each year is published with a lag, so it is worth checking the most recent OHSS reports.
What is the most common pathway for Brazilians?
In 2023, family and employment accounted for virtually all Green Cards granted, in nearly equal shares. Most new Brazilian residents (82%) were already in the United States and adjusted their status.
Does the EB-2 NIW require a job offer?
No. Under the National Interest Waiver, applicants can file on their own behalf. In addition to an advanced degree or exceptional ability, USCIS looks at three criteria: whether the proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, whether the person is well positioned to advance it, and whether, on balance, it would benefit the United States to waive the job offer and labor certification requirements. Each case should be evaluated by a licensed attorney.
Which U.S. states have the most new Brazilian residents?
In fiscal years 2022 and 2023, Florida received about 31% of the total, followed by Massachusetts, California, Texas, and New Jersey.
Does organizing documents in advance make a difference?
Complete, consistent, and properly translated documentation tends to reduce Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and rework. Timelines and outcomes, however, depend on factors outside the applicant’s control, such as annual limits, waiting lines, and agency review.
Disclaimer and compliance notice: Meridian Global Mobility (MGM) provides operational coordination, document organization, and Brazil–U.S. mobility support. MGM is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal consulting, or representation before immigration authorities. All applicable legal services are provided exclusively by independent attorneys duly licensed in the United States. This content is general and informational and does not constitute individual legal advice or a determination of eligibility.
Sources
- DHS/OHSS: U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents: 2024 (new residents by country of birth, 2022 to 2024)
- DHS/OHSS: U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents: 2023 (adjustments of status and new arrivals by country of birth)
- DHS/OHSS: 2023 Yearbook, Supplemental Table 1 (state of residence and country of birth)
- DHS/OHSS: 2022 Yearbook, Supplemental Table 1 (state of residence and country of birth)
- DHS/OHSS: 2023 Yearbook, Table 6 (classes of admission, 2014 to 2023)
- USCIS: Employment-Based Adjustment of Status FAQs (annual employment-based visa limits)
- USCIS: Permanent Workers (EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 requirements)
- U.S. Department of State: Visa Bulletin
- Migration Policy Institute: Brazilian Immigrants in the United States (family and employment shares in 2023)
Data retrieved in September 2026.
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