Surge in U.S. Green Cards Marks a New Peak for Brazilian Emigration
In 2023, a record number of Brazilians achieved U.S. green card status, with figures soaring to new heights.
Data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reveals that 28,050 Brazilian nationals gained permanent residency, a 16% jump from the previous year’s 24,169.
This surge places Brazil tenth worldwide in green card receipts, trailing behind leaders such as Mexico (179,000), India (76,000), and Cuba (74,000).
Leda Oliveira, CEO of AG Immigration, emphasizes the significance of this trend, observing that the largest quotas of green cards for Brazilians have occurred in the last five years.
“It’s a clear pattern,” Oliveira says, reflecting on her 14-year residency in the U.S.
She attributes this migration wave to two major factors. One is a labor shortage in the U.S. boosting wages and inviting immigrant talent.
The other is Brazil’s long-term political and economic turmoil, which fuels a sense of hopelessness and stifles financial prospects at home.
Brazilians receive green cards categorized into two main types. Some are family-based, for applicants with relatives who are U.S. residents or citizens.
Others are employment-based, aimed at professionals joining U.S. companies or those seeking career growth in the States without a prior job offer.
This growing exodus from Brazil to the U.S. is not just a tale of numbers but a reflection of larger global economic and social shifts.
Countries like the U.S. seek skilled workers to fill economic gaps. Meanwhile, nations like Brazil face the challenge of retaining their best minds amidst internal strife.
This dynamic not only reshapes individual lives but also the broader socioeconomic landscapes of both the sending and receiving countries.
The list was topped by the following countries:
- Mexico (179,000)
- India (76,000)
- Cuba (74,000)
- Dominican Republic (66,000)
- China (58,000).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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