The United States of America is now home of immigrants from the most diverse backgrounds. They come to the country for plenty of reasons, some looking for safer living conditions, financial opportunities, business stability or to escape violence from their home countries.

According to statistics published by the Department of Homeland Security, the US welcomed 990,553 legal permanent residents in 2013. Of which, 135,028 came from Mexico, followed by 71,798 from China and 68,458 from India. Other countries in the top 10 sending list are Phillippines, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Vietnam, South Korea, Colombia and Haiti.

The US immigrant population accounts for 20 percent of migrants around the world. And as MPI states, immigrants in the US are 13 percent of the entire population. Immigrants have the chance to naturalize and become new US citizens. That is, if they have a legal permanent resident status and can comply with all requirements.

If you have immigration-related questions, contact an expert in immigration law.