Numerical limitations on individual foreign states

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Title 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY > CHAPTER 12—IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY > SUBCHAPTER II—IMMIGRATION > Part I—Selection System

This text was captured on Apr 17, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

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Except as specifically provided in paragraph (2) and in sections 1101(a)(27), 1151(b)(2)(A)(i), and 1153 of this title, no person shall receive any preference or priority or be discriminated against in the issuance of an immigrant visa because of the person’s race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence.

( June 27, 1952, ch. 477 , title II, ch. 1, § 202, 66 Stat. 176 ; Pub. L. 87–301, § 9 , Sept. 26, 1961 , 75 Stat. 654 ; Pub. L. 89–236, § 2 , Oct. 3, 1965 , 79 Stat. 911 ; Pub. L. 94–571, § 3 , Oct. 20, 1976 , 90 Stat. 2703 ; Pub. L. 95–412, § 2 , Oct. 5, 1978 , 92 Stat. 907 ; Pub. L. 96–212, title II, § 203(b) , Mar. 17, 1980 , 94 Stat. 107 ; Pub. L. 97–116 , §§ 18(c), 20(b), Dec. 29, 1981 , 95 Stat. 1620 , 1622; Pub. L. 99–603, title III, § 311(a) , Nov. 6, 1986 , 100 Stat. 3434 ; Pub. L. 99–653, § 4 , Nov. 14, 1986 , 100 Stat. 3655 ; Pub. L. 100–525 , §§ 8(c), 9(f), Oct. 24, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2617 , 2620; Pub. L. 101–649, title I, § 102 , Nov. 29, 1990 , 104 Stat. 4982 ; Pub. L. 102–232, title III, § 302(a)(3) , Dec. 12, 1991 , 105 Stat. 1742 ; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title VI, § 633 , Sept. 30, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3009–701 ; Pub. L. 106–313, title I, § 104(a) , (b), Oct. 17, 2000 , 114 Stat. 1252 , 1253.)

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