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In the debate over immigration policy, a commonly heard refrain is the demand for migrants to “get in line” or enter the U.S. “the right way.” But in recent years the path to legal immigration has become increasingly narrow, especially for those who live in countries fraught with poverty, violence and political instability.

The Trump administration has continued to whittle down annual caps for refugees — recently to 18,000 — from 110,000 in 2016. Additional roadblocks have also been added, including the so-called “safe third country” policy, requiring asylum seekers to remain outside the U.S. in order to file their claim and disqualifying applicants if they travel through certain other countries before reaching the U.S. border.  

Explore some of the most common paths to navigating our complex immigration system from outside the country. See the costs and wait times, and which programs have stalled indefinitely.

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