The number of Irish people legally emigrating to the U.S. has risen by 12 percent.
New figures show that some 1,637 people were granted green cards in the U.S. in 2009, mostly by marriage.
This compares to 1,465 Irish green cards the year previous.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said a mere 494 people were granted green cards through their employers.
The president of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, Ciaran Staunton, said the upsurge in new applications pointed to a pent-up demand for American visas.
"We have always said that more Irish people would come here if they could come here legally," he said.
"This just proves it."
There are an estimated 50,000 undocumented Irish in the U.S. and Staunton says that Ireland and the U.S. need to fix this issue.
"As you can see from the figures, the legal opportunities are few and far between," he said.
"Some 150,000 people are expected to leave Ireland over the next 12 months, and most of them will come here because they have family or friends here.
"Unfortunately, no one can sponsor them because there is no legal way to do that."
"And even more unfortunately, a young Irish person is better off in USA undocumented and working than being in Ireland legal and unemployed."
The numbers of Irish people seeking legal employment in the U.S. are repeated elsewhere.
Canada and Australia saw jumps of 13 percent and 25 percent jumps in the number of residence visas issued to Irish nationals.
And in Britain, authorities say there has been a 7 percent rise in the number of Irish people registering to work there.
Even more strikingly, the vast majority of the Irish who registered to work (7,380 people) were aged between 18 and 34.
The Irish support group Crosscare Migrant Project said they advised Irish people to go to Australia and Canada because the U.S. has a difficult visa application procedure.
“There continue to be general inquiries about the US but it is simply not as accessible as Canada and Oz for young people who are interested in taking a year or two out doing casual work,” said Joe O’Brien of Crosscare.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.LinLinisme | Feb 15, 2011, 05:42 PM EST
I would love to meet an older irish man. How can I do this, like maybe a pen pal. Albanylinlin5@hotmail.com
liliying | Jun 11, 2010, 09:09 PM EDT
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pat52rk | May 26, 2010, 06:02 PM EDT
tell them to stay at home. there are no jobs here
kcgaelic | May 06, 2010, 03:02 PM EDT
too bad the international economy cannot sustain life in one's homeland.
KMcSinger | May 05, 2010, 01:50 PM EDT
People still don't get it! There are a VERY limited amount of green cards available for Irish people every year. Everyone who wants to go to America wants to do it legally and applies using the greencard lottery. If they don't get it, the only other option of getting in "legally" is with the marriage visa. That's why people come here illegally, NOT because they're to lazy or dishonest.
TraveLynn | May 05, 2010, 11:38 AM EDT
To Siobhan, we do not care who moves to the USA as long as they do it the proper way and don't drain the system or commit crimes. You are the one who sounds prejudiced and with a chip on your shoulder.
Oonaghx | May 05, 2010, 11:29 AM EDT
"There are an estimated 50,000 undocumented Irish in the U.S." How on earth do they manage? I am Irish with a green card, I could not get a job with out it, I had to renew my Irish passport, I needed my card for that. I am all for the Arizona immigration law, I am really tired of illegals working the system to receive benefits. If you are going to immigrate to the US for Gods sake do it the legal way please!
Siobhan39 | May 05, 2010, 10:07 AM EDT
People love their own . . . namely people that look like them . . . namely white . . . to move in. But, God forbid, you have dark skin or slanted eyes. Then opinions change fast.
GrayGhost | May 05, 2010, 09:11 AM EDT
Seems like a repeat of 1982 when I emigrated here. Tough. Back in 1982, I felt the Irish government were probably glad thousand of their citizens left - it saved them the problem of dealing with the issue. As I recall, I was paying close to 60% in income tax at the time.
IrishAndProud | May 04, 2010, 11:47 PM EDT
I would LOVE to have more Irish people in the USA. And so long as they do it the legal way, and come here to be Americans and to assimilate, I have no problem with it. If I was to emigrate to any other nation, the same would rightfully be expected of me.