There are over a million Indians in the United States caught in a relentless wait for the Green Card, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) statistics.
As reported by Forbes, USCIS data reveals that thousands, including doctors, engineers, and scientists from India, face an extended wait to obtain a US Green Card.
Analysis of USCIS data up to November 2nd by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) shows that over 1.2 million Indians are eyeing the Green Card. They are primarily waiting for employment-based Green Cards.
Who Are in the Queue?
Indians top the priority list in the EB-1 category, which includes professors, researchers, and managers. Within this category, 143,497 Indians are waiting.
Following that is the EB-2 category, which pertains to individuals in science, arts, and business. There are 838,784 Indians waiting in this line.
EB-3 stands third, where professionals with a bachelor's degree qualify for Green Cards. This category holds 138,581 Indians.
As of November 2, 2023, the total Green Card backlog for Indians reaches 1,259,443 according to NFAP.
Forbes also quotes the Congressional Research Service, which estimates that by 2030, nearly 2.2 million Indians will be awaiting their Green Cards across these categories, and clearing the backlog could span 195 years.
The waiting period for Indians is considerably more than for many countries, including China and the Philippines, because every nation is allocated a specific quota.
Why Such a Long Wait?
The prolonged Green Card waiting period is due to American immigration law. Specifically, the US can issue Green Cards to only 140,000 workers each year, and per-country quotas are capped at 7%.
Understanding the Green Card
The Green Card, officially known as the Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants in the US, allowing them to reside permanently. Green Cards are limited by an annual country-specific ceiling.
