134 year waiting period for 4 lakh Indians awaiting US green card

As per a latest study published in the US, around four lakh Indians will die before they receive their US green card. The green card waiting backlog for Indians has reached a towering figure of 11 lakh, the report stated on Aug 29.

1.8 million applications pending, 62% of them Indian

A green card in the USA grants the immigrant a permit for permanent residence as well as permanent employment.

According to a US-based think tank institution, the employment-based green card backlog in the USA is currently as huge as 1.8m. The country cap rule states that not more than 7% of green cards are to be granted to any country, which has delayed a string of applications awaiting clearance.

Out of these, 62.77%, i.e., 1.1m green card applicants in line, are from India. And the waiting period for some of them and the applicants thereafter is a staggering 134 years.

This means that 4.2 lakh employment-based green card applicants will have to wait for 134 years for a green card, and out of these 90%, i.e., nearly four lakh, will be Indians.

Highest backlog in advanced degree-holding EB-2 categories

The study states that over half of the green card backlog is in the EB-2 category. The employment-based green cards are divided into categories, which are allotted among the total annual cap. The EB-1 is the first preference for priority workers; the EB-2 is the second preference for a higher degree; and the EB-3 is the third preference for skilled workers. The EB-4 are special immigrants, and the EB-5 are immigrant investors.

Another 19% are in the EB‑3 category, 13% are in the EB‑4 category, and 6% are in the EB‑5 category. The remaining 3% backlog is EB-3O (other workers).

It adds that China also has a staggering 14% (2.5 lakh) backlog. While El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala combined constitute nearly 10% of the same.

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