US Senator Revives Green Card Bill That Could Benefit Millions, Including Indian H-1B Professionals

A Democratic senator has renewed efforts to introduce legislation that could provide a pathway to lawful permanent residency for millions of long-term US residents, including thousands of Indian H-1B visa holders caught in decades-long green card backlogs.

California Senator Alex Padilla has reaffirmed support for his Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 Bill, first introduced in 2025. If passed, the legislation would allow individuals who have lived continuously in the United States for at least seven years to apply for permanent residency.

Padilla said the proposal was intended to modernise what he described as an outdated immigration system and provide certainty to immigrants who have spent years living and working in the country.

Bill Targets Outdated Immigration Rule

The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, commonly known as the Registry provision.

Originally enacted in 1929 and last updated in 1986 during the Reagan administration, the current law allows only immigrants who entered the US before January 1, 1972, to apply for permanent residency under the provision.

Padilla’s Bill proposes replacing the fixed eligibility date with a rolling seven-year residency requirement, removing the need for Congress to periodically revise the law.

According to the senator’s office, the existing provision has become largely ineffective, with only 305 people adjusting their immigration status through the Registry process between 2015 and 2019.

Indian H-1B Professionals Could Be Among Biggest Beneficiaries

The proposal could significantly benefit Indian professionals working in the United States on H-1B visas, many of whom remain stuck in lengthy employment-based green card queues because of the 7 per cent per-country visa cap.

India accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the employment-based green card backlog, with many applicants waiting 15 years to several decades for permanent residency despite living and working legally in the US.

The Bill would also extend eligibility to Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, children of long-term visa holders and essential workers who meet the residency requirement.

Broad Democratic Backing

The legislation is co-led by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and supported by several Democratic lawmakers, including Cory Booker, Tammy Duckworth, Adam Schiff, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. More than 30 organisations have also endorsed the proposal.

While the Bill has been reintroduced with strong Democratic backing, it would still need approval from both chambers of Congress before becoming law.