US green card: Musk says Trump will "fix" the long wait for Indian techies
For Indian immigrants navigating the lengthy and uncertain US green card application process, the promise of the "American Dream" might not be as bright as it first appears.
For Indian immigrants navigating the lengthy and uncertain US green card application process, the promise of the "American Dream" might not be as bright as it first appears. Concerns about the complexity and delays of the immigration system have been rekindled by recent online debates among executives in the tech sector. Bodo.ai chief product officer Rohit Krishnan recently vented his dissatisfaction on social media, evoking a flurry of reactions. "One thing I find about the immigration dialogue is how few of the people making it seem to know how hard it is to actually immigrate to this country,” Krishnan posted on X. He went on further to state, ““The amount of sheer effort it takes to get in is astronomical. I personally know a large number of extraordinary people who would love to come but just don’t want to take on the burden,” he added.” Numerous social media users recounted their personal experiences in the deluge of comments following the conversation. Others related how the backlog of green cards has resulted in long waits and professional constraints. According to one commentator, navigating the immigration procedure for seven years included four years of being restricted to a single company due to H-1B visa restrictions. Dependent visa holders also face unique challenges. Working restrictions for spouses on H-4 visas often result in increased financial burden and fewer career prospects. Rahael, who has an H-4 visa, told news agency PTI about her concerns for her daughter, who would shortly turn 18. “If our citizenship doesn’t come through before she turns 21, she’ll have to return to India. It’s hard watching her miss out on opportunities because of our visa status,” she said. According to data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), more than a million Indians are waiting for green cards; many of them may have to wait for up to 50 years because of annual and per-country restrictions. In 2024, there are only 140,000 employment-based green cards available, despite a much higher demand. Both the applicants and their dependents are impacted by this backlog, which postpones their chances of obtaining citizenship and permanent residency.9.2 million of the 12.9 million green card holders in the US are eligible for citizenship, according to the Department of Homeland Security's 2022 forecast. Despite a brief slowdown in admissions due to COVID-19, more than a million green cards were granted last year.A green card, also known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows holders to live and work in the United States indefinitely and serves as a pathway to citizenship after several years. The annual cap of 675,000 green cards, however, means that demand far outpaces supply. Around 34.7 million people were in line as of early 2024, which resulted in extended and occasionally endless waits.
