Green Card Backlogs

Well at least if you do get your H1B, you can get a green card rather quickly (within a year or so). Most Indian and Chinese nationals have to wait for more than 10 years in the queue before they are even eligible to apply.

There's a limit to the number of green cards that can be issued for people from a particular nationality (country of birth than country of citizenship). This creates a backlog for Indians and Chinese nationals. The backlog causes a long wait time and uncertainty for Indian nationals. There are people, like me, who have been waiting for their green card for more than 7 years. I've been in this country for 15 years now, have a Masters degree and have paid more than half a million in taxe

Getting an employment-based green card normally takes a few years. That has increased by a year or two due to staffing shortages and backlogs caused by covid-era policies. But the real issue for immigrants from India (and to a lesser extent from China, Mexico, and Philippines) is the 7% country cap. Those who qualify for EB-1 can skip the line and get their green cards in a semi-reasonable time. Those in EB-2 and lower priority categories are out of luck.

Workers from other countries do not face this issue--------------That hasn't been correct until very recently to be very fair. It used to be a wait of years in the EB3 category, the lane most h1bs qualify for, and has only recently (2014 or so) shortened to a few months. And to clarify, this is just to get a green card.it still takes 5 years after that green card to become a citizen.

I have lots of examples:* By law, the US can only issue 140,000 employment-based green cards per year, and no more than 7% to one country. This means people from India or China can face a 100+ year backlog, even after they have proved they qualify for a green card. There's no cap on marriage-based green cards.* Processing times for many green cards (i.e. for people who have already qualified, but just need the physical green card), are 12-24 months.* USCIS still expects many applic

There are only long green card wait times for people born in India and China (maybe the Philippines?). Most other people should be able to get a green card in a year or two with a decent lawyer.

For people from some countries like India and China, the wait after finding an employer willing to sponsor green card is still a big killer. Typically people have to wait for 6-7 years now to get green card after first filing it. While I agree with the author, I feel he did not try to find someone willing to sponsor his green card with other employers. If your employer does not respond favorably to your requests about sponsoring your green card, find another employer willing to sponsor it while

The problem is almost always for people from China, India, Mexico and Philippines. The Green Card process takes less than a year for all other countries except these. The Green Card paperwork takes a lot of time and effort for people from these countries. While doing the paperwork, there are extended periods where it does not make sense to look for new jobs. That pushes the expected date further in the future. For example, as of today, people who applied for the GC in 2004 and have a MS or 5 yea

Im from India. I will have to go on an H1B, even if I apply for a green card (EB2), it will take me 5 years with the current queue.

Unfortunately yes. That is exactly how it works. Most Indians on H1b will never get a green card despite having an approved green card application. (the I140)Indian wait-times are expected to be between 20-60 years. It is ~10 years of the Chinese & Mexicans. Everyone else gets a green card within 1-2 years.