Team Blitz India
According to US Government data, over one million Indians are currently stuck in employment-based immigration backlogs. The figures from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services reveal that many highly skilled Indian professionals are facing potentially decades-long waits to obtain permanent residency, also known as a green card due to a combination of per-country limits and low annual quotas.
These prolonged waits not only disrupt the lives of individuals and families but also impede America’s ability to attract and retain top talent. According to a Forbes report, a study conducted by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) of USCIS data shows that over 1.2 million Indians, including dependents, are waiting in the top three employment-based green card categories as of November 2, 2023.
This backlog includes individuals in the first, second, and third preference categories, representing professionals with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors, researchers, multinational executives or managers, professionals holding advanced degrees, and skilled workers.
NFAP’s analysis estimates the number of dependents based on the ratio of employment visa principals to dependents in previous fiscal years, although this may underestimate the actual number of dependents for Indians due to their longer waits in the backlog, making them more likely to have spouses and children.
Without intervention from Congress, the backlog is projected to escalate further. A report by the Congressional Research Service in 2020 estimated that by 2030, the backlog for Indians in the top three employment-based green card categories could surpass 2.1 million individuals and take nearly two centuries to clear.
NFAP’s analysis estimates the number of dependents based on the ratio of employment visa principals to dependents in previous fiscal years, although this may underestimate the actual number of dependents for Indians due to their longer waits in the backlog, making them more likely to have spouses and children.
