Over 1.2 Million Await Green Cards: EB1, EB2, EB3 Visa Update 2024

There is a substantial backlog of over a million Indians in employment-based immigration, according to recent data, which highlights structural problems with the US immigration system. Per-country quotas cause long wait times for green cards, which upset people’s lives and make America less competitive. To restore efficiency and fairness, immediate measures are required.

Immigration Backlog Crisis

The latest government statistics have exposed significant issues that the United States immigration system is currently facing. There are currently over a million Indians caught up in backlogs for employment-based immigration. This enormous backlog highlights serious flaws in the immigration system, especially for highly qualified Indian workers applying for permanent residence, a procedure known as “obtaining a green card.”

The lengthy waits—which frequently last decades—are mostly the result of annual allotment restrictions and per-country caps, underscoring structural shortcomings that not only ruin lives but also make it difficult for America to draw and keep exceptional people.

Analysis of USCIS Data: Unveiling the Scope of the Backlog

An in-depth look at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data from 2001 provided by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) provides a thorough understanding of the size and makeup of the employment-based immigration backlog that impacts Indian workers.

The information, which was gathered as of November 2, 2023, highlights the significant number of people—including principal candidates and their dependents—who are ensnared in the backlog across various employment-based Green Card categories.

First Preference (EB1)

An examination of the USCIS employment-based first preference (EB1) data reveals 51,249 primary applicants, including highly skilled professionals, exceptional academics and researchers, and multinational executives or managers. Using an estimated 92,248 dependents, NAFP’s estimates show that there are 143,497 Indians stuck in the EB1 backlog overall.

This group comprises experts essential to the innovation and leadership scene in America.

Second Preference (EB2)

According to USCIS data, there is a startling backlog of 419,392 principal applicants for employment-based second preference (EB2), which includes experts with advanced degrees and people with remarkable talent in a variety of fields.

The NFAP study reveals a startling number of 838,784 Indians in the EB2 category who are experiencing protracted delays, including an estimated 419,392 dependents. Interestingly, the 2020 data showed a startling 40% growth in the Indian backlog in EB2 over a mere three years—a pattern suggestive of growing difficulties in the immigration system.

Third Preference (EB3)

USCIS records reveal 138,581 principal candidates in the employment-based third preference (EB3) program, most of them are skilled workers who need at least a bachelor’s degree to do their jobs. An additional 138,581 dependents are included in NAFP’s report, for a total of 277,162 Indians traversing the EB3 backlog.

This group includes a significant portion of the labor force that is critical to several US economic sectors and supports the country’s economic growth and vitality.

The Human Toll: Impact on Individuals & Families

Beyond the realm of statistics, the backlog of immigration-related to employment has a significant negative impact on people’s lives, upsetting the goals and dreams of countless individuals and families. Long wait times for green cards result in a generalized sense of uncertainty that hinders long-term planning and stifles both professional and personal development.

Families face financial commitments that are difficult to meet and uncertainty about dependents’ schooling, which adds to the emotional toll that bureaucratic delays take.

Implications for America’s Competitive Edge

The impact of the backlog in immigration goes well beyond personal stories and presents significant obstacles to the United States’ strategic goals of attracting and retaining talent. The foundation of the US innovation ecosystem and economic competitiveness has always been its ability to draw in global talent.

However, the ongoing backlog poses a threat to undermine this competitive advantage by discouraging highly qualified individuals from selecting the US as their preferred location for residency and career advancement in vital fields like innovation and technology, where quick advances depend on

The Contributions of Immigrant Talent

The backlog is a major obstacle to advancement. The US runs the risk of impeding innovation and losing its position as a worldwide leader in cutting-edge industries by postponing the integration of trained professionals into the workforce.

Root Causes of the Backlog

Policy and administrative hurdles

The employment-based immigration backlog must be addressed from multiple angles, including legislative action, administrative effectiveness, and policy reform. A key component of this endeavor is the necessity to review and possibly replace the current per-country quota system, which is a major cause of the lengthy wait times experienced by Indian professionals.

Applicants from countries with significant demand, such as China and India, are disproportionately burdened by the per-country limit, which caps the number of green cards issued per country at 7% of the overall yearly quota. The antiquated policy aggravates the backlog and goes against the meritocracy and equitable opportunity tenets that form the foundation of American immigration policy.

The immigration adjudication process needs to be streamlined and modernized, and policymakers should prioritize these efforts in addition to reviewing the per-country quota system. Processing delays are mostly caused by administrative inefficiencies at USCIS and other immigration authorities, which prolong applicant uncertainty and impede the effective distribution of talent.

Legislative reforms toward a sustainable immigration framework

Furthermore, to address the systemic injustices ingrained in the immigration system, legislative reforms that aim to increase the overall quota for employment-based green cards and implement merit-based mechanisms to prioritize applicants based on skills, qualifications, and economic contributions are essential.

Reform is necessary on a deeper level than just bureaucratic reorganization. It is essentially a matter of strategic planning and national competitiveness. The United States must show a strong commitment to promoting an immigration system that is not only effective and equitable but also in line with the country’s long-term economic and innovation goals, as other nations fight more fiercely for top talent in the global marketplace.

Conclusion: The Call for Urgent Action

Over a million Indians are impacted by the dire reality of the employment-based immigration backlog, which highlights the pressing need for complete reform of the US immigration system. These protracted delays exact a human cost that ripples across towns and sectors, weakening America’s competitive edge and preventing it from prospering in an era characterized by innovation and global interconnection.

To address the backlog, strong leadership, cooperative participation, and an unwavering dedication to creating an immigration system that embodies the goals and values of a country founded by immigrants and enhanced by their contributions are required. Inaction runs the risk of worsening already-existing problems as well as eroding America’s reputation as a global leader in innovation and opportunity.

Reform is needed right now! An important time calls for aggressive steps to improve the US immigration system’s efficiency, inclusion, and justice. The backlog in employment-based immigration necessitates quick revisions to per-country quotas and process optimization. Maintaining justice, efficiency, and America’s standing as a leader in innovation and opportunity requires these reforms.