US Congress introduces Bill to cut green card backlog, potentially aiding thousands of Indian immigrants
Washington, December 05: Three influential Congress members, including Indian-Americans Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pramila Jayapal, introduced bipartisan legislation in the US House of Representatives aimed at reducing the green card backlog and eliminating country-based discrimination for employment-based visas.
The bill, HR 6542, termed the Immigration Visa Efficiency and Security Act of 2023, is an endeavor to fortify the US economy and enhance its global competitiveness. It seeks to alleviate the prolonged green card wait faced by thousands of Indian-Americans seeking permanent residency.
This legislation aims to eliminate the existing seven percent per-country cap on employment-based immigrant visas while elevating the cap on family-sponsored visas from seven to fifteen percent. The goal is to enable American employers to prioritise immigrant hiring based on merit rather than place of birth, fostering a more merit-based approach.
Congressman Krishnamoorthi emphasised the necessity of empowering high-skilled workers in the green card backlog to contribute fully to the nation's growth. He highlighted the bipartisan nature of the bill, aiming to eradicate country-based discrimination and enhance both the economy and workforce.
The current employment-based visa system, intended to grant permanent residence to individuals contributing to US economic growth, faces limitations. Despite starting as a merit-based process, the allocation of visas depends significantly on the immigrant's country of birth rather than their qualifications or abilities.
The statement accompanying the bill highlighted that a majority of employment-based immigrants currently reside in the US on temporary visas, waiting for their permanent visa, enduring lengthy waits due to nationality-based caps.
If passed and enacted into law, this legislation would reshape the employment-based immigration system, reducing the backlog and fostering a more merit-driven approach to immigration, ultimately benefiting both the nation's economy and the aspiring immigrants seeking permanent residency.
- With inputs from agencies
