White House backs bill that could severely cut down the 90-year wait for Green Cards
3 min read
The White House has passed legislation in Congress removing the per-country quota on green cards. This would allow US employers to focus on hiring people based on merit rather than their birthplace, which would be beneficial to several hundreds of thousands of immigrants, particularly Indian Americans.
A Green Card, Officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document given to immigrants to the United States. To show that the bearer has been granted the right to live permanently in the country.
The Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act of 2022 is up for debate in the House of Representatives this week.
A per-country cap on employment-based green cards would be eliminated by the EAGLE Act. A policy that disproportionately affects Indian immigrants.
To ensure that eligible immigrants from less populous nations are not excluded. As the EAGLE Act is implemented, this legislation would phase out the per-country caps over nine years if it were to be passed.
The White House stated, “The administration supports efforts to improve our immigrant visa system and alleviate the severe effects of the immigrant visa backlog.”
90-year wait for Green Cards
“Accordingly, the organization supports the House passage of HR 3648, the Equal Acess to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act. Also, its objective of permitting US employers to focus on recruiting immigrants based on merit, not their birthplace. By disposing of the “per country” limitation on employment-based immigrant visas (green cards),” it said.
These changes would take effect over a nine-year transition period. To guarantee that no nation will be denied visas while the per-country caps are gradually eliminated.
According to the White House, employment-based immigrants and their family members are not currently in the United States. It would also receive visas during the transition period to address urgent healthcare needs.
This legislation would be life-changing for hundreds of thousands of immigrants currently stuck in legal limbo. As they wait for green cards.” said Neil Makhija, executive director of the Indian American Impact.
Further, he stated that the per-country cap on green cards is a remnant of a discriminatory system. That in the past completely excluded Asian immigrants.
“The caps were put in place decades ago and do not represent the values of our nation. Makhija stated, “It is time for Congress to act and treat so many immigrants who call this country home fairly and equitably.”
White House Backs Bill
According to the White House, important provisions in the bill, among other things. Also, enable applicants for green cards who have been in the immigrant visa backlog for two years to submit their applications.
It stated that this would allow employment-based immigrants to transition off their temporary visas and provide them additional flexibility in changing employers or starting a business. Even though the applications could not be approved until a visa became available.
Importantly, the White House noted that the bill would also keep families together. By ensuring that children of immigrants based on employment do not age out of dependent status or lose eligibility for a green card.
According to the White House, immigrants have strengthened America’s most valuable competitive advantage—the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship—for generations.
[H-1b holder Resigned at Google and job offer rescinded by Amazon]
According to the statement, “Immigrants keep our economy growing, our communities thriving, and our country moving forward.”
“As well as passing HR 3648, the administration urges Congress to pass the US Citizenship Act. This would additionally change and further develop the immigrant visa system by expanding legal pathways to the US. Also, giving way to citizenship for a large number of undocumented immigrants. Moreover, establish a new system to responsibly manage and secure our border,” said the White House.
