Green card backlog by country Green Card Eligibility Categories; How to Apply for a Green Card; Replace Your Green Card; While Your Green Card Application Is Pending with USCIS Find out the latest priority date cut-offs for green card filings by preference category and country. One of the more common types of green cards that people seek is the EB-3 green card due to its relatively low requirements. 1 million cases from Indians in the backlog bear most of the Jan 13, 2025 · I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) N-400, Application for Naturalization; Family Based Forms. What happened is due to covid, a lot of family based GCs were unused, and those were used to clear the backlog some. My I-140 is approved, but I am stuck in a three-year backlog to file my I-485, due to being from one of the backlogged countries (India, China, Philippines, Mexico). However, only 7% of those green cards can go to individuals from a single country annually. 13 hours ago · The green card backlog could be alleviated by policy changes. The backlog caused by quotas has a negative effect on the economy. Apr 4, 2024 · The green card backlog is very long and it is the direct result of the number of immigrants looking to get a green card versus the number of green cards available every year. 3. Reclaiming Unused Quotas: Bringing back unused green cards from prior years could address some of the backlog. 9 lakh by FY 2030. This limit leads to significant backlogs for countries with large populations of skilled workers, such as India and China, where applicants often face waits of years or even decades to obtain permanent residency. Dec 7, 2022 · CATO Institute: Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act: Wait Times and Green Card Grants – September 30, 2019; Forbes: Bill Aims to End Decades-Long Waits for High-Skilled Immigrants - February 15, 2019; Resources on Immigrant Visa Backlog CATO Institute: Employment-Based Green Card Backlog Hits 1. The number of green card applicants whose cases were documentarily complete and ready to be scheduled for an interview decreased, from 404,459 in April to 387,068 (a 4% decrease). citizens — in a Dec 4, 2024 · Apply for a Marriage Green Card; Apply for a K-1 Visa; Apply for a Travel / Tourist Visa; Log In; U. Citizens Backlog for EB-2 Green Cards for Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability Wait times for green cards in the EB-2 category decreased for all countries. Learn about factors, timelines, and specific wait times for applicants. In the employment-based area, nationals of each country may obtain immigrant visas (i. government has failed to issue all available green card slots each year due to bureaucratic inefficiencies. This rule hits hard on skilled workers from big countries like India, China, and the Philippines. Every year, the U. Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication by the US Department of State that gives a summary of the availablity of the Green Card (Immigrant Visa) numbers based on a parameters such as the date someone filed (priority date), their country of birth, and their category. Apr 4, 2024 · Green Card Backlog by Country There are currently more than 960,000 immigrants stuck on the green card backlog. Mar 12, 2024 · The Call for Country Cap Removal. The backlog has accumulated due to various factors, including the annual limits on the number of Green Cards issued, per-country quotas, and processing delays caused by administrative Nov 17, 2024 · C: It does not but it does, certainly if we were able to either rip completely or moderate the backlog per country caps, it certainly opens up the opportunities for green cards and removing that backlog or encouraging more through more legal immigration. New prospective immigrants currently entering the backlog (beneficiaries) are double the available number of green cards. 2. Impact on Families Mar 7, 2024 · “On the other hand, most of the family-based backlog are currently outside of the country, so green cards would allow them to contribute to our economy by paying taxes and entering our labor force, which is in dire need of new workers with shortages across industries and an aging population dependent on federal benefits,” Malde continued Dec 7, 2023 · The per-country limits impact applicants from large countries like India or China to have decades of wait time to get a green card. As a result of these Aug 24, 2022 · Without reserved visas, it’s interesting to remember that 1000 “rest of world” filings (resulting in 5,520 visas issued), combined with 2,100 by-right visas to the top three countries, would result in about 5,380 unused visas a year going to the Chinese backlog; combined with the 700 visas China gets by right, this would clear the backlog Oct 26, 2022 · The green card backlog is very long and it is the direct result of the number of immigrants looking to get a green card versus the number of green cards available every year. Naturalizing New U. 4% (from Dec 31, 2024 · I currently reside and work in California and am under a green card process sponsored by my company. immigration policy, to include action not only on illegal immigration but on legal immigration benefits including green cards and visas such as the H-1B. 8 million people in 2023. This decrease of only 3. But Congress can also act to protect families at risk now. Aug 10, 2024 · Removing Country Caps: Eradicating the 7% per-country limit would more equitably distribute green cards. Also, there are more US citizens now in 2022 with more qualification work in tech companies in engineering. e. The bill was introduced by Representative Larry Bucshon (R-Indiana) on March 10, 2023, and co-sponsored by Mar 8, 2022 · Figure 2 shows the backlog by country of birth for approved, wait listed petitions (i. Jan 17, 2023 · The immigrant visa backlog at the National Visa Center (NVC) is historically large. US visa workers green card backlog is so long that you will have to wait for 90+ years. Cramer, Mr. 5 months to 6. The only way to get a permanent resident card is either the lottery or to find a US company willing to spend a lot of money and time to get you a green card. 4. , a green card) in different preference […] Jun 17, 2020 · Country of birth - In a given year, no more than 7% of green cards can be issued to a single country. A noteworthy development in the pursuit of a more efficient visa process is the launch of myUSCIS organizational accounts. Most are Family-based Green Cards, while Employment-based Green Cards have a stricter cap of 140,000 per year. Citizens (F1) Currently processing Sept 2017 (longer for Mexico) 9. However, it is also the direct result of the policies imposed by the Trump administration who wanted immigrants to be unable to get jobs in America during the pandemic. This policy raises legal challenges and exacerbates uncertainty for Indian professionals relying on these visas for permanent Jan 23, 2025 · The U. Further, we show that the future of not just these visas, but the priority date of the EB-1 visa for extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers and multinational managers may also Sep 27, 2024 · The backlog is further exacerbated by per-country visa limits. Nov 6, 2024 · Green Card Backlog Concerns. via the H-1B program, this change would offer those foreign nationals the large majority (over 90 percent) of employment-based green cards. Fiona Harrigan | 12. those approved petitions without the ability to file for permanent residence because of the green card caps). Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. 9 trillion in gains to gross domestic product over 10 Jul 14, 2023 · Currently, about 1 million Green Cards are issued yearly. This change is seen as vital for alleviating the backlog and ensuring that the United States remains an attractive destination for skilled professionals worldwide. Thousands of people apply for green cards each year. 6 million individuals. As a result, countries with large populations of skilled workers, like India and China, face backlogs that can extend for several decades. 23. 3648) to provide relief to immigrant workers who’ve waited decades for green cards because of allocations by country of origin recently failed to come to a vote on the House floor after support for the measure dwindled, even among immigration advocates. Please note: Employment Based Green Card Backlog processing time is calculated based on total india green card applications in backlog divided by india green card processed in a year. It shows which green card applications can move forward, based on I-130 petition dates. Oct 1, 2021 · Green card recapture is a simple strategy that would allocate the total number of unused green cards since 1992 to applicants waiting in the backlog without increasing numerical limitations or per-country caps. Dec 16, 2022 · A bill (H. limits the number of employment-based green cards issued each year, and the backlog occurs because the demand for green cards often far exceeds the available supply across different preference categories (e. This situation is primarily driven by two significant factors: the annual cap on employment-based green cards and the per Feb 15, 2024 · During the past decade, for instance, the total immigrant population—legal and illegal—increased by just five million. Its aim was to phase out country caps over Mar 29, 2022 · The growing case backlog has dramatically extended application processing delays, trapping many immigrants — from asylum-seekers and green card applicants to would-be U. Dec 8, 2023 · Between 1986 and 2022, 44. This initiative, ushered in by the U. Countries that are usually impacted by backlogs are India The backlog really started around 2006-2007. Nov 9, 2023 · “We estimate the total green card backlog, both employment- and family- based green card backlogs, to comprise 7. In this blog post, we'll derive where that number comes from using publicly available data. 2 million applicants—the Nov 25, 2024 · Exempting adjustments of status from the EB green card cap would also deplete the 1. Can you estimate how many employment-based immigrant visas USCIS and the Department of State (DOS) used during FY 2024? A. remains concerning, with 421,358 pending interviews, a slight decrease from the 436,700 in March. Below is the most recent record of how many applicants there are for employment-based green cards. Historically, the U. Dec 5, 2023 · Per-country caps are numerical limits on the issuance of green cards to individuals from certain countries. This volume of applications often results in months- or years-long wait times for applicants in most categories. This creates a massive backlogs for individuals from certain countries notably India and. Citizenship. 2 million in 2020 – November 20, 2020. 1535, is a bipartisan bill that would recapture the unused employment-based green cards accumulated since 1992. individuals in the immigrant visa backlog to submit a green card application for a two Dec 3, 2024 · If you’re watching the January 2025 Visa Bulletin predictions, you know EB1 is still the fastest pathway for Indian nationals. 9 trillion in gains to gross domestic product over 10 Feb 21, 2024 · Only 3 percent of the people who have applied for green cards will receive one in FY 2024, as the backlog continues to grow and migrants continue to choose illegal migration pathways in large numbers. Aug 22, 2022 · Due to a low annual limit on employment-based green cards and a per-country limit of 7% from a single country, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimates that more than 2 million people To reduce the agency’s pending caseload, USCIS established new internal cycle time goals in March 2022. makes available 140,000 employment-based green cards but individuals of each country cannot receive more than 7% of them. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimated the backlog for Indians in employment-based categories to reach 21. I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) Having a country cap in employment based green cards is beyond ridiculous. This is the reason the green card backlog exists. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released new data showing that the green card backlog for employment-based immigrants in 2020 has surpassed 1. 5% highlights that the efforts to address the backlog are still moving too slowly, with the total number of scheduled interviews increasing by a mere 0. A central theme of the summit was the call for the removal of the 7% country cap on Green Cards. P: Why not pursue an actual green card bill then for the backlog? Dec 14, 2020 · In general, the bill would phase out existing per-country limits on employment-based green cards. The backlog would fall at the speed Mar 30, 2020 · The number of new principal petition beneficiaries entering the backlog in 2019 roughly equaled the number of green cards available in 2019, but because families took half the green card cap, the Nov 14, 2024 · On November 5, 2024, Donald Trump was elected as the 47th President of the United States. 1 months. Jun 18, 2019 · Deaths and abandoned applications obviously reduce the backlog, while the availability of green cards for a particular nationality under the country limit could increase or decrease the projected Feb 9, 2024 · Green cells indicate that the actual cycle time was shorter than the agency’s publicly stated goal. The priority date for a Green Card is generally calculated using the place of birth, rather than country of citizenship We are a coalition of individuals stuck in the employment green card backlog advocating for the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. Citizenship Test, Explained; Green Cards. The current wait time is around two years, far better than the EB2 or EB3 backlog. Apr 14, 2024 · In 2020, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimated the backlog for Indians in the top three employment-based green card categories would reach 2,195,795 individuals by FY 2030 and take Nov 20, 2020 · The U. Dec 11, 2023 · Going forward, exempting adjustments of status from the EB green card cap would also deplete the 1. Furthermore, a maximum of 7% of these permits can go to individuals from a single foreign country. The backlog was exacerbated by President Trump's decision to halt all visa applications amid the COVID-19 Jun 22, 2022 · The closest Congress has come to addressing the green-card backlog was the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, which passed the Senate in 2020. Nov 6, 2024 · Trump's proposed green card rule, impacting over a million Indian immigrant workers, complicates the already severe green card backlog. We empower people with the knowledge to take action. Applicants from other countries would be pushed further down the line, likely Jan 31, 2024 · This could include reforming the per country caps, recapturing previously unused green cards and increasing the number of green cards issued annually. to issue. Senators Mr. Currently, people from 2013-2014 are getting their green cards. 2 million individuals currently waiting for employment-based green cards as of November 2023. Dec 4, 2023 · A backlog in cases of abused or abandoned young immigrants seeking green cards has more than doubled in the last two years, according to a new analysis of federal data by advocacy groups that was Of course it is intentional, in the sense that the law was written intentionally in such a way that only up to 7% of the total number of people applying for green cards in a given year can come from the same country. 5 million. 8 million green card backlog imposed by the per-country caps. 4% of green card acceptances, or just over 16 million people, were new arrivals to the US, meaning the majority of green card recipients had already lived in the country for some time. DOS determined that the FY 2024 employment-based annual limit was 160,791, due to unused family-sponsored visa numbers from FY 2023 being added to the employment-based limit for FY 2024. There goes your diversity. Explore. By limiting birthright citizenship and tightening H-1B visa restrictions, the rule threatens Indian families' stability in the U. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), fosters collaboration among various stakeholders, including multiple individuals within an organization and their legal representatives, for H Spouses/Children of Green Card Holders (F2A) Marriage Green Card: Currently processing July 2024: 35 months: Adult Children of U. This is important for green card applicants as it shows the updated priority dates that will impact how soon you can move forward […] H1-B is a dual intent visa providing a path to EB-2 based green cards. These times are calculated by the US immigration law analysts. 6 million people are stuck in queues for lawful permanent residency—the majority of them new potential immigrants to the US who are stuck outside the country. Worldwide (non-oversubscribed countries only, which are those not individually listed below) Family Preference Final Action Dates from FY1992-2023; China (mainland-born only) Family Preference Final Action Dates from FY1992-2023; India Family Preference Final Action Dates from FY1992-2023; Mexico Family Preference Final Action Dates from FY1992 Jan 31, 2024 · However, after the number of green cards eligible each year is capped, the number of persons eligible for such permits is higher than the number of green cards available. Employment Based Green Card Backlog processing time is calculated based on total india green card applications in backlog divided by india green card processed in a year. The Green Card Backlog for Indian Nationals. g. R. Aug 14, 2021 · In addition to categorization based on reasons for coming to America, there are also separations based on nationality. Think of it this way, a majority of H1B visas go to Indians. But that doesn't mean that the wait is 10-15 years. Hickenlooper, and Ms. Annual Visa Caps: The total annual limit for employment-based green cards is set at 140,000, including dependents. More demand per year than the number of visas the law allows the U. The bipartisan America’s Children Act would provide a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship for children of immigrants on Limited Movement for EB Categories The December 2024 Visa Bulletin is out from the U. Therefore, if a country has over representation in the pool then the queue for that country’s nationals would move far more slowly than other countries. That is estimated to take195 years to clear. Aug 29, 2023 · Because no country may receive more than 7 percent of the green cards (the country caps) unless they would otherwise go unused, the 1. In addition, the bill would exempt these recaptured green cards from the 7% per-country cap. Many Indian nationals can expect to wait decades to receive a green card. Jan 24, 2025 · Q. Thus India became the most backlogged country for employment based green card applications. Green Card Wait Time (By Category/Country): Based on data from USCIS/DOS, please see below current wait time for both EB and FB categories. Such a reform would especially benefit Indian workers on the H‑1B Visa by shortening their absurd wait times without increasing the wait time for immigrants from other countries. Dec 12, 2024 · US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data shows that over a million Indians are waiting for green cards. Citizenship Requirements; About Naturalization Form N-400; Citizenship Fees; Citizenship Interview Questions; U. WHAT IS THE “QUOTA BACKLOG”? A. Awad has petitioned for his wife and Jan 30, 2024 · This has created a backlog so enormous that immigrants and their families can wait decades for green cards. Per-country limits also limit the number of visas that can be issued to any single country. Wait, There’s More: The Green Card Backlog. How will this affect your ability to get a green card? Click to find out! Won't Indians dominate green cards resulting in lack of diversity if country caps are removed? > The argument I make is limited to the Employment-based category of Green Cards which is just 14% of the total number of GCs available annually. Dec 23, 2024 · Foreign-Born Religious Workers Are Trapped in a Green Card Backlog Without a fix, churches and other places of worship could lose their clergy. These limits cap the number of Green Cards that can be issued to nationals from any one country. 2024 2:00 PM Oct 6, 2023 · The H-1B visa-to-green card backlog hit an all-time high of 1. Q. Check the Current Green Card Priority Date for India, China, Mexico, Philippines, and the Rest of the World. We have compiled here everything you need to know about interpreting the monthly Visa Bulletin, including whether it even applies to your immigration application. Trump’s potential policies could further delay legal immigration by pausing green card applications in largely backlogged categories, such as those affecting many Indian nationals. Many professionals in fields like technology, engineering, and Apr 5, 2023 · The Green Card backlog refers to the significant delays in the processing and approving applications for United States lawful permanent residency (Green Card). Feb 29, 2024 · Introducing myUSCIS Organizational Accounts. Citizens In FY 2022 (PDF, 1. Each year, the demand for visas in each category outweighs the number of visas that can be issued. However, this also makes it very popular, which can impact the time it takes to obtain one. The green card limits are outdated, and that’s why so many immigrants have to deal with an issue like this. It was inevitable. Collins introduced the bill EAGLE Act of 2023 in the Senate on November 14th, 2023, to eliminate the per-country caps. There are provisions in President Biden’s Build Back Better Act that would recapture some lost green cards for both family- and employment-based categories, but as of December 31, 2021 the Jul 31, 2023 · Under the current US immigration law framework—be it employment-based or family-based immigration—the government focuses on the country of birth of the Skip to Content Our Lawyers Jun 13, 2024 · Children of professionals waiting in the employment-based green card backlog may need to leave the country if they turn 21 before their parents obtain permanent residence. Estimate your wait time for Employment-Based (EB1, EB2, EB3, EB4, and EB5) or Family-Based (F1, F2, F3, and F4) Green Cards with predictions, and processing times. Dec 16, 2022 · The Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act would remove per-country caps on the numbers of employment-based green cards as a way to end a historic backlog. Fraudulent Green Card Applications: Some LPRs who got their status through sham marriages or fake documents had their cases reopened and were deported. These 2018 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics data tables display data about persons obtaining lawful permanent resident status between fiscal years 2016 and 2018. 3 months: Adult Children of Green Card Holders (F2B) Currently processing Jan 2017 (longer for Mexico) 35 months: Married Children of U. EB-1, EB-2, EB-3). Mar 30, 2023 · The Eliminating Backlogs Act of 2023, or H. Immigration law provides for approximately 140,000 employment-based green cards to be issued each year. Immigrants from countries such as India and China face a large queue to obtain green cards due to the influx of workers arriving from their home countries. Dec 17, 2019 · An estimated 800,000 immigrants who are working legally in the United States are waiting for a green card, an unprecedented backlog in employment-based immigration that has fueled a bitter policy Nov 29, 2023 · A commonly thrown out number for India's green card backlog for standard employment visas, EB-2 and EB-3, is 150 years. See how to read the visa bulletin and what it means for your application. Nov 8, 2023 · Roughly 7. This shows the green card priority dates for employment-based and family-based categories. These professionals often face year or even decades-long waits because of country-specific caps on green card allocations. Jan 16, 2025 · In February, there were incremental changes to wait times for employment-based green cards, with India seeing 2-week changes in the EB-2, EB-3, and Other Workers categories, and China seeing a 1-month change in the EB-3 category. Reducing green card barriers for those new entrants and for workers already in the US on temporary visas would add $3. Jan 31, 2024 · And, because the majority of aliens in the employment-based green card queue are Indian and Chinese nationals in the U. The Green Card Waitlist Explained — Priority Dates, Application Dates and How They Interact. Green Card Costs; Green Card Renewal; Marriage Green Cards; Marriage Visa Aug 4, 2022 · Ashraf Awad, a 46-year-old mechanical engineer from Egypt, got his green card in 2016 through a program for countries with low rates of immigration to the U. Dec 26, 2024 · The Green Card Backlog: A Barrier to Indian Talent Pool The green card backlog is a persistent issue for skilled Indian workers. for ten years at a time. Despite all of this , Mexico sends more legal immigrants than the next 3 combined. Shouldn’t that mean that I can get the green card within a year, since there isnt a huge backlog and its also based on the country of birth? No, because there is high demand from other countries for F1 immigration visas. Please note: Jan 24, 2025 · When the demand is higher than the supply of visas for a given year in any given category or country, a visa queue (a waiting list or backlog) forms. As we begin 2023, there are 422,954 immigrant visa applicants waiting for an interview. They must continue to renew their temporary status until a green Feb 15, 2024 · A notable highlight includes administering the Oath of Allegiance to over 878,500 new U. S. 08 MB) , USCIS completed over 1 million applications for naturalization, welcoming the highest number of naturalized citizens in almost 15 years and reducing the net backlog by 62%. I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) N-400, Application for Naturalization; All Forms; File Online; Family Based Forms. Following his victory, notably by significant margins in both the electoral college and the popular vote, some experts predict seismic shifts in U. But why hasn’t it moved in Q1? Typically, the truth is that annual visa limits and per-country caps play a huge role. It is broken out by region and country of birth. citizens, eliminating the backlog of naturalization applications. Dec 12, 2024 · Get 2025 USCIS processing times for green cards, citizenship (N-400), and other immigration forms like I-130 and I-129F. The Immigration and Nationality Act limits the number of immigrant visas (“green cards”) that may be issued each Fiscal Year (October 1 through September 30) in all visa categories. This subreddit is an information hub for everything related to green cards, working in the states and visa. Workers with employment visas who apply for a green card have a restricted ability to work and travel. For some, the waits will exceed their lifetimes. Understanding the Green Card backlog is crucial for Indian applicants. Sharma’s family is one of many families, particularly from India and China, who have been waiting years for green cards because of a massive backlog in applications. Apr 15, 2024 · The long wait for green cards is because of two main things in US law: the yearly limit on green cards for jobs, set at 140,000, and the rule that no country can get more than 7% of those green cards. Wait times for applicants from China (main land born) applicants decreased by 5 months May 19, 2023 · The per-country caps are numerical limits on the issuance of green cards to individuals from certain countries. So when so many people from the same country apply at the same time, it builds a huge backlog, and that country happens to be India. For countries like India, with a high number of applicants, this leads to a significant backlog. In September last year, it was reported that the employment green card backlog for the US EB-2 and EB-3 categories for 1,070,000 Indians would require a total of 134 years to There are so many countries where you can attain permanent residency relatively easier in 4-8 years. Jan 16, 2025 · I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) N-400, Application for Naturalization; Backlog Elimination; Backlog Snapshot FY 2024 Q4; Jan 1, 2022 · Current estimates place the employment-based green card backlog — including the USCIS and Department of State green card backlog — at 7. This includes pending applications (the “processing Many of us are dreaming of a future in the USA. Immigration law provides for approximately 140,000 employment-based green cards to The annual limit for employment-based green cards is 140,000, and 226,000 for family-sponsored green cards. Such policies include phasing out the per-country cap on employment-based green cards and raising the total annual green card quotas from the current 140,000 annual cap. Mar 1, 2022 · Along with eliminating the family and employment green card backlog within five years, this bill will help keep American families together by classifying spouses and children of LPRs as immediate relatives and exempting derivative beneficiaries of employment-based petitions from annual green card limits, protect “aging out” children who Oct 14, 2024 · The 7% per-country limit further restricts green card issuance, meaning no more than 9,800 employment-based green cards can be issued to applicants from any single country each year. Green card recapture. Solutions Mar 26, 2020 · employment-based green cards and exacerbated the backlog. As of April 2024, the green card interview backlog in the U. Green Card Holders with Criminal Convictions: LPRs with aggravated felony or multiple minor convictions were prioritized for removal. Sep 9, 2024 · Discover the green card waiting time by country. The backlog would fall at the speed of Jun 3, 2024 · The Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) saw a decrease in the green card backlog, from 351,624 in April to 337,307 in May — a 4% drop. The green card backlog for Indian nationals has reached a critical point, with over 1. Many of us are dreaming of a future in the USA. Inefficient Utilization of Green Card Quotas. The priority date for a Green Card is the date the application was filed and is basically your place in line in terms of government processing of certain applications for US Green Cards (such as Employment-Based Green Cards). Oct 10, 2023 · Immigrant visas, or green cards, allow for these foreign nationals to live and work in the U. Mar 24, 2023 · The visa bulletin is issued each month by the Department of State. 17 During that time, the United States issued about 10 million green 1. Feb 1, 2023 · Going forward, exempting adjustments of status from the EB green card cap would also empty the Green Card Backlog imposed by the per‐country caps. The overall backlog decreased by 15% Apr 10, 2024 · The green card backlog refers to the immigrants who have to wait in a backlog due to the limited number of green cards. In the context of family-based green cards, the bill would increase the current 7% per-country limit to 15% per country (meaning that no single country would receive more than 15% of the total number of green cards available in a given year). We raise awareness of discriminatory per-country caps, and the impact on the families stuck in the Employment Green Card Backlog. This feat also saw the processing time for naturalization applicants drop from 10. I-129F, Petition What is the HR 6542 and how will it reduce of per country cap's impact on green card deadlock. These goals are internal metrics that guide the backlog reduction efforts of the USCIS workforce and affect how long it takes the agency to process cases. TLDR; Country Caps don’t make sense when you implement them just for 14% of the green cards earmarked for employment based visas. This cap is Nov 8, 2023 · Roughly 7. To distribute the visas among all preference categories, DOS allocates the visas according to a prospective immigrant’s preference category, country of chargeability, and priority date . EB-2 has per country and global annual limits The per country limits are not proportional to the population of each each country. Since 1921, millions of green card spots have gone unutilized, which further compounds the backlog faced by applicants.