All about the US immigration reform bill to reduce green card wait times: HR 6542 explained
The long-awaited demand of Indian Americans for US immigration reform is finally getting closer to reality. Indian-Americans Raja Krishnamurthy and three influential congressmen, including Pramila Jayapal and Rich McCormick, have introduced HR 6542, the Immigration Visa Efficiency and Security Act of 2023.
"My legislation will be a victory for all Americans because it will reform our inefficient immigration system that has contributed to illegal immigration over time."
What is the Immigration Visa Efficiency and Security Act?
The bill aims to replace outdated and 'unfair immigration laws', as well as create a visionary National Security Act. It attempts to address the limitations of the employment-based visa system, which currently allocates visas based on the applicant's country of birth.
Bill removes employment-based green card limit per country
The bill aims to remove the unbalanced per-country limit with a 10-year transition plan and bring the immigration process closer to a merit-based system.
In the United States, backlogs created based on "country limits" on green card issuance force immigrants (particularly Indians) to wait decades after qualifying for green card issuance.
The proposed project promises a graduation system to reduce delays for those waiting on time. It will aim to gradually eliminate the seven percent per-country cap for employment-based immigrant visas and extend the transition period to nine years, ensuring an inclusive approach.
What is the cap per country
Per-country limits are numerical restrictions controlling the allocation of green cards to individuals from specific countries. Approximately 140,000 employment-based green cards are authorized here each year. However, only a maximum of 7% of these green cards can be awarded to individuals from a country each year. If the number of individuals sponsored from a particular country exceeds the 7% limit of the annual allocation, a backlog arises. In such cases, surplus approved petitions are not processed until visas become available, which is in line with the initial 7% limit per country.
These country-specific limitations have created extensive backlogs for immigrants from India and China, primarily in employment-based categories. FWD.us estimates that more than 1 million people, including dependent spouses and children, are waiting for the employment-based green card backlog in the US.
Strengthens our national security
The bill prohibits nonimmigrant temporary workers from countries deemed xenophobic from being involved in sectors critical to national security interests, particularly when they involve government contracts. The legislation is intended to reform the H-1B temporary visa program and introduce a provision allowing individuals in the immigrant visa backlog to submit a green card application for a two-year period, subject to approval upon visa availability.
Impact on Indian Americans
If passed and enacted, Indian-Americans will be its biggest beneficiaries. This will reduce the decades-long wait for veterans for green cards and make the immigration journey hassle-free. By focusing on merit based on birthplace, the law will streamline the immigration process, enabling highly skilled workers to more effectively contribute to the country's development.
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