Battle Over US Green Cards: Wall Street Journal

Skilled foreigners with US job offers obtain green card approvals, but wait years for permanent status. “The logjam stems from U.S. rules that limit any one country to 7% of all employment-based green cards,” reports Lindsay Wise for the Wall Street Journal. “More than 660,000 of those approved but waiting are from India.” US Congress, polarized over comprehensive immigration reform, generally agrees on the need to improve the skilled-labor visa process. The House of Representatives approved the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act in July. Republicans oppose family and diversity cards; Republicans and Democrats oppose the nation limit for green cards and would create a single line, aiding populous nations like India and China, or a separate line for India and China. High demand and a limited number of green cards force countries and industries to compete. Major tech firms prefer engineers, especially those from India, while hospitals support nurses from countries like the Philippines. The US distributes about 1 million green cars each year; 140,000 going to employment-based applicants and others going to families or lottery winners. The US has also distributes temporary visas. If the legislation passes, waits could still last up to 13 years. – YaleGlobal