US lawmakers address Green Card backlog, H-1B visa issues

At a latest immigration summit 'Tech Immigration Summit' held on the US Capitol, lawmakers from each the Democratic and Republican events got here

At a latest immigration summit ‘Tech Immigration Summit’ held on the US Capitol, lawmakers from each the Democratic and Republican events got here collectively to spotlight the pressing want to handle the Green Card backlog, which is considerably impacting Indian professionals and points associated to the H-1B visa.

The Green Card is formally generally known as a Permanent Resident Card, which permits individuals to reside and work completely within the United States.

The summit hosted by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS), the summit noticed lawmakers advocating for the removing of the 7% nation cap for issuing Green Cards to international visitor employees in specialised classes.

Without this modification, the ready interval for Indian immigrants might stretch past 20 years, and even exceed 70 years in sure circumstances, news company PTI reported.

Ro Khanna, Indian-American Congressman, co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, emphasised the significance of a rational immigration coverage.

“We know that immigrants have helped build Silicon Valley, that so many of the companies that have started, that have created so many jobs that have created so much employment have been founded by immigrants from India, from China, from Asia, the Middle East, from Europe,” he mentioned.

Khanna is aiming to eradicate nation caps to forestall employees from being caught in standing, which harms each American employees and H-1B visa holders.

“It will help raise wages, help American workers, and help these families. We also should be providing a Green Card to folks who are educating in the United States. It makes no sense that we’re paying for someone’s education at college or giving them STEM, and then we’re telling them that they have to go back to where they came from when American taxpayers are funding the education. I’d rather stay here, create the jobs here instead of offshoring those jobs,” Khanna mentioned.

LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR IMMIGRATION REFORMS

Congressman Eric Swalwell emphasised the broader affect of fixing the immigration system, linking it to addressing challenges in healthcare, environmental sustainability, and financial progress.

Shri Thanedar, an Indian-American Congressman, mentioned, “The American immigration system is broken,” the news company PTI reported.

We want authorized immigration solidified; our companies want that. Every time I meet CEOs of firms, they inform me how necessary it’s to have the ability to discover a expert workforce. Today we’re dropping so many individuals to Australia to Canada as a result of they’re making the most of our damaged immigration system. We want to have the ability to preserve the expert workforce within the US. That’s going to assist our GDP, that is going to assist our companies to develop, and that is going to create extra American jobs,” he mentioned.

Congressmen Rich McCormick and Raja Krishnamoorthi known as for passage of the related laws from the US Congress.

Khanderao Kand from FIIDS identified that technological immigrants play a vital position as main entrepreneurs in main industries.

He emphasised that their state of affairs, notably for these coming from India, is hindered by the 7% nation quota, resulting in a considerable backlog in Green Card processing.

Representatives from varied organisations, together with impacted people, expressed hope for significant reform to create a extra environment friendly and inclusive immigration system.

Alongside quite a few US lawmakers, representatives from suppose tanks, and an official from the Department of State, testimonies have been heard from people affected by the immigration system, together with these awaiting inexperienced playing cards, documented Dreamers, relations, and college students.

Published By:

Girish Kumar Anshul

Published On:

Mar 12, 2024

Source: www.indiatoday.in

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