SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 29, 2024 / The United States of America, often heralded as the land of opportunity, beckons immigrants from across the globe. Yet, the journey to secure permanent residency or citizenship has become an arduous odyssey, marked by historical hurdles and discrimination. For our Indian immigrants, the quest for a green card has become a waiting game of a lifetime.
Recent updates from USCIS reveal that over 1.2 million Indians, including dependents, are currently in line for green cards under the first, second, and third employment-based categories. This figure is highlighted by a National Foundation for American Policy analysis of USCIS data. This backlog, particularly acute in employment-based categories, poses significant challenges for Indian applicants, many of whom have waited years to secure permanent residency in the United States.
H-1B Visa Challenges
The journey to a green card for most Indian immigrant professionals often begins with an H-1B visa - a non-immigrant visa allowing U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. However, obtaining an H-1B visa has become increasingly challenging. You might know that the H-1B visa program has a limited supply of only 85,000 visas available each year. Which allows foreign professionals to work in the US, is in high demand. To make it even more competitive, 20,000 of these visas are reserved exclusively for individuals who hold a master's degree or higher from a US institution. This limitation results in strong competition, with demand significantly exceeding availability. As a consequence, the majority of applicants get turned down due to the lottery system employed to grant visas.
The difficulties don't end with securing an H-1B visa. Even for those who are able to secure an H-1B visa, obtaining a green card is a challenging process. The H-1B visa is valid for six years, after which applicants must get a green card or return to their home country. However, due to the green card backlog, many find themselves in a precarious situation, unable to progress to permanent residency despite meeting all necessary qualifications.
The current tightening of laws and scrutiny of H-1B petitions complicates matters. Changes in adjudication criteria and increasing requirements for evidence have resulted in higher decline rates, particularly among Indian applicants. These hurdles not only restrict professional and personal development but also add to the growing green card backlog by forcing applicants to reapply or seek alternate visa categories.
Benefits of a Green Card for Indian Immigrants
Obtaining a green card provides various benefits to Indian citizens, including stability and a pathway to US citizenship. Unlike the confines of H-1B visas, with their ties to specific employers, the green card liberates individuals to switch jobs and plant roots anywhere in the United States.
For many, the green card symbolizes not just career progression but the chance to forge a fulfilling life in the U.S. However, the growing backlog, particularly in the EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based categories, casts a shadow on these aspirations. The USCIS data from 2020 indicates that the Indian backlog in the EB-2 category increased by more than 240,000 or 40% over the past three years. The situation has become so dire that, according to recent projections, some may never receive their green cards in their lifetimes.
Why EB-1A Tends to be the Ultimate Solution for Skilled Immigrant Professionals
Because of these challenges, the EB-1A category emerges as an appealing alternative for highly skilled Indian professionals. The EB-1A category is reserved for people with exceptional ability in science, arts, education, business, or athletics, who can demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim in their field. In this preference category, you may apply for yourself.
Attaining an EB-1A offers several advantages, you can receive green cards sooner than other categories. It does not require a labor certification or a job offer. Moreover, it offers a streamlined path to permanent residency, enabling professionals to bypass the cumbersome and uncertain employer sponsorship process, which is often time-consuming and uncertain.
With its benefits, the EB-1A comes with its fair share of obstacles. The category requires substantial evidence of extraordinary ability, including major awards, significant contributions to the field, and recognition by peers. The process of creating a strong profile to fulfill these criteria can often take years of preparation and strategic thinking, and that naturally creates the need of a helping hand for many confused immigrants. This need has given way to the rise of expert services like ‘Smart Green Card', which is the first and seemingly the only one of its kind in this space.
How Do Services like ‘Smart Green Card' Help?
The journey of building a profile and petitioning for an EB1A green card is an intricate and strategic process. Recognizing this, Saiman Shetty, an influential figure in the Tech and Immigration industries, set up an operation dedicated to providing comprehensive, hands-on support to EB1A green card aspirants. The startup, Smart Green Card, has successfully led individuals in strategically and sincerely constructing their professional profiles, enabling them to excel in their fields and qualify for the EB1A Green Card. Their vision is to empower Indian professionals to build a robust EB-1A profile, offering tailored support and resources to navigate the complex immigration landscape.
In the Smart Green Card VIP plan, applicants receive assistance in identifying their areas of expertise and are supported in all possible ethical ways to construct a compelling EB1A profile. The program aims to help them meet at least six EB1A criteria and successfully navigate the final merits determination for EB1A approval.
Till date, over 300+ immigrants in the US have been empowered in their journey to earn the Green Card successfully by this organization. "I was extremely anxious about my EB1A journey, but the Smart Green Card team provided invaluable support every step of the way," shares Sunil Chahl - Director of Technology at a consulting firm, "Even when I reached out with some seemingly trivial doubts, they patiently addressed my concerns and offered a clear roadmap for approaching each criterion. I must say, everyone on the team is amazing, and I am incredibly grateful for their guidance and expertise."
Another beneficiary of the operation, Rajesh Azmeera, an SAP architect, has been working in the United States for the past six years. Although his EB2 I-140 petition has been approved, he was still waiting in a lengthy queue for his green card due to significant backlogs in the EB2 category for Indian applicants. As he shared, "I have faced significant challenges due to EB2 backlogs, and I even pursued an EB5 green card, investing considerable funds into it. However, I am thankful to have discovered the Smart Green Card program. Their assistance helped me attain EB1A status, bringing me a sense of relief."
By focusing on the strengths of each applicant, the Smart Green Card program significantly enhances the likelihood of success, reducing uncertainty and wait times. Every member who committed to the guidelines and applied received approval for the EB1A green card!
The green card backlog presents a significant hurdle for over 1.2 million Indian citizens aspiring to build a life in the United States. The challenges associated with securing H-1B visas, coupled with the lengthy wait times in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, create a formidable barrier to permanent residency. However, alternative pathways, such as the EB-1A category and the innovative Smart Green Card program, offer viable solutions.
As the backlog of green cards continues to grow, initiatives such as the Smart Green Card provide a crucial lifeline, helping qualified professionals navigate the immigration system. For many Indian citizens, it creates a pathway to achieving the American Dream, offering hope and a brighter future in a land of opportunities.
Media Contact:
Company Name: Smart Green Card
Contact Person Name: SGC Support Team
Phone number: +1 408-430-2007
Email: support@smartgreencard.com
Website: smartgreencard.com
SOURCE: Smart Green Card
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