US India Chamber Of Commerce’s Austin Chapter Long Green Card Wait Time For India, Says US Official

The long and agonising wait for Green Cards for people from India, China, Mexico and the Philippines is mainly due to the countrybased quota system in its allocation which can be changed only by the US Congress, a senior official has said.

A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently.

Douglas Rand, the Senior Advisor to the director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said the annual limit established by Congress on family-sponsored preference Green Cards is 2,26,000 for the whole world while the annual limit on employment-based Green Cards is 1,40,000.

ly been more than a decade and many a time the Visa wait time goes back by years.

“Suffice to say for now that it is about supply and demand. Congress has constrained supply. Demand continues to go up. Not just from India, but all over the world. When the demand for a particular Green Card category or a country within a category exceeds the supply of numbers available then that category and country are considered oversubscribed,” Rand said.

The State Department applies a cut-off date in the Visa bulletin to ensure that Visa use remains within those annual limits as well as the category and per country limits. The order of consideration is established by Congress.

(Continued From Page 01)

The day commenced with a vibrant photo session featuring lawmakers and members of the Asian community. Capturing the spirit of unity and solidarity, a video of the event was shared, spreading the enthusiasm beyond the Capitol’s north stairs.

Senate Assembly dedicated formal recognition to Asian American Pacific Islander Day. Lawmakers highlighted the invaluable contributions made by the AAPI community to the growth of Texas’s economy and society. Notable statistics showcasing the community’s impact were shared during the addresses. Distinguished speakers, including the House Speaker, the Texas Secretary of State, and the Land Commissioner, delivered inspiring speeches. This momentous event was made possible with the support of Senator Joan Huffman and Representative Angie Chen Button.

Chirag P. Shah, Secretary of the US India Chamber of Commerce Austin Chapter, said to the Austin South Asian the significance of local businesses in Austin having a voice and representation to address the challenges and concerns that affect the business and professional community in Texas.

Lawmakers acknowledged and celebrated AAPI achievements, eliciting cheers from the crowd. The lawmakers also discussed the significance of major Fortune 100 organizations relocating to Texas and emphasized the efforts required to seal business deals. They addressed policies aimed at fostering a fa- vorable business environment in the state, showcasing Texas’s growth and its relevance to the global economy.

Amidst the empowering speeches and acknowledgments, attendees were treated to a captivating performance by the Korean folkdance team. Their enchanting presentation further enriched the cultural tapestry of the event, symbolizing the diversity and talent within the AAPI community.

The US India Chamber of Commerce’s Austin Chapter played a significant role during the celebration, meeting with various leaders at the Texas Capitol. The chamber’s presence highlighted the establishment of an Austin chapter, representing a significant milestone for the organization, which previously had a presence in Dallas.

Asian American Pacific Islander Day at the Texas Capitol served as a testament to the diversity, achievements, and cultural richness of the AAPI community.

It showcased the growing influence of organizations like the US India Chamber of Commerce’s Austin Chapter, bringing together like-minded individuals who strive to foster economic growth, promote cultural exchange, and enhance the overall well-being of the Asian American Pacific Islander community in Austin, TX.

On top of that, the per-country limit is set at seven per cent of the total annual familysponsored and employment-based preference limits, he told Indian Americans during a virtual town hall organized by the State Department on visa and consular issues.

“That means 25,620. That is why individuals from India, China, Mexico and the Phil- ippines typically face such long wait times than people from other countries,” Rand said in response to a question.

“Retrogression means that due to the high demand for visas exceeding the statutory limits, visas are not available to all non-citizens who want them even if they’ve already filed an application for adjustment of status or otherwise for permanent residency,” he said.

Rand emphasized the US plans to continue improving the accuracy and comprehensiveness of its data on employment-based adjustment of status applications. “Our goal is to resume publishing regular inventory reports.” He noted that even when there is retrogression there are enduring benefits.

“There is demand for so many more than 25,620 Green Cards for both family and employment-based every year. Unfortunately, only Congress can change these annual limits. So our job is to do everything we can within these constraints to ensure that when those Green Card numbers are available, we make sure that they’re utilised each and every year,” Rand said.

For hundreds of thousands of Indian professionals, the wait for Green Card has current-

“So, somebody who had the opportunity to file for adjustment of status but who then sees their cutoff date retrogress, they’re still able to seek certain benefits. They can apply for employment authorization which is not tied to a particular employer. They can apply for advanced parole authorizing travel outside the United States,” the official said.

“Once that adjustment of status application has been pending for 180 days or more, they can port the underlying job opportunity to a new employer. Depending on the facts of the case, children who have also applied for adjustment of status might not age out. That individual is generally considered to be in a period of authorized stay while the application is pending,” Rand added. (Courtesy: https://m.tribuneindia.com/)