Article Summary

Immigrant workers in the U.S. now face a nearly three-and-a-half-year wait for a green card, a significant increase since 2016 due to growing USCIS and Department of Labor processing backlogs. The Visa Office anticipates reaching FY-2025 employment-based visa limits soon, particularly impacting Indian applicants, prompting calls for systemic streamlining.

TNP AI: Key Insights

The drastic increase in Green Card processing times, now averaging 3.44 years, translates into prolonged career uncertainty and personal instability for H-1B visa holders, potentially forcing them to reconsider their long-term prospects in the U.S. This represents an 18-month increase since 2016, highlighting a worsening trend in the employer-sponsored immigration system.

For U.S. employers, these extended delays exacerbate challenges in attracting and retaining top international talent, making workforce planning difficult and potentially driving skilled professionals to countries with more predictable immigration pathways. The impending reach of FY-2025 employment-based visa limits, especially for Indian applicants due to strict per-country caps, further underscores the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform to address growing demand, as advocated by the Cato Institute.