Indian and in need of permanent resident status in US? Wait for twelve years

Getting permanent citizenship in the United States of America has just got tougher. According to a report, Indians applying for permanent residency, also known as Green Card, in one employment-related category are on a 12-year waiting list.

Green Card is the immigration status of a person authorised to live and work in the US permanently. A Green Card holder can apply for US citizenship after five years of residency. This period is shortened to three years if married to a US citizen.

 
In 2015, about 36,318 Indians changed their status to permanent residency while 27,798 Indians are new arrivals who received lawful permanent residency in the form of a Green Card, Pew Research said. 

"In one employment-related category, people from India applying for permanent residence as skilled employees currently have a 12-year waiting list. In other words, the government currently is processing applications filed in May of 2005," the report said. 

In 2015, a total of 508,716 new arrivals received lawful permanent residency in the form of a Green Card and 542,315 people adjusted their status.

Since 2004, a total of 7.4 million people who changed their status and 5.5 million new arrivals have received lawful permanent residency in the form of a Green Card.

People who come for employment, refugees and people granted asylum make up for the majority of the Green Card holders.

India is one of the top countries whose residents get Green Cards every year. 

• USA
• Green Card
• Indians
• Twelve years