Monday, December 23, 2024

Indian techie’s 3,505-day journey to us Green Card sparks online debate

A post on social media garnered over 3.8 lakh views and garnered nearly 2,400 likes, eliciting a range of responses from social media users

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

An Indian software engineer employed at a major multinational company recently took to social media to share the arduous process of obtaining permanent residency in the United States after nearly a decade of residence. The post, which has since been removed, garnered significant attention, reported hindustantimes.com.

“After 3,505 days in this country, I’ve finally secured permanent residency,” the user, who works in the artificial intelligence (AI) division of the corporation, wrote in the now-deleted post. “No more constant concerns about visa stamps, I-94 dates, or myriad other bureaucratic hurdles.”

  • In March, bipartisan US lawmakers voiced urgency in addressing the Green Card backlog, a critical issue disproportionately affecting Indian professionals and H-1B visa holders

  • They advocated for eliminating the seven percent country quota governing Green Card issuance for foreign workers in specialized categories

The user highlighted the challenges posed by the H-1B visa, emphasizing its restrictive nature. “An H-1B visa is incredibly limiting. Requiring a new visa stamp periodically from a US consulate abroad, it effectively bars entry to the US without one. Consequently, I’ve missed out on numerous professional opportunities, including conferences,” the user lamented in subsequent deleted posts.

The post garnered over 3.8 lakh views and garnered nearly 2,400 likes, eliciting a range of responses from social media users.

The Green Card, officially termed a Permanent Resident Card, signifies permanent residency in the US for immigrants.

In March, bipartisan US lawmakers voiced urgency in addressing the Green Card backlog, a critical issue disproportionately affecting Indian professionals and H-1B visa holders. They advocated for eliminating the seven percent country quota governing Green Card issuance for foreign workers in specialized categories.

Without such reform, Indian immigrants face wait times exceeding 20 years, and in some cases, over 70 years for a Green Card.

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Roma Ghosh
Roma Ghosh
Roma Ghosh has recently retired as Associate Professor for Media Studies from an international university. She was with the Times of India as a correspondent for many years. Her passion is cooking and she has been doing recipes and photo shoots for Women's Era for the last 15-odd years.

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