Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Address Green Card Backlog in the US

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by US Representative Pramila Jayapal, has introduced a significant bill in the US House of Representatives to address the prolonged backlog of green card applicants. The bill, known as the HR6542 Act, aims to eliminate the per-country caps on employment-based green cards and increase the family-based green card limits.

The backlog issue primarily affects applicants from countries like India and China, where individuals face decades of waiting to obtain permanent residency in the United States. The bill has garnered support from various quarters, with Rep. Jayapal expressing her commitment to improve the immigrant visa system and alleviate the backlog's harsh effects.

The green card backlog problem stems from the limited annual quotas for green card issuance across different categories and countries. Recent statistics indicate that the employment-based green card backlog has surged to a record high of 1.8 million cases this year. This backlog has mainly been attributed to the restrictive green card caps for employer-sponsored immigrants and investors.

The introduction of the HR6542 Act represents a significant step toward reforming the US immigration system and providing relief to countless individuals caught in the green card backlog. The bill's bipartisan support signals a potential shift in addressing long-standing immigration challenges in the country.