US Senate Passes S386 Bill, Hope Rises For Indian Nationals In Green Card Backlog

Bringing hope for Indians in Green Card backlog, US Senate on Wednesday passed the S386, Fairness for Skilled Immigrant Act that aims to remove country-caps on the employment-based green cards.

The bill work to increase the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from the current 7 percent of the total number of such visas available in a particular year to 15 percent.

According to the bill, years one-nine after implementation, no more than 70% of the green cards can go to H-1 visa holders and their dependents.

Also, coming as a backdrop for the Chinese students, the bill says that no Chinese national affiliated with the Chinese military or the Chinese Communist Party can enter the United States or be eligible to adjust visa status under any category.

Reportedly, the bill will be applicable starting Oct 1, 2022, at the earliest if it is passed before Oct 1, 2021.

“Everyone needs to realize that the passage of the Senate bill is only the early steps in this process. It has to go back to the House who has to reconcile the Senate version with the version they passed and then have it sent to the President for signature, said Nandini Nair.