How a new US bill could ease green card path for Indian H-1B visa holders

Summary

US President Donald Trump’s administration continues to tighten immigration enforcement even as a Democratic senator has introduced a fresh bid to create a pathway to permanent residency for immigrants , including H-1B work visa visa holders. Senator Alex Padilla of California reiterated his support for the ‘Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929’ bill, which he introduced last year. The bill would include Dreamers (undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children), forcibly displaced individuals (Temporary Protected Status holders), children of long-term visa holders, essential workers, and highly skilled professionals such as H-1B visa holders, who have been waiting for employment-based green cards for years. Indian nationals residing in the United States account for over 70% of approximately 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually, and according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS (U.S. immigration agency)) data, approximately 1 million Indians are currently in the green card backlog. Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, also known as the Registry provision, is proposed to be amended in the bill. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ...