Washington:
In defense of thousands of Indian-Americans languishing in the decades-old green card backlog, an Indian diaspora body has urged the Biden administration to relax rules for issuing employment authorization cards. About 1.1 million non-immigrant visa holders of Indian descent are waiting for their priority date to become current to apply for an I-485 for a green card, according to the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS). The sensible cap of seven percent limits their annual approval, causing a nearly 135-year delay, and it is estimated that more than 400,000 people would be denied permanent residency in their lifetime.
Issuing employment authorization cards during the early stages of green card processing could save a large number of Indian Americans, their spouses and adult children from many uncertainties and problems, FIIDS said.
“As we recognize the need to maintain America’s competitive advantage, it is critical to recognize the immense contributions these individuals and their families make to the nation’s economy by driving innovation and increasing diversity,” said Khanderao Kand, FIIDS Head of Policy and Strategies, said in a letter. to Ur Jaddou, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
“Furthermore, it is relevant for humanitarian reasons to avoid a situation where these individuals find themselves in a status similar to that of contract workers,” he wrote, urging the head of the USCIS to take three key steps.
“For employment-based applicants: Grant EAD to I-140 approved applicants for a duration of five years without having to wait for I-485 processing. For spouses of applicants: As per the September 27 announcement, grant five year automatic EAD renewal to H4-EAD spouses to provide them with freedom from uncertainty and contribute independently,” said Mr. Kand.
“For documented dreamers, allow H4-EAD and extend their visa coverage from 21 years to 25 years, granting them stable status until they can pursue their own immigration path,” the letter said.
He urged the USCIS to consider the appeal with the utmost urgency, taking into account “the human aspects of these prolonged immigration delays and the immense potential these individuals bring to American society.
“Implementing these changes would not only alleviate the enormous pressures these families face, but also strengthen the United States as a nation that values and nurtures talent and diversity,” Kand wrote.
