60,394 of 600,000 Indians received Green Cards in 2017: US
Out of over 600,000 Indians waiting for the most sought-after Green Card, only 60,394 have received the legal permanent residency last year which allows them to live and work in the US, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The latest annual figures released on October 2 reveal that the number of Indians getting Green Cards has dropped than the previous two years.
Still 632,219 Indian immigrants, family members waiting for Green Cards
Under the current regulation, skilled immigrants from India need to wait anywhere between 25-92 years for a Green Card due to per-country limits, said "GCReforms.org", a website founded by members of the Indian diaspora living in the US that focuses on immigration issues. As of April 2018, there were 632,219 Indian immigrants, their spouses, and minor children waiting for Green Cards.
Preference to receive the Green Cards similar to H-1B visa
Of the 60,394 Indians who had received the Green Cards in 2017, the maximum of 23,569 was issued to the employment-based preferences like those on the H-1B visas.
Data on Green Card issued to Indians in 2015, 2016
As many as 20,549 Indians were issued Green Cards in the capacity of them being the immediate relatives (spouses, children, and parents) of the US citizens, while 14,962 Indians were issued the Green Cards under the family-sponsored categories like brothers and sisters. In 2015, as many as 64,116 Indians were issued legal permanent residency, and the next year in 2016, the figure was 64,687.
Foreigners who received Green Card was highest in 2016
The DHS said around half of its Green Cards were issued to the immediate relatives of US citizens - spouses (292,909), children (74,989), and parents (148,610). In all 1,127,167 foreigners received Green Cards, which is a step below citizenship, in the year 2017, the figures revealed. The previous year 1,183,505 foreigners received Green Cards in 2016 and 1,051,031 in 2015.
Country-wise figures of Green Card recipients
People from Asia (424,743) and North America (413,650) account for the maximum number of Green Card recipients in 2017. Country-wise figures reveal that China topped the list with 71,565 Green Cards, followed by Cuba (65,028), and India (60,394).
