Over 60K Indians received Green cards in 2017: Department of Homeland Security
Washington, Oct 18: Out of the 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 latest official figures.
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 United States that focuses on immigration issues.
As of April 2018, there were 632,219 Indian immigrants and their spouses and minor children waiting for Green cards.
Of the 60,394 Indians who received Green cards in 2017, the maximum 23,569 were issued to the employment-based preferences like those on the H-1B visas.
Having a Green Card allows a person to live and work permanently in the US. Indian-Americans, most of whom are highly skilled and come to the US mainly on the H-1B work visas are the worst sufferers of the current immigration system which imposes a 7 per cent per country quota on allotment of Green cards or permanent legal residency.
As many as 20,549 Indians were issued Green cards in the capacity of them being 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.
The latest annual figures released on October 2 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, reveal that the number of Indians getting Green cards has dropped - albeit marginally - than the previous two years
In 2015, as many as 64,116 Indians were issued legal permanent residency, and the next year in 2016, the figure was 64,687.
Among the employment-based preferences - which is the route followed by the H-1B visa holders - 137,855 Green cards were issued.
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 million 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.
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).
However, India is different from other countries as it has the maximum number of people waiting in line.
Because of the Congressional mandated country quota, Indians according to Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, would have to wait for decades and in some cases as much as 151 years to get a Green Card.
In 2017, as many as 795 Indians who sought asylum or refugee status were issued Green cards. Last year, 40 Indians were issued Green cards under diversity visa category and 479 Indians were issued Green cards under other categories, according to DHS annual report.
The figures also reveal that in 2017, Americans adopted 222 Indian kids, of which 176 were females and 46 males. Eight of these were of less than year old, 170 between one and four years, while 44 were over five years of age at the time of adoption.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
