-
Only 10% of Indian applicants received Green Cards last year
Last updated on Oct 20, 2018, 01:07 pm
-
Latest official figures released by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have revealed that a meagre 10% of Indian Green Card applicants received their Green Cards last year.
Of the total Green Cards allotted to Indians, almost 40% went to H-1B visa holders.
Country-wise, China received the maximum number of Green Cards last year, followed by Cuba, and India.
Here are the details.
-
Details
Green Card allotments to Indians, broken down in numbers
![Green Card allotments to Indians, broken down in numbers]( "Green Card allotments to Indians, broken down in numbers")
-
From nearly 600,000 applicants, only 60,394 Indians received their Green Cards last year.
Of the 60,394 Green Cards awarded, 23,569 were issued to those with employment-based preferences, like those having H-1B visas.
Meanwhile, 20,549 Green Cards were given to Indians in the capacity of them being relatives of US citizens, and 14,962 Green Cards were issued under family-sponsored categories like brothers and sisters.
-
Data
Green Cards given to Chinese, Cuban, and Indian immigrants
-
In 2017, Chinese immigrants to the US were given 71,565 Green Cards, Cuban immigrants were given 65,028 Green Cards, and Indians followed with 60,394 Green Cards.
-
Indians
Indians have the highest number of people in queue
![Indians have the highest number of people in queue]( "Indians have the highest number of people in queue")
-
Despite China and Cuba receiving a greater number of Green Cards in 2017, India's case is slightly different.
Among all immigrants to the US, Indians have the highest number of people in queue for Green Cards - as of April 2018, the number was 632,219.
However, owing to the extant per country Green Card quota, it might take 151 years for the backlogs to be cleared.
-
Total
1.12 million Green Cards were issued in total last year
-
DHS figures also revealed that a total of 1,127,167 Green Cards were given to foreigners in 2017.
Of these, nearly half were issued to immediate relatives of US citizens - spouses (292,909), children (74,989), and parents (148,610).
Region-wise, people from Asia and North America dominated, with Asians receiving 424,743 Green Cards, and North Americans receiving 413,650 Green Cards.
