Issuing Employment Authorisation Cards during the early stages of green card processing would help a large number of Indian-Americans, their spouses, and grown-up kids.
Our Bureau
Wasington
Coming to the defense of thousands of Indian Americans languishing in the decades-old green card backlog, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), an Indian diaspora body has urged the Biden administration to relax the rules of issuing employment authorization cards.
Around 1.1 million Indian-origin non-immigrant visa holders are waiting for their priority date to become current to apply for an I-485 for a green card, FIIDS said. The country-wise limit of 7% restricts their annual approval, causing almost 135 years of delays, and estimated more than 400,000 would not see permanent residency in their lifetime.
“Recognising the imperative of maintaining America’s competitive advantage, it is crucial to acknowledge the immense contributions these individuals and their families make to the nation’s economy by driving innovation and enhancing diversity,” Khanderao Kand, FIIDS Chief of Policy and Strategies, said in a letter to Ur Jaddou, Director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
“Furthermore, on humanitarian grounds, it is pertinent to avoid a situation where these individuals find themselves in a status akin to indentured laborers. For Employment-Based Applicants: Grant EAD to I-140 approved applicants for a duration of five years without necessitating waiting for I-485 processing. For Spouses of Applicants: like the announcement on September 27, give five years auto-renewal EAD to H4-EAD spouses to provide them with the freedom from the uncertainty and contribute independently,” Kand said.
“For Documented Dreamers: Allow H4-EAD and extend their visa coverage from 21 years to 25 years, providing them with a stable status until they can pursue their own immigration path,” the letter further said.
