The US green card, officially known as the permanent resident card, allows foreign nationals to live and work permanently in the United States. However, obtaining a green card is not easy, as there are strict quotas, eligibility criteria, and processing times for different categories and countries of origin.
According to the latest data from the US Department of State, only about 3 percent of the people who have submitted green card applications will receive permanent status in the United States in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This is the lowest approval rate in history, down from 8 percent in FY 2023 and 15 percent in FY 2022. The main reasons for this decline are the backlog of pending applications, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changes in immigration policies under the Trump and Biden administrations.
The US green card system is divided into two main types: family-sponsored and employment-based. Each type has different preferences and subcategories, depending on the relationship or the skills of the applicants. Each type and category also has a numerical limit per year, as well as a per-country limit of 7 percent of the total. This means that applicants from countries with high demand, such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines, face longer waiting times and lower chances of approval than applicants from other countries.
The March 2024 Visa Bulletin, released by the US Department of State, shows the progress and the cutoff dates for each type and category of green card applications. The bulletin includes both a Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart and an Application Final Action Dates chart. The former guides intending immigrants on when to file applications for adjustments of status or immigrant visas, while the latter indicates when such applications may be approved, leading to the granting of permanent residence.
The bulletin shows that for family-sponsored applications, the final action dates range from February 2015 for first preference (unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens) from India, to December 2005 for fourth preference (brothers and sisters of adult US citizens) from India. The dates for filing range from September 2017 to February 2006 for the same categories and country. For employment-based applications, the final action dates range from March 2012 for second preference (members of professions holding advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability) from India, to July 2012 for third preference (skilled workers, professionals, and other workers) from India. The dates for filing range from May 2012 to October 2012 for the same categories and country.
The bulletin also shows that some categories have become current, meaning that there is no backlog and applicants can file and receive their green cards immediately. These include the first preference (priority workers) for employment-based applications from all countries except China and India, and the fifth preference (investors) for employment-based applications from all countries.
The US green card lottery, officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, is another way to obtain a green card. The program randomly selects 50,000 applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the US every year. However, the chances of winning the lottery are very slim, as there are millions of applicants every year. For FY 2024, the program received 23.4 million entries, which means that only 1 in 400 applicants will be selected.
The US green card system is complex and competitive, and the approval rates vary depending on the type, category, and country of origin of the applicants. The system is also subject to changes and challenges due to the political, economic, and social factors that affect immigration policies and practices. Therefore, applicants should be well-informed and prepared for the process, and seek professional guidance if needed.
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