Merit-based Immigration

1. At present, 69% of green cards have been issued annually to family members of US citizens. A majority of these green card recipients are extended family members such as siblings, nieces/nephews, aunts/uncles, etc. [Hindu family-sponsored immigrants are primarily nuclear family such as spouses, elderly parents, adult children.]
2. At present, 14% of green cards have been issued annually to employment-based immigrants. [Hindu immigration is primarily employment-based and in the high-skilled/professional category.
3. There is no pending proposal to increase employment-based legal immigration.
4. There is no proposal to regulate illegal immigration to the United States.
5. In a major immigration policy shift, a Presidential Executive Order is under consideration for NEW GREEN CARD ALLOTMENT TO:
   • 10 million illegal immigrants now in the United States. At present, 6% (Other) of immigrants in this category have been issued green cards annually.
   • 1 million immigrants who have filed refugee asylum claims. At present, 8% of immigrants in this category have been the green cards issued annually.
   • Such a measure, if approved, may reduce (or eliminate) green card availability for employmentbased visa holders and their family members.

MERIT-BASED IMMIGRATION REFORM (2017-2019):

American Hindu Coalition (AHC) advocated a merit-based immigration reform that was approved by President Trump in May 2019; the AHC proposal was also under review by the United States Senate for incorporation into new legislation, as follows:

1. GREEN CARDS – SHOULD BE PRIMARILY ISSUED TO LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO ENTER THE
   COUNTRY WITH EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS
   • Eliminate diversity lottery.
   • Limit refugee/asylum seeker category to 50,000 annually.
   • Limit Green Card issuance per family to nuclear family (spouse, children, parents)
   • Eliminate the country-caps for green cards for legal immigrants who are in the
     country.
   • Expedite Green Cards to legal immigrants with employment-based visas with
     consideration given to:
     1. English-Speakers
     2. professional degree holders such as medicine and engineering
     3. advanced degree (Masters and Doctorates) holders in STEM fields
     4. degree holders from US institutions
2. TEMPORARY VISA HOLDERS
   • In allotment of temporary visas in legal immigration, preference should be given to
     H1B Visa over other temporary visas.
   • Provide work authorization for spouses and adult children of H1B Visa holders.
   • Establish a grace period of 6 months during which H1B Visa holders can change jobs
     without losing legal status.
   • Fast-track conversion of student visa to H1B work visa for graduates of US institutions of higher education.
   • Improve visa security by increasing the number of State Department’s qualified
     Consular personnel and expanding the State Department’s authority to combat visa
     fraud.