Will Biden Ease the Green Card Application Process?

As US Presidential election approaches, we are hearing more immigration agenda details from each candidate. If you are following immigration news, it's hard to miss Biden's new propose regarding easing the green card application process. I know we are all busy, so I will do a quick summary here to keep you updated!

What is Biden's Immigration Agenda?

Here are a few proposals in Biden's plan that are important to immigrants:

• Eliminate the limits on employment-based visas by country which will reduce green card wait times 
• Simplify the process for green card holders to get citizenship 
• Eliminate roadblocks imposed by Trump which made it harder for those who have availed of public benefits
• Exempt foreign students getting PhD degrees in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in the US from visa caps 
• Expand the number of high-skilled visas
• Automatically give green cards to those getting doctorates
• Work with Congress to increase the number of visas awarded for permanent, employment-based immigration 
• Promote mechanisms to temporarily reduce the number of visas during times of high unemployment rate in the US
• Introduce a new category of immigrant visas awarded through local administrations facing shrinking populations and lacking entrepreneurs on the condition that those getting them settle in those areas
• Issue temporary visas to applicants who are approved for family green cards
• Exempt spouses and children of green card-holders from limits on permanent resident visas

Currently the number of employment-based visas is capped at 140,000 each year and Biden is proposing to change that and create a mechanism that will temporarily reduce the number of visas granted during times of high US unemployment. 

He also proposed to work with Congress to reform temporary visas and build a wage-based allocation process to make sure these visas are aligned with the labor market and not used to undermine wages.

It's always interesting to look at the new proposals from the candidates. I do believe that US immigrants play an important role in the US economy! With a well-established system, working immigrants will keep our economy growing and thriving.

Will Biden's plans work out? It's too early to say of course, but if they do, it will surly change many immigrants' lives.