A new bill could let immigrants with seven years of US residency and a clean record apply for permanent status—a significant shift from current employment-based visa backlogs.
Senator Alex Padilla has introduced legislation that would allow immigrants to qualify for a green card after seven years of continuous US residency, provided they have no criminal record. The proposal aims to address the massive backlog in employment-based immigration, particularly affecting H-1B visa holders from countries like India who currently face decades-long waits.
Under current law, green card eligibility depends primarily on employment sponsorship and country-of-origin quotas, creating years or decades of delays. This bill would create an alternative pathway based on time in the country and clean conduct, not just job sponsorship. If passed, it would reshape how millions of temporary visa holders plan their lives in the US.
Seven years of residency and a clean record could become the new standard for green card eligibility.
The bill is still in early stages and faces significant political hurdles, but it signals growing momentum to address the green card backlog. For H-1B holders and other long-term residents, it represents a potential lifeline—though you should not assume it will pass or plan your immigration strategy around it yet.
Source: original report ↗
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