• Source:JND
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In a historic move that underscores the increasing influence of Indian-Americans in US politics, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed prominent Indian-American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Krishnan's appointment comes at a critical juncture as the US government considers a transformative proposal to eliminate the country cap on H-1B visas. The elimination of the country cap could lead to a more equitable distribution of H-1B visas, which have historically been subject to stringent limits that often disadvantage applicants from high-demand countries like India.

In addition to his role in technology policy, Krishnan is anticipated to contribute significantly to the ongoing discourse on immigration reform. The potential elimination of the H-1B visa cap aligns with broader efforts to attract and retain top talent from around the world. 

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US Considers Ending Green Card Country Caps

The country cap refers to the rule that no single country can receive more than 7 per cent of the total employment-based green cards issued in a year, regardless of the demand from that country.

As a result, countries with a high number of applicants, such as India and China, face significant backlogs, leading to wait times for certain green card categories that can span decades.

Congress has considered proposals to eliminate or modify the country cap, such as the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, which aims to remove the per-country limit and transition to a system that processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

Removing the cap could reduce the backlog for applicants from countries like India and China but might increase waiting times for applicants from other countries.

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How Cap-Free Green Cards Could Benefit Indians

The removal of the country cap from the green card process, which indirectly impacts H-1B visa holders, would have significant implications for Indian nationals, who constitute the largest group of H-1B visa recipients. Indian nationals currently face decades-long wait times for employment-based green cards due to the 7 per cent per-country cap.

Removing the cap would allow applications to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, drastically reducing these wait times. A cap-free system would enhance the US’s ability to retain highly skilled Indian professionals, particularly in technology and STEM fields, contributing to innovation and economic growth.

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