- TCS filed 1009 Green Card applications
- Infosys filed 519 Green Card applications
- It could take more than 8 years for approved applicants to get a Green Card
Want to know who are the top 10 Green Card applicants? How are the US companies doing when it comes green card applications? Let us find out.
US-based companies like Cognizant, Amazon, Facebook, Cisco, and Google were also amongst the top 10 Green Card applicants. According to data from the US Department of Labor, these companies filed more green card applications than Indian firms.
In the last 6 months leading up to March 2019, two Indian companies, Tata Consultancy Services, and Infosys found a place in the top 10 applicants for employer Green Cards.
List Of Top 10 US Green Card Applicants
Amazon filed 1,500 Green Card applications to become the top applicant. They were followed by Cognizant Technology Services who filed 1,300 applications.
Cognizant is an IT services firm headquartered in the US with a large Indian employee base. TCS filed 1,009 applications to be placed 4th on the list while Infosys came in at the 7th place.
| Company | Applications Filed |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 1,590 |
| Cognizant | 1,324 |
| Cisco | 1,058 |
| TCS | 1,009 |
| 874 | |
| 562 | |
| Infosys | 519 |
| Microsoft | 433 |
| Apple | 400 |
| Deloitte | 387 |
According to the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), the number of applications submitted reflects a shortage of skilled talent in the USA. It also shows how India is perceived as a source of digital talent.
From H1B Visa To Green Card
The H-1B visa allows immigrants to work in the USA. It must be sponsored by the company employing the immigrant but the responsibility for converting it to a green card rests with the immigrant.
This visa is granted for a period of 3 years or the duration of the contract- whichever is lower. It may be extended and after a certain period, the immigrant can apply for permanent resident status. The individual may stay in the country and continue to work with the employer while the application is being processed.
Once the immigrant is awarded a Green Card, he or she is free to switch jobs easily. Hence, to retain skilled employees, many companies apply for an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker or I-40.
It is not yet clear how many of the applications submitted by these tech firms will eventually convert into permanent residency permits. Under the current immigration system, because of the per-country cap on Green Cards, it can take Indian applicants more than 8 years before they get a Green Card.
This may change if the US Senate passes the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act or HR 1044. This act could benefit up to 300,000 Indians.
Also See
- US Immigration Reform – What The Ideal Policy Should Include
- Trump’s Merit Based Immigration And Green Card System – Key Points
