More than one million people are expected to receive Green Cards this year, representing a small percentage of the total pending applications of 35 million.

This means that only 3% of the people who have requested the document will benefit.

Limits on the number of Green Cards available and the large number of applications are the main causes of this low approval rate

Limits exceeded

David J. Bier, associate director of the Cato Institute, explains that “Green Card applications have tripled. From ten million in the nineties to thirty-five million today,” while current limits have only increased by a few thousand.

Experts affirm that increasing legal migration is key to alleviating the border crisis in the United States, in addition to contributing to the country's economy.

Eliminating delays in the processing of Green Card applications for employment and families would generate a positive impact on the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  This is according to Jack Malde, spokesperson for the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Cost for families

However, the current situation has a cost for migrant families with legal status.  Many members become frustrated when a family member cannot work due to the type of visa they have, such as the H4 or L4.

Furthermore, “when children obtain citizenship, their parents are no longer protected.”  This is stated by Cyrus Mehta, director of Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners.

Meanwhile, many countries have benefits that attract immigrants, such as Canada.  This receives professionals who cannot enter the United States due to the limits established for granting work visas.

The low Green Card approval rate is a complex problem with various causes and consequences.

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