
WASHINTON,D.C.-Between 2000 and 2014, the United States issued 926,257 green cards to Indian nationals, according to a report by the US Department of Homeland Security. In comparison only 674, 221 Indians were awarded the Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status in the previous 160 years, from FY 1840 to FY 2000. Overall, more than 1.6 million Indians have immigrated to the US on LPR status in the past 174 years.

The figure, however, looks tiny considering that it is just 2.1 % of the total immigration (80.5 million) to the country during these years.
The spike in green cards for Indians began in the aftermath of the historic Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which paved the way for large-scale Asian immigration. Between 1970 and 1979 — the first full decades since the legislation was enacted —148,018 people from India were awarded green cards. In the previous decade (1960-1969), only 18,638 people were granted the LPG status.
In the first decade of this century, between 2000-2009, a record number of green-cards (590,464) were issued to applicants from India. During these years 33.7% of the total green-cards approvals were given to Asians. Indian, specifically, were recipients of 17 % of the total green cards issued to citizens of various Asian countries. Overall, more than 10 million green cards were issued worldwide.
This year, more than 150,000 applications have been approved till March; more than 12,000 have been denied. Nevertheless, the number of green card cases awaiting decision has increased to more than 400,000. There are primarily three categories that accounted for a majority of the immigration: family-based, employment-based and humanitarian-based. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, family-based applications are those requests that are supported by a family relationship with a US citizen or an LPR. Employment-based requests are those that are supported by employment, or for an entrepreneur who aspires to immigrate to the US to establish business. Humanitarian-based applications are those that are supported by humanitarian considerations. All other categories are clubbed under “Others”.
The spike in green cards for Indians began in the aftermath of the historic Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which paved the way for large-scale Asian immigration. Between 1970 and 1979 — the first full decades since the legislation was enacted —148,018 people from India were awarded green cards. In the previous decade (1960-1969), only 18,638 people were granted the LPG status.
In the first decade of this century, between 2000-2009, a record number of green-cards (590,464) were issued to applicants from India. During these years 33.7% of the total green-cards approvals were given to Asians. Indian, specifically, were recipients of 17 % of the total green cards issued to citizens of various Asian countries. Overall, more than 10 million green cards were issued worldwide.
This year, more than 150,000 applications have been approved till March; more than 12,000 have been denied. Nevertheless, the number of green card cases awaiting decision has increased to more than 400,000. There are primarily three categories that accounted for a majority of the immigration: family-based, employment-based and humanitarian-based. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, family-based applications are those requests that are supported by a family relationship with a US citizen or an LPR. Employment-based requests are those that are supported by employment, or for an entrepreneur who aspires to immigrate to the US to establish business. Humanitarian-based applications are those that are supported by humanitarian considerations. All other categories are clubbed under “Others”.